Record breaking support: $33m in grants to 598 community groups

• Successful applicants announced for the latest round of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, which marks its 30th anniversary
• 598 community groups and organisations have been awarded over $33 million in grants
• Due to renewed interest, additional funding ($3 million) was injected into Round 121 to ensure additional support to local communities. 

In a powerful demonstration of support, Queensland's leading one-off community grants program has celebrated its 30th anniversary by awarding over $33 million to local community organisations across the state.

The Gambling Community Benefit Fund’s (GCBF) Super Round 121 will provide grants of up to $100,000 to 598 not-for-profit community groups, associations, and foundations.

It comes as the GCBF celebrates its 30th anniversary of providing direct funding support for local services, leisure activities and opportunities for Queensland communities.

Since it was established in 1994, the GCBF has provided more than $1.188 billion directly to communities, cementing its role as one of Queensland’s most important grant programs.

Each round of the initiative provides benefits and key services to Queensland communities, including facility and accessibility improvements, medical equipment, transportation support, leisure and sporting equipment, and domestic and family violence initiatives.

Examples of successful recipients from Round 121 include:

• 4 Aussie Heroes Foundation Limited: $33,475 grant to purchase a wheelchair-accessible buggy for individuals with disabilities.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane Limited: $98,781 to purchase dental equipment for its mobile service enhancing access to quality, culturally safe oral health care for First Nations children.
• Butterfly Residential Care Pty Ltd: $98,719 to purchase medical equipment and install a cold room, improving therapeutic care and service quality for participants.
• Cherbourg Wellbeing Indigenous Corporation: $100,000 to purchase a demountable building for the organisation to deliver programs on community for vulnerable children and adults who are at risk of coming into contact with the justice system.
• Rural Doctors Foundation Ltd: $60,948.93 for the Deliver GPs4RuralDocs Program which is a GP service to help keep rural healthcare practitioners in their communities - providing equipment, software and marketing to deliver the program to 9 Queensland rural and remote communities.
• Retreat for Kids Inc: $100,000 to purchase a wheelchair-accessible bus to enable them to continue their work supporting women, children and pets escaping domestic and family violence.
• Smart Pups Assistance Dogs for Special Needs Children Inc: $93,601 to upgrade facilities and purchase equipment to sustain an in-house breeding program for assistance dogs addressing special needs, ranging from autism support to medical alerts and mobility assistance.
• Sunnykids Ltd: $89,728 to install solar systems and purchase a vehicle, both of which assist the organisation as it provides crisis accommodation to women and children fleeing domestic and family violence, and expand these services to additional regions.
• Tony's Community Ltd: $100,000 to purchase a refrigerated truck and van to assist the work of the organisation as it delivers meals to the homeless, elderly and those in need in the Toowoomba and the Darling Downs region.

Due to increased interest in the Super Round, the Queensland Government allocated an additional $3 million to the original grant total of $30 million to provide much needed assistance to local organisations.

Community groups who missed out are encouraged to apply for Round 122 of the GCBF, which will be the final funding round in 2024.

Round 122 will offer $35,000 grants and opens on Monday, September 9.

For more information on the GCBF and a full list of recipients from Round 121, visit www.justice.qld.gov.au/grants.

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“You’d be hard pressed to find a town or community in Queensland that hasn’t benefited from a Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant over the last 30 years.

“Time and time again we have been amazed by the creativity and passion behind the ideas and applications from the community, with over 2,551 applications received for this Super Round alone.

“This funding is going directly into community organisations, who are using this opportunity to create and sustain something special in their part of Queensland.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the work of our communities as they channel this funding into crucial initiatives, whether it’s new facilities to help those experiencing medial issues or violence, or housing and meal services to the vulnerable doing it tough.

“I’d like to urge all community and not-for-profit organisations throughout the state to look at the eligibility criteria for Round 122 and consider making an application to help their efforts for Queenslanders.”

ENDS