Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Thriving Communities Program Thriving Communities Program The Hon. T.T. NGO Legislative Council Thriving Communities Program The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister update the chamber on the new Thriving Communities Program? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries Thriving Communities Program The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:26): I thank the honourable member for his question, which is highly relevant to our regions. Earlier this year, I was pleased to announce the Malinauskas Labor government's Thriving Regions Fund, which will inject $15 million into regional communities through several new programs. The Thriving Communities Program is one of those and I am pleased to advise the program has $600,000 allocated for this financial year (2022-23) for projects that will help regional communities and community groups. The Thriving Communities Program will deliver new opportunities for community-based groups to advance plans around the infrastructure and services in a targeted manner that ensures funding truly benefits the state's regional communities. The Thriving Communities Program consists of small grants for projects that build social capital through facilitating community group participation and equity of access. The program is open to incorporated associations and registered charities, and that could include community groups, interest groups, show societies, chambers of commerce or local charity groups. The funding will be available for projects that meet the aim of the program, which may include: physical infrastructure, which could be either new infrastructure or expanded; plant and equipment; events to enhance community wellbeing and engagement; training, such as first aid or mental health first aid; child safe training; and cultural awareness and inclusion. The program will support projects that can be delivered within a 12-month time frame and grants for these projects will range between $20,000 and $50,000 each. Applications for the Thriving Communities Program opened on 12 January this year and will remain open until the full funding has been allocated or until 30 June 2023. All applications must be submitted through the PIRSA website and I encourage all who may be eligible to apply. I look forward to continuing to support our regional communities into the future through wonderful programs such as this one. It has been my pleasure to be talking about these programs in the various regional visits that I have already done so far this year. They have been very well received. I look forward to there being many worthy applicants.