Funding Boost Supports Cassowary Coast Women

Tully Support Centre Inc has received $9,840 through the Queensland Government's Empowering Queensland Women grants program. Photo source: Tully Support Centre Inc

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Women across the Cassowary Coast are set to benefit from two locally delivered initiatives following the latest round of the Queensland Government's Empowering Queensland Women grants program.

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Cardwell UFO Festival Inc and Tully Support Centre Inc are among 30 community organisations to receive funding through Round 2 of the program, which has distributed almost $280,000 statewide to support women's economic security, financial confidence and employment opportunities.

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Cardwell UFO Festival Inc has been awarded $10,000 to deliver its From Culture to Commerce: Indigenous Women's Tourism Product Development Program.  

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The initiative will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls in the Cardwell region to develop tourism-ready products and build creative enterprise skills that can generate income. Participants will explore topics including cultural art creation, storytelling for commercial products, tourism trends, photographing and digitising artwork, designing gift lines, pricing and packaging products, and social media and online selling.

Meanwhile, Tully Support Centre Inc has secured $9,840 for its Independence and Empowerment Workshops, which will be delivered across Tully, Cardwell, Mission Beach and Kurrimine Beach.

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The workshops are designed to support women and girls who have experienced domestic and family violence and/or sexual violence, covering topics including financial health, planning and empowerment, threats and fraud, and personal growth and safety. The program aims to provide participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence to overcome isolation, exploitation and the impacts of domestic and family violence.

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Minister for Women and Women's Economic Security Fiona Simpson said the Empowering Queensland Women grants support community-led programs that help women build financial capability, develop new skills and connect with employment opportunities.

“The Round 2 recipients will deliver projects which support a wide range of women. We recognise that women face differing challenges depending on where they live or their personal circumstances or their cultural background – but these supported initiatives aim to help them overcome barriers to economic participation,” Minister Simpson said.

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The Government has invested almost $280,000 through Round 2 of the program, with grants of up to $10,000 awarded to community organisations across Queensland. For the Cassowary Coast, the funding will provide practical support for women through opportunities to develop businesses, strengthen financial literacy and build confidence, ensuring more women are equipped to participate fully in their communities and local economies.

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