Christmas comes early for Queensland community groups

Christmas has come early for more than 600 community groups across Queensland who will share more than $13 million in funding in the latest round of Gambling Community Benefit Fund Grants (GCBF).

Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr Anthony Lynham congratulated the 643 not-for-profit groups who will share in $13.5 million worth of grants in round 90.

“Delivering this funding just before Christmas will not only give these vital not-for-profit groups a boost over this busy period, but it will also help them forward plan for 2017,” Dr Lynham said.

“The successful recipients, including sports clubs, schools, emergency services organisations, community groups and health and support centres, will be able to use these funds to purchase much-needed equipment and upgrade their facilities. This will ensure the groups are able to continue providing valuable services to their local communities.”

Dr Lynham said the GCBF returned almost $53 million to 2,360 community groups last financial year.

“This year we have seen a number of exciting projects, including facility upgrades, completed as a result of the funding program,” he said.

“I look forward to receiving more applications for round 91, which closes on 13 January 2017.

“While we can’t approve every applicant, we want groups to know we value the contribution they make to their local communities and encourage them to continue to apply in future rounds.”

Dr Lynham said applying for funding was now the easiest it had ever been, thanks to the new GCBF grants management system that was launched in November.  

“We appreciate many not-for-profit organisations are time-poor and the GCBF’s new user-friendly online portal will make the application process even easier,” he said.

“To apply for funding, groups now need to login to the portal, register their organisation and complete their application. They can use a range of devices and internet browsers to do this.

“When the application is received it can be viewed by the applicant in real-time and they can acquit or vary their grant.”

For further information or to view the list of successful recipients in round 90 visit www.justice.qld.gov.au/grants .

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