Communities Innovation Fund: Responses to Social Isolation and Loneliness
Applications for grants under the Communities Innovation Fund are now open.
The Communities Innovation Fund will provide up to $200,000 per year to community organisations for innovative services that create meaningful connections for Queenslanders experiencing social isolation and loneliness.
The Communities Innovation Fund is a flagship initiative of Communities 2032 – the Queensland Government’s new ten-year plan for supporting vibrant, inclusive, safe and welcoming communities.
As a key priority of Communities 2032, the Communities Innovation Fund is focused on initiatives that combat social isolation and loneliness in Queensland communities.
Purpose
It can be difficult to make new connections, and to maintain them, especially after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We all need to feel like we are part of our community, and that we have people in our lives to genuinely connect with.
When people are well connected with their communities, when they have genuine and meaningful relationships to rely on, they have better health and wellbeing, and better quality of life.
We are committed to helping Queenslanders experiencing social isolation and loneliness.
We know that community organisations are uniquely placed to help address these critical issues, with committed, skilled and experienced people working at the heart of their communities.
The Communities Innovation Fund is designed to provide funding to organisations with new ideas that will help people connect, reconnect, find and keep meaningful relationships within Queensland’s diverse communities.
We are looking for initiatives that will have the greatest impact on reducing social isolation and loneliness for people most likely to experience it, including older people, young people, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, newly arrived migrants and refugees, people with disability, unpaid carers. people who identify as LGBTIQ+, people experiencing or who have experienced domestic and family violence, single parents, people in financial stress, people with poorer health and mental health, and people who have been incarcerated.
Through the Communities Innovation Fund, we are looking to test and try new approaches that could be scaled up or expanded in the future.
What funding is available?
There are 2 grant types available:
Small grants—round one
Small grants rounds will be offered annually from 2023 to 2026.
The small grants round is for short-term initiatives up to $50,000.
The total value of funding available for small initiatives is $800,000 over the next four years ($200,000 per year).
The small grants round will support projects like events, courses, innovative ways of creating connection and professional development opportunities.
Check the eligibility requirements for small grants (PDF, 241.08 KB) and addendum one (PDF, 101.86 KB) for further clarifications.
Start your Small grant application.
Applications close 2pm 27 February 2023.
Large grants
The large grants are offered once in 2023.
The large grants round is for longer-term initiatives. Successful recipients will receive up to $200,000 per year, over multiple years.
Large grants are intended to support programs, projects, services or supports that demonstrate innovation, are place-based and person-centred, and create social connections for the long-term.
Check the eligibility requirements for large grants (PDF, 238.86 KB) and addendum one (PDF, 101.86 KB) for further clarifications.
Start your Large grant application.
Applications close 2pm 27 February 2023.
How to apply
Applications are now open and will close at 2pm Monday 27 February 2023.
Organisations that meet the eligibility criteria in the Communities Innovation Fund Guidelines are encouraged to apply.
Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander controlled organisations will be highly regarded.
We encourage proposals for services that will be delivered in regional and remote Queensland.
Contact
Email grantqueries@chde.qld.gov.au
- Last updated:
- 27 January 2023