This quick guide provides links to select sources of financial assistance to community groups, as well as options for individuals looking for advice on the process of applying for funding – writing grant applications can be daunting, but there are many ways to seek support, such as:
The Community Grants Hub will connect you to GrantConnect, the Australian Government’s centralised grants information system. It is the authoritative source for grants information, where you can search for opportunities. The Hub also contains information and fact sheets to support people and organisations interested in applying for community grants to develop and submit their applications.
The Queensland Government website list grants and funding opportunities for your organisation, as well as advice and tools to assist you in developing your grant application. Specifically for sport and recreation organisations, and artists and art organisations, the Queensland Government Recreation, Sport and Arts page will link you to Sport and Recreation funding programs, and arts funding programs, grants and sponsorships.
Brisbane City Council – Brisbane City Council’s community grant programs help fund local non-profit community groups. This funding helps to develop and improve community facilities and services in Brisbane. Grants also help meet the housing and social needs of people experiencing homelessness and support community groups facing financial hardship.
The Celebrating Multicultural Queensland Grants Program provides funding to events and projects that promote cultural diversity and inclusiveness in the community.
The Queensland Community Foundation (QCF) is a public charitable trust set up to serve the state’s communities by providing a permanent funding source for charity. QCF supports over two hundred charitable organisations each year through its distribution of income and grant-making.
The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation provides information and links to a number of community benefit programs that are funded by gaming revenue and provide grants to local organisations. Most notable is the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF), Queensland’s largest one-off community grants program and distributes approximately $60 million each year to not-for-profit community groups.
In addition to Council and government grant funding opportunities, there are a range of enterprises that support community projects, such as the Sidney Myer Fund & the Myer Foundation which provides grants in four key areas: the arts and humanities; education; poverty and disadvantage; and sustainability and the environment, and the Telstra Foundation, which provides community development grants for technological innovation projects aimed at children and young people.
The Woolworths Group also provides support to local community organisations and charities, and the CommBank Staff Foundation aims specifically to assist community groups with youth programs focused on health, education and social inclusion.
See some of Queensland’s best comics (yes, they are all female!) at Multicultural Australia’s Stand Up for Women at the Sit-Down Comedy Club fundraiser.
Hosted on International Women’s Day, the event is a celebration of our diverse communities through the stories and experiences of a stellar line-up of comedians – from Alexandra Hudson and Anisa Nandaula to Emma Zammit, Jo Gowda, Rachael Hornbuckle and Georgina Humphries. Plus, your hostess with the mostest, Fiona McGary.
Wednesday 8 March
7pm – 9pm (Doors open at 6pm)
The Sit Down Comedy Club
186 Given Terrace (Paddington Tavern)
Paddington, QLD 4064
All proceeds from the event will assist migrant and refugee women affected by domestic and family violence.
Book now to enjoy a night of laughs for a good cause.
Click on ‘Book Now’ to be directed to The Stand Up Comedy ticket sales – it’s essential that tickets are pre-booked.
Who is performing?
Our Tucker Time program delivered with Skilling Queenslanders for Work funding was a regional winner of the Community Training Initiative at in the Queensland Training Awards.
The latest program had 13 trainees working toward a Certificate I in Hospitality while gaining paid work experience and training.
Multicultural Australia teamed up with the Second Bite organisation which helped Tucker Time to collect leftover food from such retailers as Coles, Aldi and Nandos.
The trainees accessed the kitchens at Salvation Army in order to transform those ingredients into wholesome and well presented meals which were donated to people in need.
Multicultural Australia also worked with the Rockhampton Regional Council to provide workshops to the public on reducing food wastage.
The reviews are in for The Neighbourhood and they’re glowing (if we do say so ourselves!). Read what the critics are saying below and book your tickets!
The Courier Mail says The Neighbourhood is the show we all need to see. Read The Courier Mail’s review
Stage Whispers says the universe needs more productions like The Neighbourhood. Read the Stage Whispers review
Limelight Magazine says The Neighbourhood is a performance that delivers a message of joy, hope, and celebration of difference while asking us: what do we want our neighbourhoods to look like, and how can we be better neighbours to each other? Read Limelight Magazine’s review
Scenestr says despite who you are, where you’re from, and where you call ‘home’, stories will be something that brings us together, and ‘The Neighbourhood’ is a beautiful example of this. Read Scenestr’s review
Purchase your tickets to The Neighbourhood now, use the code WELCOME to get a $10 discount.
