NQBP backs Bowen community initiatives
14 Dec 2022
Bowen Flexi Care and Community Solutions are among nine community initiatives to be supported under North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation’s (NQBP’s) 2022-23 Community Fund.
The Community Fund recipients will share $60,000 in funding, with each initiative expected to deliver tangible benefits and promote goodwill across NQBP’s port communities.
NQBP Acting Chief Executive Officer Belinda Kenny congratulated the Bowen Community Fund recipients and said each initiative demonstrated the ability to make a real difference in the community.
“We had a great response to our 2022-23 Community Fund, the inaugural year of the Fund, with fifty-six applications received,” Ms Kenny said.
“We’re proud to support a broad range of initiatives such as Bowen’s Flexi Care and Community Solutions via this year’s Community Fund.”
“All the initiatives supported under the 2022-23 Community Fund have a strong alignment with NQBP’s values of Excellence, Unity, Respect, and Integrity.”
From Christmas hampers, sailing classes for people with disability, school science kits, and mental health training, NQBP will be playing an active role in the communities in which it operates.
Ms Kenny also said the selected initiatives would promote the principles of diversity and inclusion, and recognition of First Nations Peoples.
“I would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this year’s Community Fund and wish those not selected for this year’s Fund the very best with their respective community initiatives,” she said.
“We look forward to working with our 2022-23 Community Fund partners to support their valuable initiatives over the coming year, and fostering stronger community connections.
”Bowen Flexi Care General Manager Elise Woodhouse said NQBP’s sponsorship will assist the not-for-profit organisation in providing much-needed mental health training for staff and the community.
“We are so grateful for NQBP’s support,” Ms Woodhouse said.
“With the help of NQBP and other local businesses, we will provide mental health first aid training to Flexi Care staff and community members so they can provide the initial support for clients, families, colleagues, and friends who might need mental health assistance.”
The NQBP Community Fund is an annual sponsorship program open to non-profit groups and organisations, and registered charities.
NQBP is a Queensland Government-owned corporation responsible for the ports of Hay Point, Mackay, Abbot Point, and Weipa in far north Queensland.
The 2023-24 NQBP Community Fund will be open for applications in April/May 2023.
A full list of the 2022-23 Community Fund recipients is below:
| Recipient | Initiative |
|---|---|
| Bowen Flexi Care | Funding will go towards mental health First Aid training for staff and members of the Bowen community |
| Community Solutions (Bowen) | Funding will support training courses for people with disability within the community |
| Sarina State School (Hay Point) | Funding will support the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and literacy program (purchase of STEAM kits) |
| Phoenix Place In (Mackay) | Funding will go towards a Barista course for people with disability |
| Pine Islet Lighthouse Preservation Society (Mackay) | Funding will support the development of a Conservation Management Plan for Pine Islet Lighthouse (located at the Mackay Marina) |
| Sailability Mackay Inc | Funding will support the purchase of new equipment for sailing experience sessions for people with disability |
| Whitsunday STEM Challenge (Mackay) | Funding will enable the purchase of a Human Powered Vehicle challenge for the Whitsunday STEM Challenge |
| Weipa Community Care | Funding will support the creation of Christmas hampers for foster children and carers |
| Weipa Running Festival | Funding will support the 2024 Weipa Running Festival |
North Queensland Bulk Ports contact:
Lorelei van Dalen | Community and Stakeholder Advisor
07 4969 0772 | lvandalen@nqbp.com.au