COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
GRANTS PROGRAM APPLICANT GUIDELINES
Introduction
Applications are invited from relevant community, local government and non-government organisations for
funding under the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program to plan, deliver and/or
participate in activities that contribute to strengthened community mental health and wellbeing.
Background
The Queensland Government publicly released the Queensland Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Strategic
Plan 2014-2019 on 9 October 2014.
The strategic plan sets the shared vision for Queensland as:
A healthy and inclusive community where people living with mental health difficulties or issues related to
substance use have a life with purpose and access to quality care and support focused on wellness and
recovery in an understanding, empathic and compassionate society.
It supports the broader Queensland Plan goals that people are physically and mentally healthy and are
connected to their communities.
The strategic plan includes eight Shared Commitments to Action including actions to improve awareness,
prevention and early intervention to reduce the incidence, severity and impact of mental illness and
substance use disorders.
This Shared Commitment to Action seeks to achieve:

More people across Queensland and within key groups with good mental health and wellbeing

Fewer people living with mental health difficulties or issues related to substance use being
subjected to stigma and discrimination

People receiving the right type of support, as early as possible, to start well, develop well, work well,
live well and age well

Reduced risks of people living with mental illness being subject to harm or harming themselves.
Achieving this will require commitment and action from multiple sectors. The Commission supports well
focused local government, non-government and community led actions that align with the strategic plan’s
Shared Commitments to Action to promote community engagement, ownership and sustainability.
The Commission is implementing a Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program (the Grants
Program) to facilitate and support communities through non-government organisations and local
governments to build community capacity and undertake actions to support raising awareness of mental
health and substance use issues and prevention and early intervention.
Purpose
Mental health is widely accepted as meaning much more that the absence of illness. Mental health is the
foundation of healthy and productive communities and economies. Factors that influence and constitute
mental health and wellbeing include:



Supportive relationships and a sense of connection with others
Being involved in meaningful, engaging activities and roles that increase feelings of competency,
confidence and self-worth
Having a sense of control and self-determination

Possessing a stock of inner resources to help cope when things go wrong and be resilient to
changes beyond immediate control.
Communities play a vital role in promoting and strengthening mental health and wellbeing. This includes
contributing to inclusive and supportive environments that foster participation and connectedness.
The Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Program aims to support implementation of the strategic plan
within communities by providing funding for locally-led initiatives that:
 increase community and individual connectedness
 raise community awareness of mental illness and substance use disorders, and
 build community capacity for improving mental health and wellbeing.
PROGRAM OUTLINE
How much and what can be apply for?
Funding under the Grants Program will be allocated through three initiatives.
1. Community Wellbeing Enhancement Initiative - grants of up to $50,000 for community
activities/projects (total budget of up to $350,000).
2. Community Awareness Initiative - grants of up to $15,000 to support mental health literacy training
delivered in the community (total budget of up to $120,000).
3. Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing - grants to support people to attend ‘Wheel-ofWellbeing’ training delivered by Tony Coggins from Maudsley International. The training will be
delivered on 18 November 2014 in Brisbane.

People from across Queensland are eligible to apply to attend training. Those living outside of South
East Queensland are able to seek reimbursement of reasonable travel and accommodation costs.

More information regarding the Wheel of Wellbeing Training is available at
http://www.wheelofwellbeing.org/
A more detailed description of the three initiatives including proposed funding allocations, criteria and
processes is provided in Attachment 1.
It should be noted that preference will be given to funding proposals that demonstrate:

capacity and willingness to implement multiple elements as linked initiatives, and/or