Multicultural Australia stands by the people of Ukraine and the fundamental human right of every person to a life of safety, respect and dignity.
As the situation is evolving, we have been receiving offers of support from the community seeking to support this humanitarian effort.
To all the people and organisations who have offered support – we would like to say thank you.
As you will appreciate, the situation in Ukraine continues to change and we are operating in an environment of significant uncertainty.
Information from the Department of Home Affairs for Ukrainians seeking assistance
Department of Home Affairs has advised all Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) service providers that initial support can be provided to Ukrainian nationals in Australia who hold non-humanitarian temporary visas (e.g., 600 Visitor Visa). Full HSP support will be available for Ukrainian nationals who hold a Temporary Humanitarian Stay (subclass 449) visa or 786 Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) (subclass 786) visa. The support is free and voluntary, and tailored to assessed individual needs.
As the lead HSP provider in Queensland, we encourage anyone who has confirmed travel plans or has recently arrived in Queensland from Ukraine who is seeking support to contact Multicultural Australia office:
Email: HSPQLDEnquiries@mcaus.org.au
Phone: 07 3337 5400
Multicultural Australia will contact you to explain the services available under HSP and request for relevant information for making a referral, irrespective of the duration of your time in Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs has provided in-language fact sheets in English, Ukrainian and Russian, including Australia’s response to the crisis in Ukraine and new applications for Visas to Australia.
How can I seek community assistance in Queensland as a Ukrainian?
We encourage Ukrainians arriving or recently arrived in Australia to contact Multicultural Australia on 07 3337 5400 or email HSPQLDEnquiries@mcaus.org.au
Additionally, the Ukrainian Community of Queensland Inc. (UCQ) is an organisation which works to promote the general welfare of the Ukrainian community. Further information can be found here.
Multicultural Australia would be interested in speaking to individuals or communities that may be in the position to offer support to new arrivals from the Ukraine. We would ask any interest of support to be submitted through our Ukraine Support form here.
Thank you in advance for your support and patience.
How can I assist the settlement of Ukrainians into Queensland?
You can support Multicultural Australia directly through donating to our organisation here or donate to Ukrainian organisations in Australia, such as the Ukrainian Community of Queensland – https://www.ukrqld.com.au/donate-to-uchac/
Donations will be used to provide support and care to new Australians entering the country.
Please remember that this is an evolving situation, and it may be some time before we can confirm whether and when your support will be required.
How can you show support to other humanitarian organisations?
You can also show your support by donating to humanitarian groups focused on supporting the Ukraine community.
If you need, or know someone who needs support:
If you are someone, or knows someone, living in Australia who has been impacted by the evolving situation in Ukraine, you can contact the below support services:
We at Multicultural Australia will continue to connect with the Queensland Ukrainian community and our fellow service providers to provide support in every way we can as the situation in the Ukraine and region evolves.
Mas Experience is focused on delivering better workplace solutions for individuals and businesses through apprenticeship and trainee programs across all industries.
Mas Experience helps bring together people looking for employment opportunities and organisations looking for high quality staff. We connect the right candidate with the right employer and provide support throughout the journey to ensure success.
To assist with the recovery from the impact of COVID-19, the Australian Government is providing support to all employers who engage a new Australian Apprentice.
The Australian Government has announced the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy to support employers and Group Training Organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees.
Download the brochure to see how Mas Experience can help your business access the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy.
Whether you want to get a foot in the door with your first job or re-skill for a career change, Mas is here to help you find the right career.
Download the brochure to see how Mas Experience can help you.
Download MAS’ Apprentice and Trainee Guide.
There are a number of incentives for employers of Australian Apprentices/Trainees.
Download this handy summary of employer incentives provided by Mas Experience.
Follow Mas Experience
When I got off the plane in Brisbane, I thought my life was going to change. And it did.
I am from Iran. I had to leave because my Dad wasn’t safe and he wanted to give me and my sister the opportunity to have a better education. He also wanted to give my Mum the opportunity to pursue her dream to be an opera singer.
What I remember about home (Iran) is being at high school speaking Persian, but at home everyone was speaking Arabic; so I had to speak both Arabic and Persian. I remember going out with my Mum to the shops around New Year’s and everywhere was full of people.
