Western Queensland Drought Committee Inc.

About

The Western Queensland Drought Committee Inc. (WQDC) is an Australian not-for-profit charity dedicated to providing critical support and relief to communities affected by drought and other natural disasters across rural and remote Western Queensland. Established over a decade ago, its core mission is to sustain rural livelihoods and alleviate hardship by efficiently raising and distributing funds where they are most needed within the region.

Giving Philosophy

The WQDC's giving philosophy is centred on directly addressing immediate community needs and building long-term resilience against natural disasters. They prioritise using funds locally to maximise their impact, fostering partnerships with other charities, and encouraging cash donations to support local businesses. The committee strives to be a key point of contact for external bodies wishing to provide support and actively advocates for policy changes to benefit drought-affected rural communities.

Tips for Applicants

The Western Queensland Drought Committee Inc. is primarily a distribution and advocacy body rather than an open grant-making foundation with regular application rounds for external organisations. They focus on identifying and responding to needs within Western Queensland, often through direct aid or specific projects. They value local impact and partnerships, and have a history of commissioning research to inform their advocacy and activities.

Notable Grants

• Distributed pre-paid debit cards to individuals in central-west and south-west Queensland.
• Committed $545,000 of donated funds to individuals facing drought-induced hardship.
• Awarded a Queensland Health Tackling Regional Adversity Through Integrated Care (TRAIC) community grant of nearly $100,000 for an 'Embrace the dust' community drought relief expo focusing on mental health and wellbeing.
• Applied for a Queensland Community Foundation (QCF) 2020 grant of $23,790 to build organisational capacity.
• Applied for over $1,000,000 from the Community Drought Support Package to distribute Flexible Financial Hardship payments across 14 eligible drought declared Shires.
• Commissioned the 'Beyond the DUST' report to identify financial, social, and mental issues for small town businesses during drought and explore response strategies.

Financial History (7 years)