These funds are aimed at aiding resilience and recovery efforts in these areas.
The announcement comes six months after ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper impacted the Far North coast on Dec. 13, 2023, and five months after ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily struck North Queensland on Jan. 25, 2024, moving south and west and causing further damage.
Local NFPs in Far North and North Queensland, as well as other rural and remote regions affected by the cyclones, are eligible to apply for grants up to $20,000 through the Rebuilding Futures program. These grants are intended for community-led projects focusing on prevention, preparedness, and recovery.
Nina O’Brien, disaster resilience and recovery lead at FRRR, highlighted the necessity of supporting communities in taking proactive measures against extreme weather impacts.
“The effects of an extreme weather event do not dissipate when the immediate danger is over,” she said. “Recovery needs to evolve over the medium to long-term, as locals identify ways of building community resilience and reducing the impact of future disasters on community wellbeing and physical infrastructure.”
She also emphasised the importance of considering the needs of all community groups, especially those with limited access to resources and support, in recovery planning and implementation.
The Rebuilding Futures program, funded by Suncorp, has already distributed over $1 million to 62 community groups across Australia in recent years.
“Queensland is the most disaster-impacted state in the country and regional Queensland, particularly the Far North and North, has certainly borne the brunt of events like Cyclones Jasper and Kirrily,” said Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston. “Suncorp is a proud Queensland-based company and will always be there to help our customers rebuild their lives following these devastating events, but we also understand how important it is to help community groups be prepared, build back better, and assist that recovery in the medium and longer term.”
He noted that partnering with FRRR allows Suncorp to direct grants to community organisations with the local insight needed to allocate funds effectively.
An online Grantseeker Workshop, including a Q&A session on the Rebuilding Futures grant program, will be held on June 18 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm AEST.
Last month, Suncorp teamed up with IAG to launch a national domestic violence campaign aimed at preventing financial abuse.
