More than $500,000 available for Ipswich community groups

10 February 2022

Ipswich community groups and organisations can dust off their funding wish lists with a funding pool of more than $500,000 on offer from Ipswich City Council in 2022.

Community, Culture, Arts and Sports Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Fechner said council’s Major and Minor Funding Program supports organisations delivering one-off projects, events and activities that benefit the Ipswich local government area.

“We value our passionate volunteers, creators, performers, sportspeople, club members, organisations and staff and want to empower them to continue making a difference in Ipswich,” Cr Fechner said.

“In particular, we would like to see applications to fund projects for NAIDOC, Seniors Month, National Child Protection Week, Crime Prevention Month, and other similar projects.”

The Minor Funding Program offers up to $2,000 for individual projects and the Major Funding Program offers up to $15,000.

The application process is open until 28 February, and notification of application outcomes will be issued mid-April.

Previous successful applicants have included:

  • Neami National for their Mental Health Week Wellbeing Fair held at their Living and Learning Centre in Booval. The fair had a carnival atmosphere and collaborated with other service providers to offer diverse information to community members about local support services
  • Varnam Cultural Centre for its Greater Springfield Community Festival (formerly Multicultural Tamil and Indian New Year Celebrations), scheduled for 30 April 2022 at Robelle Domain, Springfield. This year the festival will see a range of multicultural and local community groups come together to pave the way for social cohesion, and to showcase Ipswich as a major multicultural hub
  • The Raceview Congregational Fellowship received funding to refurbish old accommodation cabins into community meeting spaces for the use of Ripley Valley community groups.

Community, Culture, Arts and Sports Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Kate Kunzelmann said council is committed to supporting community initiatives and partnerships that encourage participation in community life, foster social cohesion, celebrate culture and diversity, and contribute to a vibrant, healthy and sustainable city.

“The social, cultural and creative value our community organisations deliver enrich the lives of Ipswich residents and provide us with a more vibrant and connected community,” Cr Kunzelmann said.

To find out more about Minor and Major Funding Programs and eligibility criteria, visit: ipswich.qld.gov.au/services/funding-and-support or contact communityfunding@ipswich.qld.gov.au.