(SARC) Activity program. This program aims to support the building of strong, resilient, cohesive and harmonious communities to ensure culturally diverse individuals, families and communities have opportunities to thrive, be free from intolerance and discrimination, and have capacity to respond to emerging needs and challenges.93 The SARC is delivered in three streams: • Community Resilience grants: increase social and economic participation of vulnerable and disadvantaged people through one-off time limited projects • Inclusive Communities grants: build strong, resilient and cohesive communities by funding projects addressing issues in communities that show early signs of low social cohesion, and • National Research grants: builds the Government’s understanding of emerging and existing social cohesion issues and increase the evidence base for informing government policies and programs.94 SARC Activity has broad scope and flexibility, and the funded work delivered by community organisations is directly with vulnerable communities The SARC is a component of DSS’s Families and Communities Program and commenced in 2018, replacing the previous Strengthening Communities Activity. The 2021 program evaluation found that SARC positively contributed to community cohesion, economic participation, engagement with services, and positive community attitudes.95 However, the evaluation also noted that a limited number of projects were funded that targeted cohorts demonstrating intolerance on racial, religious or cultural grounds.96 In 2021 $63 million was announced for the SARC Inclusive Communities Grants over five rounds for projects running from 2022–2028.97 The following table sets out SARC funding levels for the remaining two components from 2018–2023. Table 2: DSS SARC funding 2018-19 to 2022-23 SARC Component Year Total Amount $ provided Community Resilience Grants 2018-19 $1,792,914 2019-20 $23,346,615 2020-21 $22,836,327 93 Australian Government |Department of Social Services (2024) Strong and Resilient Communities, accessed 13 February 2024 94 Australian Government |Department of Social Services (2024) Strong and Resilient Communities, accessed 13 February 2024 Social Research Centre for Department of Social Services (2021) Strong and Resilient Communities Evaluation Report, accessed 13 February 2024 95 96 97 Social Research Centre for Department of Social Services (2021) Strong and Resilient Communities Evaluation Report, page vii Australian Government |Department of Social Services (2024) Strong and Resilient Communities, accessed 13 February 2024 54