North Queensland community groups and organisations are invited to apply for community wellness and suicide prevention grants valued at up to $50,000. 

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) recently announced the grants to support community groups and organisations’ pitch-ready and ready-to-launch initiatives aimed at addressing social determinants of suicide and priority populations in the North Queensland region, from St Lawrence in the south to the Torres Strait in the north, and west to Croydon and Kowanyama. 

The grants form part of the Department of Health and Aged Care's Targeted Regional Initiative for Suicide Prevention (TRISP) program which funds Primary Health Networks (PHNs) for community-based suicide prevention activities that respond to the needs of their communities. 

Applications opened on Thursday 2 May and close on Monday 13 May at 12pm.  

In the past 12 months, NQPHN has actively engaged with a diverse and inclusive range of stakeholders and community members regarding community wellness and suicide prevention and has been inspired by the community-based initiatives created by and for the community. 

Eligible groups and organisations can apply for one of two types of grants: 

• ‘Project Pitch’ initiatives from organisations and groups who have a working concept or idea, but who need support and capacity building to be project ready. 

• 'Project Ready’ initiatives that are already developed and ready to be activated.  

The grant idea could be as broad as activities that reduce stigma, local sporting clubs engaging with their members in meaningful ways, or neighbourhood centres providing drop-in options for people having a challenging time, among other activities. 

Rather than focusing on traditional service delivery approaches, both the pitch-ready and project-ready grants focus on community-led and innovative initiatives.  

More information on the grants and application process can be found here. 

Those with questions are encouraged to email grants@nqphn.com.au. An NQPHN representative will then email the question and answer within three business days to everyone registered. Questions submitted after 4pm, Thursday 9 May will not be answered.