capacity to integrate with existing community/agency plans and processes.
Who is eligible to apply?
Queensland local government and non-government not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply for
funding under the Grants Program.
State Government and Australian Government agencies are not eligible to receive funding under the
Grants Program.
Organisations already receiving State or Australian Government funding must declare that funding and
demonstrate how their proposal differs from what they are currently funded to deliver.
The organisation seeking a grant must comply with minimum conditions required by the Commission
outlined at Attachment 2.
State and Federal Government agencies are not eligible for the grants.
Applications will also be deemed ineligible if:
 the application is provided after the closing date (postmarked),
 the application is incomplete, or
 any funded component refers to work undertaken prior to the closing date.
What are application submission key dates?
Program for all three initiatives is open for application submission from 8.00am 17 October 2014.
Program closes:
1. Community Wellbeing Enhancement Initiative – 21 November 2014
2. Community Awareness Initiative – 21 November 2014
3. Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing – 6 November 2014
How will applications be assessed?
Step 1: The Commission will initially assess your application to ensure eligibility
Step 2: An Assessment Panel (represented by the Commission and the Queensland Mental Health Drug
Advisory Council) will:
 assess your application against the assessment criteria assigned the relevant grant program
initiative (see attachment1) and rank your application against other applications, and
 moderate assessment outcomes with consideration of: available funding; balance across
geographic spread, target groups and priorities under the Queensland Mental Health, Drug and
Alcohol Strategic Plan 2014-2019.
Step 3: The Commission will then decide on and approve successful applications.
What are the assessment criteria?
The assessment criteria for each of the three grant program initiatives are detailed at Attachment 1. Your
application should include a response that addresses each of these. Applications will also be assessed
having regard to whether funding sought is reasonable for the activity or initiative proposed.
Submitting your application
Application forms for each of the initiatives are located at http://www.qmhc.qld.gov.au/work/promotionawareness/grants-program/
Initiative 1 – Community Wellbeing Enhancement Initiative
Initiative 2 – Community Awareness Initiative
Initiative 3 – Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing Initiative
Options for submitting your application are:
To apply online: Online applications will be available on Queensland Mental Health Commission website
(www.qmhc.qld.gov.au ) from 17 October 2014, or
Provide a USB device (memory stick):

by mail to
Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program
Queensland Mental Health Commission
PO Box 13027
Brisbane QLD 4003
 containing:
- a completed Grant Program Fund application form
- scanned signed copy of Section 5 – Certification
- relevant documents including all attachments and support material (as listed in Section 4 of
application form).
Note that your envelope must be postmarked no later than the closing date and that your USB will not be
returned.
Email applications: To accounts@qmhc.qld.gov.au noting that:

a size restriction of less than 10MB and that all the information detailed on the USB option outlined
above is to be included.
 using this option would require formal receipt confirmation.
Please note that you are to ensure your electronic copy is readable on commonly available software.
Notification of outcomes
Organisations will be notified of the outcomes of their grants application as follows:
1. Community Wellbeing Enhancement Initiative – mid-December 2014
2. Community Awareness Initiative – mid-December 2014
3. Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing – 13 November 2014
What are the acquittal and reporting requirements for successful applicants?
Recipients of funding for the Community Wellbeing Enhancement and Community Awareness Initiatives will
be required to submit a short post activity final report to the Commission.
The final report will include a financial statement to the Commission outlining the benefits of the funded
activity/project/training and whether it has achieved its objective/s. The report will be required within 20
working days of completion of the funded project or activity.
Individuals attending the training provided through the Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing initiative
will be required to complete an evaluation form at the completion of the training.
The reports and the training evaluation forms will be collated and analysed by the Commission to determine
outcome value and future grant program activities.
It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the reporting requirements before you submit your
application, so you understand the obligations which come with the Commission’s funding program.
The report templates are available on the Commission’s website at www.qmhc.qld.gov.au
Contact us
Further information about the grants program, including copies of the guidelines and application forms, can
be obtained by:
 Downloading from www.qmhc.qld.gov.au
 Emailing accounts@qmhc.qld.gov.au
ATTACHMENT 1 – INITIATIVE DESCRIPTION AND SELECTION CRITERIA
1. COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE
Proposal
Objectives
value
Equal to or
Facilitate the
less than
engagement of key
$50,000
community members in
relevant wellbeing
enhancement activities.
Increase awareness of
the relevance and benefit
of community wellbeing
to their goals and
activities.
Contribute to increased
community inclusion for
people experiencing
mental health difficulties
and substance use
issues.
Foster the establishment
of community wellbeing
partnerships.
Description
Assessment criteria
Proposed activities and projects should:

