- $48,808 in grant funding has been awarded to community-led projects in Central Queensland
- The GenQ Health and Wellbeing Queensland Grants Program aims to support the health and wellbeing of infants, children and young people
- Grants were awarded to initiatives that promote physical activity, nutrition, health literacy, wellbeing and/or health equity
Local communities across Queensland are being empowered to implement initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of infants, children and young people through new grant funding.
Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the state's prevention agency, has awarded 25 community projects a total of nearly $400,000 in funding through its inaugural GenQ Health and Wellbeing Community grants scheme.
Grants were awarded to initiatives that promote physical activity, nutrition, health literacy, wellbeing and/or health equity in local communities.
That funding includes $48,808 delivered to four community projects to support communities in Central Queensland.
- Royal Queensland Bush Children's Health Scheme (BUSHKids), $19,808 – to create parent-friendly, accessible and engaging program resources for the evidence-based ADHD Parent Education and Support Group Program, which aims to empower parents, carers and community with an improved understanding of ADHD and strategies to help their children and family thrive. The program will be delivered in-person and via telepractice in rural and remote areas in Queensland.
- Red Ridge Interior Queensland Ltd, $18,000 – To deliver dance workshops and community showcase performances in Blackall, Tambo, Barcaldine and Isisford to bring communities together, reduce isolation and keep bush kids physically active.
- Blackall Bowls Club, $6,000 – To introduce Junior Bowling Competitions at Blackall Bowls Club to increase the participation of young people living in Blackall and connection with the senior community.
- Central Queensland Rural Division of General Practice trading as CQ Rural Health, $5,000 - To increase the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of youth in Biloela and surrounding areas through the provision of youth wellbeing resources and a campaign for a youth wellbeing drop-in centre in Biloela.
Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive Officer Dr Robyn Littlewood said creating a generational shift was key to helping Queensland's children and young people live healthier more active lives.
'It's wonderful this Children's Week to acknowledge the communities across our state who are driving to improve the health and wellbeing of Queensland's more than 1.2 million children and young people,' she said.
'New research shows that a child born in the decade from 2023 may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents – we need to reverse this trend.
'These Community Grants are just one of the steps we're taking to deliver our GenQ vision so that children born today experience better health outcomes than the generations of Queenslanders before them.
'These grants will help make healthy happen faster for our state by driving innovation across key areas that have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing, and most importantly by supporting communities bring the ideas to life that will be most beneficial – because they know their own communities better than anyone.'
Click here for the full list of recipients.
