Changing the authorising environment for local communities and a data-driven destiny

Natalie Egleton is the CEO of FRRR (Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal). In this Episode, we talk with Nat about the role of data to support regional and rural community groups to change the authorising environment and put the power back into the hands of local groups to get a seat at the decision-making table. Natalie has dedicated her career to working with community groups, service agencies, governments, corporate business and philanthropy to effectively support medium-long term recovery and to build awareness of the complex and dynamic nature of community recovery.

In September 2021, FRRR commissioned the Heartbeat of Rural Australia study, exploring how not-for-profits and community groups in remote, rural and regional Australia are faring, in the wake of nearly two years of constant disruptions. The qualitative and quantitative data articulates the vital role that community organisations play in the social, economic, cultural, and environmental resilience and vitality of their communities and regions. It highlights the cumulative impacts of natural disasters, and COVID-19.

The goal of making the data from the study accessible as a dataset (as well as a report) is to amplify and give greater authority and influence to local organisations in the design of policies, investments, and solutions for their communities’ sustainability and vitality.

We talk about the real impacts of multiple crises on social capital, and what would happen to our communities if it didn’t exist. Investing at the local level is key to keeping our communities vital and alive. Nat talks about empowering community organisations with data and what actions policy makers and grantmakers could be taking to support regional and rural towns through crisis recovery.

The Heartbeat of Rural Australia Study

Access to the dataset and resources

www.frrr.org.au

www.seerdata.ai

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