Community Impact Program
RDAMR coordinated the delivery of the Murraylands and Riverland Community Impact Program (CIP) in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF), Loxton Chamber of Commerce, Mallee Sustainable Farming, Berri Our Town and Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Empowered Communities (NREC).
Project Completed
The Murraylands and Riverland Community Impact Program was delivered by RDAMR in collaboration with key partners. Though the program has concluded, its outcomes continue to support regional drought preparedness and community wellbeing.
What was the Community Impact Program?
The program aimed to drive local action in the Murraylands and Riverland to strengthen drought preparedness.
It included five key community- led projects, all focused on building resilience and social connection across the region.
Mardawi Community Project
(Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Empowered Communities – NREC)
This project supported Ngarrindjeri women—especially those who were young and/or living with a disability—by increasing social inclusion and self-determination. It brought together young Ngarrindjeri Mimini (women) and Ninkowa (female Elders) to build:
- Social connections with each other
- Cultural ties through harvesting, basket weaving, and yarning
- Spiritual connection with water
- Inclusive business development pathways
Participants gained cultural knowledge, new skills, and access to ongoing opportunities as contributors to an online Ngarrindjeri Cultural Art business.
River Families First
(Our Town Berri)
In Berri, young parents faced growing stress and isolation following drought, COVID and flooding. The River Families First project responded by creating a peer support network designed to:
- Connect young parents
- Provide information and support
- Empower young families through shared experiences
This initiative filled gaps in community support where public transport, playgroups and health services were limited.
Collective Business in Loxton
(Loxton Chamber of Commerce)
This project strengthened the resilience and capability of micro and small businesses across the Loxton District. Highlights included:
- Creation of a “Local Collective” cooperative retail model
- Training and tech support to grow eCommerce skills
- Leadership training for small business owners (e.g., From Mates to Manager)
- Strategic and governance support for the Chamber
These activities laid the groundwork for possible regional scale-up.
Risky Business
(Mallee Sustainable Farming)
This project extended a prior initiative that supported Mallee farmers in thinking critically about risk and succession. Through Mobile Farm Expo events, the project:
- Encouraged ongoing dialogue about farm futures
- Integrated mental health and social connection themes
- Purchased a mobile BBQ trailer to reach remote farming communities
- Trained volunteers in Mental Health First Aid
These efforts strengthened both individual wellbeing and the collective capability of farming communities.
Community Learning Series – Changemaker series
(Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, supported by RDAMR)
This four-part workshop series equipped local changemakers with leadership and advocacy tools. Sessions focused on:
- Becoming a Changemaker – Understanding change and leading through it
- Community Conversations – Building trust, inclusion and shared dialogue
- Caring for Community – Responding to drought, trauma and shaping stronger communities
- Reframe and Retell – Storytelling to influence positive futures
The series was delivered throughout 2024 and helped embed community-led leadership across the region.
Our Action – Based on community feedback
Agriculture accounts for around 43% of businesses in the region and about 16.2% of the region’s employment. Agriculture also has a disproportionate impact on other sectors, with many of them – like construction, health, education, manufacturing, retail, and transport – driven by supporting the agriculture sector.
