In 2023, the RACQ Foundation extended support to 24 community groups, charities, and sporting clubs affected by natural disasters in Australia by contributing over $800,000 through its Community Grants Program.
The program offers an avenue for grassroots organisations to reconstruct post-disaster and fortify themselves against future calamities with resilience-focused initiatives.
Among the endeavours undertaken last year, the RACQ Foundation conducted an emergency preparedness education initiative for the Congolese Community of Queensland and aided Beaudesert Little Athletics in their rehabilitation efforts following flood damage, among various other projects.
RACQ foundation coordinator Anna Pimlott expressed satisfaction with the impact of the grants on the local community, highlighting one grant in particular.
“My most memorable grant project in 2023 was for the Hope Street Café,” she said. “The café is a community hub facilitating connections, training, meaningful engagement, volunteering, and employment opportunities to Brisbane's most vulnerable people. Thanks to RACQ Foundation's $49,000 grant, they were able to refit and replace damaged infrastructure following the devastation of the 2022 floods.”
RACQ foundation manager Bridgette Muller announced that the Community Grants Program would expand in 2024 to encompass a new resilience category.
“This means RACQ Foundation will now not only help community groups rebuild after natural disasters, but we'll help them face the future with confidence,” she said. “This new funding category exemplifies our commitment to fostering resilience within communities, helping to complete building retrofits and modifications, rehabilitation, or protection of natural environments and increasing social resilience through education programs.”
Community organisations, charities, and First Nations councils impacted by natural disasters or involved in resilience initiatives can find additional information about RACQ's Community Grants Program on the RACQ Foundation website.
In other news, RACQ recently published the results of its annual Road Safety Survey, the first instance where the insurer delved into questioning Queensland drivers about their drug use.
