RACQ helps North Queenslanders get back on their feet
RACQ has supported the delivery of essential items to North Queenslanders after widespread flooding inundated the region in February.
Building on its partnerships with charities FareShare and Thread Together, RACQ’s funding enabled FareShare to double the number of ready-made meals available through its Disaster Relief Meal Program to over 53,000. These meals will be distributed to flood-affected regions, as well as stored in preparation for potential future natural disasters.
At the same time, more than 200,000 pieces of clothing will be made available to individuals and families through Thread Together's Emergency Clothing Hub and mobile wardrobes which will be positioned across the flooded-impacted areas.
In additional aid, the RACQ Foundation has also donated $20,000 to the Tully Support Centre allowing recovery services to purchase groceries and fuel for affected residents in Tully, Cardwell and Mission Beach.
RACQ Chief Purpose Officer MJ Bellotti said these partnerships highlight the importance of organisations working together to support vulnerable communities.
“RACQ is committed to helping North Queenslanders recover from this devastating event and our team of assessors and builders remain on the ground, helping our members start the journey of rebuilding,” Ms Bellotti said.
“We know these weather events can have a lasting impact on the whole community and can be particularly distressing for those who have been displaced from their home, isolated by road closures or impacted by supply chain disruptions.
“It was important for us to look at opportunities to do more and this additional funding will help supply food and clothing to areas like North Queensland now and in the future.”
Ms Bellotti encouraged local community groups and charities affected by the severe weather to apply for the next round of RACQ Foundation Community Grants in May 2025.
“At RACQ we’re more than an insurer, we’re a member-centric, community-minded organisation with a big heart,” she said.
“In the past 15 years, we have given more than $15 million through our RACQ Foundation Community Grants program and delivered 25 Community Assistance projects.
“We want to encourage clubs, not-for-profits and community groups affected by the recent severe weather to apply for our next grant round, so we can continue to help with the recovery effort.”
Ms Bellotti said the RACQ Foundation offered resilience-based community grants as part of the program with the aim of helping communities build back better.
“Importantly, we will also have some resilient grants available for betterment projects so they can lessen the impact of the next big weather event,” Ms Bellotti said.
With support and funding of up to $50,000 from the RACQ Foundation, Queensland community groups will be able to prioritise building nature-based, physical and social resilience to reduce the damage caused by severe weather events.
RACQ has also welcomed the State Government's commitment to adopting a 'build it back better' approach through a new Stronger Homes Grant program. The program is aimed at helping North Queensland residents make their homes more resilient in the face of future natural disasters.
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