Far North Queenslanders can help make the state a safer place to live, work and play, with applications for the Safer Queensland Community Grants now open.

The grants program, a partnership between Suncorp Insurance and the Queensland Police Service (QPS), is encouraging community groups, not-for-profits and police throughout the state to apply for a one-off grant to fund their community initiative.  

$160,000 is available to recipients this round, with the program already awarding more than $350,000 in funding in its two year history.

“Through the Safer Queensland Community Grants program, funds have been provided for education programs such as road safety projects in regional communities, addressing drink driving and driver distractions, awareness and education programs focusing on youth violence,” said Police Minister Jack Dempsey.

Local campaigns to receive funding in the 2012-13 round included:

• The Will U B Next campaign, implementing a road safety campaign in the Mareeba area to reduce the incidence of road crashes focusing on texting whilst driving.
• The Drink Driving Artwork and Resources project in Mossman, working to engage the local community in developing a campaign to address drink driving behaviours.

Applications for the 2013 Safer Queensland Community Grants are open from June 3 to July 31 2013.

Interested community groups and police can visit www.suncorp.com.au/saferqld for information and to apply.