Community organisations improving access to healthcare, creating opportunities for young people, supporting First Nations communities and strengthening regional connections are among the recipients of the fifth annual Qantas Regional Grants program.
Forty-seven recipients will share $2 million in cash, flights and marketing support to help deliver projects across regional, rural and remote Australia. Since launching in 2019, the program has supported more than 150 organisations working to address local challenges and create new opportunities in communities across the country.
Among this year's recipients is The Gunggandji Aerospace Foundation (Queensland), which will receive funding to expand its Raising Horizons program, giving First Nations students from regional and remote Queensland greater access to aviation and aerospace career pathways through mentoring, STEM learning, industry experiences and role model connections. The program currently engages students from more than 29 communities across Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait.
Other recipients include:
- Country Hope (NSW) - to help regional children diagnosed with cancer and other serious illnesses travel to and from treatment, reducing the financial burden on families.
- Laura Memorial Civic Centre Committee (SA) - to fund upgrading the Laura Memorial Civic Centre's solar and battery system, helping reduce operating costs and ensuring the community hub can continue hosting events, meetings, celebrations and local gatherings for years to come.
- Strait Experience (QLD) - to bring up to 12 Torres Strait students to major tourism industry events and training opportunities in Cairns and beyond, helping build a pipeline of future cultural guides, tourism operators and industry leaders from the region.
- Jindivick Primary School (VIC) - to replace ageing breakfast club equipment, including refrigerators, freezers and food preparation appliances, helping ensure students have access to a safe, reliable breakfast program and start the school day ready to learn.
- Salted Christmas Island (WA) - to expand its community reusable cup library, helping prevent more than 10,000 single-use takeaway cups from entering landfill each year on Christmas Island, where there are no recycling facilities.
- Derby District High School (WA) - to help Aboriginal students travel from Derby to Perth to participate in the WA Public Schools Contemporary Music Festival, building on a music program that has improved school attendance, strengthened engagement and created new opportunities for young people in one of Australia's most remote communities.
- Artback NT (NT) - flights to help bring arts and cultural experiences to remote communities across the Northern Territory, connecting regional audiences with artists, performances and creative opportunities.
- The Listening Project Ltd (Tasmania) - to establish five peer-led Listening Table groups at a northern Tasmanian school, creating safe spaces where students can build connection, empathy and a stronger sense of belonging through structured listening sessions.
QantasLink Chief Executive Officer Mark Dal Pra said the grants reflected the long-standing connection between Qantas and regional Australia.
"For more than 105 years Qantas has been part of regional Australia and we've seen firsthand the role local organisations play in bringing communities together and supporting people when they need it most.
"We're proud to support their work and help them continue making a difference in the communities they call home.
"Helping strengthen regional Australia and giving back to the communities that support us is part of our role as the National Carrier, and something that gives us great pride."
A full list of successful recipients is available at qantas.com/regionalgrants.
