The QBE Foundation opened applications for its annual local grants program, with a total of AU$360,000 in grants available to Australian charities working to make a difference in key areas of need.

Nine grants of $40,000 each will be provided to high impact community initiatives across the categories of climate resilience, inclusion and QBE employee choice. This marks a year-on-year increase of $60,000 in total grants available to community initiatives, following on from the program’s revamp last year to align with QBE’s approach to working in the community.

“We’re stepping things up a notch this year and providing larger grants to better support grant recipients and help them have a bigger impact in the community,” said Jason Clarke, QBE Foundation co-Chair.

“Climate resilience and inclusion are important to us at QBE and we want to do all we can to support charities creating a big impact in this space. We’re excited to see what applications we receive and to have the opportunity to be part of some of this work.”

Throughout 2021, the Australia Pacific QBE Foundation contributed over $1.6 million to community-based initiatives through a mix of community partnerships, local grants and employee engagement programs.

Sydney-based charity MedEarth was one of 12 recipients of last year’s grants program and was nominated by a QBE employee who volunteers with them. The charity recovers usable medical supplies and equipment from hospitals and medical practices, destined for landfill. Equipment is then redistributed to disadvantaged communities around Australia and the world, who would otherwise not have access to the life-changing medical equipment.

“We store the items until we have the right recipient for them to ensure that every donation will be used to its full potential and won’t end up in landfill,” said MedEarth Co-Founder Laura Taitz. “For example, we check that machines are sent to locations with adequate electricity, that there are patients who need the service and doctors who are able to confidently use the equipment.”

“In Sri Lanka, we sent furniture such as hospital beds and bedside tables to a cancer palliative care unit,” says Taitz. “The people in this unit would have had nowhere to go, they had a lack of care at the end of their life. There was no dignity. So, this equipment was really life-changing.”

For more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit the QBE Foundation website: https://www.qbe.com/au/about/sponsorship-community/the-qbe-foundation/local-grants

Applications will be accepted from 7 February to 11 March (12:00PM AEST), with the final grant recipients to be announced in June 2022, subject to change.