The Palaszczuk Government has today announced a first-of-its kind, long-term strategy to improve the lives of Queenslanders and the communities they live in over the next 10 years.
Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch today launched the Communities 2032 strategy, describing it as a game changer for Queensland communities.
“This strategy will guide the actions of the Palaszczuk Government over the next 10 years to help support the sorts of communities that we all want to live in, show to the world through the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and want our future generations to enjoy,” Ms Enoch said.
Minister Enoch said that Communities 2032 was also a key part of the Palaszczuk Government’s response to the serious issues of social isolation and loneliness and today released grant guidelines for the $4 million ‘Communities Innovation Fund’.
“Through last year’s Parliamentary Inquiry into social isolation and loneliness, and my own work with Queenslanders right across the state, I’ve consistently heard that social isolation and loneliness are significant issues that will require us all to work together in new ways,” Ms Enoch said.
“The Communities Innovation Fund will enable a diverse range of projects, programs, services or supports and will be seeking applications for two different grants. “Small grants of up to $50,000 will be available for eligible organisations to conduct one-off activities or projects, as well as large, multi-year grants of up to $200,000 per year to trial promising interventions and evaluate them over time.
“With applications opening in early 2023, now is the perfect time for eligible organisations to start thinking about innovative new ideas that can help to address social isolation and loneliness in their communities.
“We know that social isolation and loneliness are complex problems. There’s no simple, one-size-fits-all solution.
“The Communities Innovation Fund is just one example of our commitment through Communities 2032 to support innovative, community driven projects that respond to specific needs where they are delivered.”Ms Enoch said Communities 2032 also focused on ensuring that Queensland communities can build the connections, engagement and infrastructure they need to plan for and respond to extreme events.
“Queenslanders have faced bushfires, cyclones, extreme flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic and have pulled together to support each other through the toughest of times,” she said.
“Safe and resilient communities are prepared for disaster and able to respond to the social, economic and environmental impacts of climate change and other disruptive events.”
The Communities 2032 Action Plan 2022-2025, which was also launched today, sets out government actions over the first three years of the strategy.
Ms Enoch said Communities 2032 is a whole-of-government strategy, with actions across all government departments – many of which are already underway.
“We’ve already demonstrated how serious we are about the actions in Communities 2032 with our record 2022-23 State Budget funding boost of $115.8 million over four years for the neighbourhood and community centres sector,” she said.
“This includes $51.8 million additional funding over four years to provide neighbourhood and community centres with the biggest ever boost to operational funding, meaning that each centre will receive base funding of at least $233,000 per annum.
“This funding is putting more support workers in neighbourhood and community centres, allowing them to provide more services and supports to Queenslanders, including people experiencing homelessness, domestic and family violence, financial stress, housing stress and mental health challenges.
“We’ve also provided a boost to the Community Connect workers program with an additional $9.33 million over four years to increase the number of workers to 20 place across more neighbourhood and community centres.”
The Palaszczuk Government will also fulfill key actions in Communities 2032 around neighbourhood and community centres with a $39 million investment announced in the 2022-23 State Budget to build new centres and make significant improvements to existing centres.
Ms Enoch said Brisbane 2032 presented endless opportunities for Queensland and it was important that these opportunities provided long-term benefits to the community and the social and economic wellbeing of Queenslanders.
“We want Queensland’s communities to support and empower every person to connect, participate, contribute, and thrive,” Ms Enoch said
“I am incredibly proud of the Communities 2032 strategy and all that it has to offer and hopes to achieve for Queenslanders.
“The next ten years in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 will be transformational for communities right across the state and we intend to leverage the opportunity of the Games to the benefit of all Queenslanders.”
