Community groups across the North Coast have secured funding through Australia Post’s People of Post grants program with projects ranging from disaster resilience and marine rescue to Indigenous literacy and mental health support receiving backing.
Australia Post awarded grants to 46 organisations across NSW as part of the 2026 program, including a strong focus on regional mental health and community resilience initiatives.
Among the successful North Coast recipients was Border Ranges-Richmond Valley Landcare Network, which received support for a project helping restore wildlife corridors along the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
The funding will help train volunteers in weed identification and purchase signage and a bike cargo trailer to transport tools and equipment used in revegetation work.
Kulai Preschool Aboriginal Corporation also secured funding for its Balmuun Junuybin Gumbaynggirr Wajaarrda program, aimed at strengthening literacy and cultural connection for Aboriginal children and families through Gumbaynggirr language learning.
The grant will support the creation and printing of culturally grounded language resources for preschool and playgroup programs.
In Kempsey, Kempsey Children’s Services will use its grant to deliver an eight-week Circle of Security Parenting program supporting families experiencing stress, isolation and mental health challenges.
The initiative aims to strengthen parent-child relationships while building resilience and long-term wellbeing for families.
Marine rescue organisations also featured prominently among the successful applicants.
Marine Rescue Cape Byron Unit will install a monitored fire alarm system at its operational base to protect critical rescue and communications equipment, while Volunteer Marine Rescue Point Danger Unit received funding for a handheld thermal night-vision camera to assist volunteers during search and rescue missions and flood operations.
The camera will help crews detect heat signatures and locate people in the water during low-visibility conditions.
Further south, Port Macquarie Women’s Shed received funding to replace and modernise ageing woodworking equipment used in programs supporting women’s mental health, confidence and social connection.
Tyalgum District Community secured support for resilience kits containing emergency supplies for local area coordinators helping residents during flood and fire events.
In Wauchope, both the Wauchope District Rugby League Football Club and Wauchope Public School P&C were successful recipients.
The rugby league club will host a Mental Health Round linked to the 2026 Indigenous All Stars game, while the school P&C will expand classroom and library collections with books by Indigenous authors and illustrators to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Australia Post General Manager Community and Stakeholder Engagement Nicky Tracey said regional communities remained a major focus of the grants program.
“Our team members see firsthand the challenges facing their local community every day, particularly in regional Australia, where access to mental health support can be limited,” Ms Tracey said.
“The People of Post program empowers our people to respond in a meaningful way, supporting local organisations that are doing vital work to improve wellbeing, build resilience and strengthen social connection.”
The program has delivered more than $2.4 million in grants to community organisations across Australia over the past nine years.
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