The Better Futures grants 2019 offered up to $200,000 (excluding GST) for innovative initiatives delivered over a three-year timespan.
The grant program was targeted at improving the mental health and wellbeing, and social inclusion of Queenslanders with a lived experience of mental illness, problematic alcohol and other drug use, or those impacted by suicide.
The grants had a particular focus on those experience housing and/or employment issues.
| Organisation | Description | Grant |
| Lives Lived Well | Lives Lived Well was funded to establish a social enterprise called Nurture - a sustainable, regenerative farming and distribution cooperative in Logan. The initiative supported young Queenslanders who had experienced alcohol and other drug issues to participate in a Skilling Queenslanders for Work 20-week training and employment program on site, to achieve nationally-recognised qualifications. Trainees also completed a range of complementary life skills courses to enhance employability. | $200,000 over three years |
| Brisbane Youth Service | Brisbane Youth Service received a grant to trial a Brisbane Couch Surfing Support Line and mobile service to help vulnerable young people find suitable accommodation and reduce the risks associated with homelessness, mental health issues, problematic substance use, or self-harm. | $198,000 over three years |
| Mercy Community SEQ |
Mercy Community SEQ received support to implement the Green Care Multicultural Mental Health Program. The initiative was a structured educational care program that focused on social and therapeutic horticulture and vegetable production. ti was designed to improve the social connectedness and inclusion of migrant and refugee communities in the Toowoomba region, enhancing participants's wellbeing and employability through skills-based horticulture workshops. |
$200,000 over three years |
| HELP Enterprises | The HELP Enterprises Champions of Change: Mental Health in the Workplace initiative sought to build employer capacity to improve understanding of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and address stigma and discrimination. | $142,000 over three years |
Further details about the initiatives are in the Commission's 2019-20 annual report.
