$200 000 in grants to help build supportive Queensland communities

People with a disability across Queensland are set to benefit from a range of events and activities following the allocation of $200 000 in Building Supportive Communities grants.

The Minister for Communities, Warren Pitt, said the $200 000 grants program would fund activities designed to encourage communities to become more supportive and inclusive of people with a disability.

“The grants will fund a total of 43 community initiatives throughout Queensland, including both statewide and local activities,” Mr Pitt said.

The events will mostly be held during Disability Action Week next July, or on International Day of People with a Disability on 3 December next year.

Initiatives to receive funding this year include:

• a plane flight across Queensland by a man with paraplegia who will land in various regional centres to speak about inclusion
• a project to empower young adults with a disability to raise public awareness about methods of communication used by people with a disability
• a series of art workshops and performances by Queenslanders of all abilities.

Mr Pitt said the announcement of the 2007 funding was a great way to herald Sunday’s celebrations for International Day of People with a Disability.

“Many of the events held on the International Day of People with a Disability were made possible through grants announced this time last year, while this year’s grants will fund events to take place next year,” Mr Pitt said.

“International Day of People with a Disability is an important opportunity for all Queenslanders to celebrate inclusive communities.

“This funding enables communities to stage events that promote positive attitudes and address the barriers faced by people with a disability at a local level.”

Mr Pitt said the funding included five grants of up to $15,000 each for significant statewide initiatives, together with smaller grants for localised events and activities.

The 2007 Building Supportive Communities statewide grants are:

• The Spinal Injuries Association – $14 945 to support a series of presentations across the state including those presented by a man with paraplegia who will fly his plane to several regional centres to speak about inclusion.
• SPIRAL Inc – $9,055 to hold a celebration of abilities that will link-up with regions across Queensland through televised messages.
• Guide Dogs Queensland – $11,000 to conduct workshops to be held across Queensland to raise awareness amongst carers, and other members of the community, about how to support people with vision impairments.
• Access Arts – $13 000 for a series of exhibitions and workshops across the state including the exhibition in Brisbane of artworks gathered from across Queensland, and performances by Indigenous artists during NAIDOC week.
• Endeavour Foundation – $12 000 to establish a program to empower young adults with a disability to make resources and raise public awareness in relation to alternative means of communication used by people with a disability.

Additional locally based events will also be staged across Queensland next year, with grants of up to $5000 awarded to 38 other community organisations.

Mr Pitt congratulated all groups that had been successful in their funding applications.

“The response to the Building Supportive Communities grants program shows there is a growing number of communities and organisations interested in taking action and becoming more supportive and inclusive of people with a disability,” Mr Pitt said.

Media Contact: Joe Begley 3235 4280