Initiative appropriateness/suitability


Target group reach/coverage

How need for the event/activity was
identified

Level of cross sector collaboration and
support

Alignment with the Queensland Mental
Health, Drug and Alcohol Strategic Plan
2014-2019

Alignment/links with the work of other
organisations within the community

Promote community
inclusion/participation/
connectedness of community
members who are at risk of
marginalisation
Adopt a collaborative/cross sector
approach
People at risk of marginalisation can
include for example:

people living with mental illness or
substance use problems

people with disability


Short, medium and long-term benefits of
the initiative
lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender or
intersex people


people from culturally linguistically
diverse backgrounds
Experience of those delivering the
project/activity and capacity to deliver the
project or activity

Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait
Islanders


There would be no duplication of an
existing activity
young people


elderly people

unemployed people
A state or commonwealth agency does not
have responsibility for the activity/project
and or funding does not already exist for
the activity/project
Priority will be given to initiatives that
address the needs of individuals and
groups experiencing multiple and
complex risk factors and/or displaying
signs of mental or substance use
difficulties.
Proposals are also to demonstrate that:
2. COMMUNITY AWARENESS INITIATIVE
Proposal
value
Equal to or
less than
$15,000
Objectives
Increase community
awareness and improve
understanding of mental
illness and substance
use problems.
Description
Proposals that seek to deliver
recognised mental health awareness
and or drug and alcohol awareness
training, for example Mental Health
First Aid.
Assessment criteria

Training suitability/appropriateness

Training delivery capability and expertise

Target audience in terms of numbers and
proportion of the audience who come from a
group known to be at risk of mental health
difficulties and alcohol and drug problems

Likely outcomes to be achieved
Proposals are also to demonstrate that:

There would be no duplication of an existing
activity

A state or commonwealth agency does not
have responsibility for the activity/project and
or funding does not already exist for the
activity/project
3. CAPACITY BUILDING FOR COMMUNITY WELLBEING INITIATIVE
Proposal
value
N/A
Objectives
Description
To increase social
inclusion, and community
connectedness by raising
awareness and building
capacity.
Enable community members to attend
a one day ‘Wheel-of-Wellbeing’
training in Brisbane on 18 November
2014.

Relevance of the training to the organisation
and the attendee’s role

The training will support achieving both
organisation’s goals
Up to 30 people will be able to attend
the training.

Funding will be provided to reimburse
reasonable travel and accommodation
costs (not including meal allowance)
of people living outside of the
Brisbane City Council, Logan City
Council, Ipswich City Council,
Redlands City Council, Sunshine
Coast City Council and Gold Coast
City Council areas.
The training will support the organisation to
increase social inclusion and community
connectedness for people experiencing
mental health difficulties and substance use
problems

Organisational approach to ensuring the
training will lead to capacity building within
the organisation and the community

Willingness to engage in future training

Anticipated cost of travel and
accommodation
Increase knowledge and
skills of a framework for
planning and delivering
mental health and
wellbeing activities among
key community members
with formal/ongoing roles
within community
Reasonable costs will be considered
in accordance with the Queensland
Government Domestic Travelling and
Relieving Expenses Directive 9/11
and other related directives:

Up to $200 for accommodation in
Brisbane overnight

Cost of an economy class
intrastate airfare

Reasonable fuel and taxi costs.
Assessment
.
ATTACHMENT 2 - MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The applicant is an organisation that is an incorporated company or statutory body.
The applicant does not accept any form of funding from tobacco, alcohol or drug companies or their related
foundations either directly or indirectly.
The applicant has public liability insurance for the duration of an event (if applicable).
The applicant is not involved in activities, which are likely to adversely affect the content or interpretation of
programs or services in the health sector and specifically for those areas of the Commission responsibility
and/or influence.
The application is not for capital works, major equipment, fundraising or purchase of infrastructure or costs
associated with running an organisation.
The application does not involve the advancement or promotion of a religion or religious outlook for the
recruitment of people to a religion.
The application does not involve advancement or promotion of a political organisation, or a political view of the
legislative role of the government.
The activity/project does not duplicate or compete with known existing government and/or non-government
support or partnership projects.
The grant funding provided will not go to a third party through a grant or support or partnership that is not
included in the agreement with the Commission.