Applications for the Workplace Rights and Co-operative Industrial Relations Grants Program are now closed

About the grant program

The Queensland Government is committed to building fair, safe, and productive workplaces and communities, where workers' rights are protected and advanced. When these values are actively committed to, businesses are able to grow and invest, and create jobs with good wages and conditions for everyone. Queensland has a proud record in this regard, often leading the nation in supporting workers' rights while creating a positive environment for businesses to flourish in a growing economy.

Our growing Queensland economy has not happened by accident. It has been underpinned by the combined efforts of workers and their unions, employers, and employer representatives, who have all contributed in different ways to a modern and co-operative industrial relations environment. It is a record of achievement which should be celebrated and promoted, and the Queensland Government is fully encouraging of this.

The Queensland Government has established a Workplace Rights and Co-operative Industrial Relations Grant Program (grant program). The grant program is intended to promote the achievements of unions, workers, employers, and their representative organisations in establishing modern workplace rights and co-operative industrial relations which contribute to a fairer and more productive Queensland economy and society. This co-operative approach supports ongoing efforts to promote fair, safe, and productive workplaces and communities. The grant program also aligns to Queensland Government commitments for best practice industrial relations, workplace health and safety, and training and skills development.

The program is open to industrial organisations registered within the state's industrial relations jurisdiction, including their peak bodies.

Proposals for grant applications could include (but are not limited to) community events, public forums and seminars, research projects, and publications or other media and online communications (e.g., short films or documentaries), that will promote or celebrate past industrial relations achievements or encourage new opportunities for promoting a positive and co-operative industrial relations agenda in Queensland. Examples could include events and activities that support and promote:

• Queensland Government initiatives and policies that assist workers, business and local economies
• The role of employers, employer organisations, workers and their unions in supporting Queensland's economic prosperity
• The history of establishing workers' rights in Queensland
• Collaborative efforts at the enterprise or industry level to improve workforce development and workplace performance
• The development of flexible work arrangements to support work and life balance, and
• The development and promotion of workplace initiatives to combat domestic and family violence (DFV), sexual and gender-based harassment, workplace discrimination and provide support for those who have experienced these.

A total of $500,000 will be granted each financial year from 2022/23 to 2026/27.

Who can apply

The grant program is open to industrial organisations registered within the state's industrial relations jurisdiction, including their peak bodies.

Eligible organisations may apply for grant funding covering a period of up to three years (i.e., if a program extends beyond a single year, additional applications in subsequent years may not be required). Eligible organisations may also submit a collaborative proposal.

How applications will be assessed

Applicants are assessed on criteria by an independent panel of experts who make recommendations to the Minister for Industrial Relations.

Applications are required to address the below criteria and include a detailed description of the proposal. The submission should include timeframes for activities, funding requirements, measures for success (including against the grant program’s selection criteria) and reporting arrangements.

The proposal must be accompanied with a completed Application Coversheet.

All organisations will receive notification of receipt of their application and of the outcome of their application, Successful applicants will be listed on this website.

Grants will not be provided for the promotion of individual organisations, or for activities that directly support current workplace negotiations.

Terms of reference (criteria)

The proposal will encourage community participation, including First Nations’ communities and Queenslanders in rural and remote areas, where appropriate to the proposal.