QF fund hits new height

QANTAS has seen a record number of applications for its Regional Grants program, up nearly 40% compared to when the program first launched four years ago ( TD 14 Jun 2019).

The initiative provides $10 million in grants over five years ($2 million each year) to support not-for-profit community groups and projects that directly benefit regional Australia.

More than 1,600 Australian community groups submitted applications for the latest round of the program, which opened in Feb ( TD 22 Feb) after a three-year pause due to the pandemic.

NSW-based regional organisations submitted the most applications of any state and territory, with 506 entries, followed by Queensland (416) and Western Australia (242).

Alice Springs, Armidale, Broome, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Geraldton, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay and Townsville were among the towns where 10 or more organisations submitted an application.

The top application categories included health and wellbeing, sports and recreation, children and family, and education.

QantasLink Chief Executive Officer John Gissing said the rise in applications “goes to show how many people and organisations around Australia are working to make their communities that little bit better.

“Being able to invest in regional organisations, especially those who have done it tough during the pandemic, is very rewarding for everyone across Qantas.”

The successful applications will be selected over the next month by a panel made up of Qantas and community group representatives, with applicants to be notified of the panel’s decision in Jun, Gissing revealed.