Key Facts:
Queensland Country Bank receives 390 applications as community funding requests quadruple in just two years
$8.27 MILLION CALL FOR HELP:
RECORD GRANT APPLICATIONS REVEAL PRESSURE ON QUEENSLAND COMMUNITIES
Queensland Country Bank receives 390 applications as community funding requests quadruple in just two years
Almost 400 Queensland charities, sporting clubs, community groups and not-for-profit organisations have put their hands up for help, requesting a record $8.27 million through Queensland Country Bank's 2026-27 Good for Good Community Grants program.
The number of applications represent the largest response in the program's 20-year history and provide a revealing snapshot of the challenges being faced by communities across Queensland. Application submissions have more than tripled in just two years, rising from 124 in 2024-25 to 284 in 2025-26 and now 390 in 2026-27.
But even more striking is the amount of support being sought.
Community organisations requested $2.04 million in 2024-25, increasing to $5.41 million the following year and reaching $8.27 million this year, more than four times the amount requested just two years ago.
The average amount sought has also climbed from $16,457 to $21,254 per application, an increase of almost 30 per cent.
Queensland Country Bank CEO Aaron Newman said while the record response demonstrated the extraordinary work being undertaken by community organisations across Queensland, the numbers also told a more sobering story.
"Behind every one of these applications is a Queensland community telling us there is something they need," Mr Newman said. "It might be better access for people with disability, support for volunteers who are carrying an enormous load, programs tackling social isolation and mental health, disaster resilience, mentoring for young people, or simply essential equipment that allows a community organisation to keep its doors open."
"When almost 400 organisations collectively ask for more than $8 million in support, we need to listen to what that is telling us."
VOLUNTEERS, ACCESSIBILITY AND WELLBEING EMERGE AS MAJOR NEEDS
Analysis of the applications reveals the scale and diversity of challenges being addressed by Queensland's grassroots organisations. Almost half - 188 applications or 48 per cent - referenced accessibility and inclusion, while 171 applications, or 44 per cent, highlighted volunteer capacity or the burden being carried by volunteers.
Mental health, wellbeing and social isolation featured in 124 applications (32 per cent), while 77 (20 per cent) referenced disaster resilience and recovery and 74 (19 per cent) focused on youth engagement and mentoring.
Other applications sought support for ageing and seniors, First Nations participation, food relief, vehicles and transport, playgrounds, defibrillators and first aid equipment, shade and air conditioning, solar energy, community gardens and essential technology and equipment.
"These aren't abstract statistics. They are local football clubs, charities, neighbourhood centres, cultural organisations, schools and volunteer groups trying to solve very real problems in their own communities," Mr Newman said.
THE NEED STRETCHES ACROSS QUEENSLAND
Applications came from across the state, with 209 applications from southern Queensland, seeking more than $4.18 million in funding. Central Queensland generated 97 applications requesting $2.14 million, while 70 applications from North Queensland sought more than $1.61 million. A further 13 state or nationally-focused applications sought $331,803.
Combined, North and Central Queensland alone accounted for 167 applications seeking $3.75 million, highlighting the scale of community projects seeking support beyond the state's south-east corner.
Mr Newman said regional communities in particular relied heavily on grassroots organisations and volunteers. "In regional Queensland, the local sporting club, community hall, charity or volunteer organisation can be absolutely fundamental to the fabric of a town," he said. "They are where people connect, where young people find opportunities, where families turn for support and where communities come together when times are tough.
"As a customer-owned bank with deep roots in regional Queensland, we understand how important those organisations are."
Queensland Country Bank's Good for Good Community Grants program has been supporting Queensland communities for 20 years, awarding 682 grants and investing more than $3.27 million into initiatives from South East Queensland to Cape York, the North West and the state's regional heartland.
In 2025-26 alone, Queensland Country Bank supported 16 community projects with a record-breaking $220,000-plus, funding initiatives across Sport and Recreation, Health, Education, Environment, and Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Mr Newman said the Bank now faced the difficult task of assessing the record number of applications. "The hardest part is knowing that behind every application is a group of passionate Queenslanders who genuinely believe in what they are trying to achieve.
"This number of applications tell us there is an extraordinary amount of good happening across Queensland. They also tell us that the people doing that good need support."
ABOUT Queensland Country Bank - serving communities for 55 years
For 55 years, Queensland Country Bank has been a Member-owned bank, starting in 1971 in Mount Isa. The Bank offers a uniquely enriching banking experience by integrating exceptional customer service with deep community engagement and supports over 100,000 Members, employs 430 Queenslanders, and has given back $3 million to local communities through its Community Good for Good grants program since 2005. The team at Queensland Country Bank prioritises simplicity, speed, and personalisation in their services, supported by digital tools and knowledgeable staff across a 29-branch network across the state. For over half a century, the Bank has proudly invested in the regions it serves, offering a combination of financial expertise and unwavering support for local development.