After we left Iran, we went to Indonesia. We were traveling between Indonesia and Australia and the boat sank. My Mum and my sister died.
I was rescued after five hours. My dad was rescued after three days. We went back to Indonesia.
In Indonesia, I didn’t really have access to a proper high school education. I had to pay to study and we did not have much money or support.
I remember being ten years old in Indonesia. I was singing while I was washing the dishes. Someone came to the kitchen and said, “Is that you, the singing?”
I said, “Yeah, that’s me.”
They said “Oh my God, you’re so talented.” They said “You have a soprano voice. You can be an opera singer.”
But I thought everyone sang like that. I didn’t know what he was talking about.
When I got out of the plane in Brisbane, I put my feet on the ground and I thought that everything was going to be fine. I thought that my life was going to change. And it did.
My hope for the future is to be an opera singer; to be a superstar.
I also want to be a police officer. I want to bring justice for Persian and Turkish women because it’s not really fair between men and women. I want to change that by becoming a police officer. I want to help them.
When I came to Brisbane, I went to Yeronga State High School. My drama teacher saw my talent, heard my voice. She took a video of me and sent it to Opera Queensland. Opera Queensland gave me a scholarship for two years in Year 11 and 12 where an Opera Queensland singer came once a week to give me a lesson.
Afterwards, Australia’s Got Talent called me. My drama teacher had given them a video of me singing. We spoke over email and the phone, but because of COVID-19 the show is postponed. I’m waiting for them to give me a call back.
I survived. You can too.
I want to say that if I can do it, if I survived, you guys can do it as well. I’ve had a really hard life, but I’m still alive.
I’m proud of myself because I’ve grown up a lot. I have become a better person.
I have had lots of tragedy in my life, some of them I don’t want to talk about. Right now, I’m writing a book about my experiences.
I have a message for all women around the world.
I have overcome many things in my life. You have to always get back up, breathe and say everything is going to be fine.
On this International Women’s Day, I want to mention my Mum and my sister. I want to say how much I love them. I miss them, but I still keep going. I’m still getting up as a normal person and working hard to achieve my goals and my dreams. I do that for them. And I love them so much.
You can read more about Athena’s work with Opera Queensland through this Guardian article from 2018.
As Australia’s most diverse broadcaster, SBS is a modern, multiplatform media organisation with a free-to-air TV portfolio spanning five distinctive channels in SBS, NITV, SBS VICELAND, SBS Food and SBS World Movies; an extensive radio network providing 68 communities with services in their own language; and an innovative digital offering, including SBS On Demand, available to audiences anytime and anywhere.
The Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT) is a proud sponsor of the REIMAGINE Virtual Events, celebrating our diverse and welcoming Queensland!
QPASTT is a community based service providing counselling and support services to refugee and humanitarian entrants.
QPASTT provides counselling and support for refugee survivors of torture and trauma at an individual, family and community level.
We put a strong emphasis on community engagement through running psycho-educational groups, outreach to regional areas, and outreach to schools, participation in refugee community events and the initiation of community development activities that aid in community healing and recovery from the experience of torture and trauma.
QPASTT works with children, young people and adults.
We work within a strong recovery framework and seek to address the multiple issues of loss that typifies the experience of becoming a refugee and the added issues of psychological recovery from trauma.
Our vision is for people from refugee backgrounds to live lives liberated from the harms of torture, trauma and human rights injustice.
To find out more about our program and support us, please visit our website.
SBS Radio is the world’s most linguistically diverse public broadcaster – delivering news, current affairs and cultural connect in 68 languages on radio, online, digital television, social media and as podcasts.
SBS Radio is dedicated to the nearly five million Australians who speak a language other than English at home.
Three music channels engage all Australians with music and pop culture from around the world.
SBS assists new migrants settling in Australia with trusted information in 63 languages.
Learn about visas, health, jobs & more.
SBS is committed to informing all Australians about COVID-19.
Get news and information in 65 languages.
Multicultural Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today.
As the world’s oldest living cultures, we recognise that Australia always has been and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
We who come from many places pay our respects to Elders throughout all time and commit to learning from the knowledge, traditions, stories, spirituality, and experiences of Aboriginal people as we learn to live on their land.
We walk together in solidarity of the pain of the past, and in shared hope for the future.
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