Queensland Justice Reinvestment Grants
Grant applications closed at 11:59pm on Sunday 21 December 2025.
The Queensland Justice Reinvestment Grant program (the grant program) supports community-based projects that help keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples out of the justice system.
The grant program takes a justice reinvestment approach, funding projects that are place-based and guided by community knowledge, experience and cultural understanding.
Background
Justice reinvestment is a relatively new, evidence-based approach to criminal justice reform that aims to reduce crime, decrease victim numbers and improve community safety.
It redirects resources towards community-led, early intervention and prevention activities that address the underlying causes of crime.
From 2026, the Queensland Government will invest $5 million over 3 years.
While each community may have different priorities, all projects must have a focus on tackling factors that contribute to crime to improve the way the justice system works with, and for, community.
Who can apply for a Queensland Justice Reinvestment Grant?
Organisations eligible for this program included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and other First Nations organisations.
Non-Indigenous organisations could also apply but needed to demonstrate that they work in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members or organisations and demonstrate a place-based approach.
More information about grant eligibility is available in the funding guidelines.
Funding available
Eligible organisations could apply for one of two funding categories:
- Category 1 - Up to $100,000 for small, targeted projects that meet an urgent community need and are completed within 1 year. This could be a short-term program or essential purchase.
- Category 2 - Up to $900,000 ($300,000 per annum) for multi-year projects that respond to existing gaps in community programs or services to be delivered over three years.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a grant, your project needs to demonstrate:
- strong connections to the community
- a place-based project plan
- a plan to reduce contact with the justice system
- cultural knowledge and community leadership
- how the project will work to help people
- that it will be delivered within Queensland.
There will be two different assessment criteria for Stage 1 and Stage 2.
More information about program funding arrangements, including who is eligible to apply and the assessment criteria, is available in the funding guidelines.
How to apply
Grant applications opened on 9am Monday 24 November and closed at 11:59pm on Sunday 21 December 2025.
Watch our short ‘how to apply’ video.
We recognise that preparing a grant application is a significant commitment for any organisation. To make sure that applicants don’t invest time and effort into preparing applications for proposals that are unlikely to succeed, the program consists of a two-stage application process:
Stage 1: Express your interest
The first stage is to express your interest in the grant program in a way that best works for you. As a flexible and culturally sensitive application process, we encouraged applicants to tell their story, their way. This means, applicants could choose to attach:
- short stories about the project
- short videos telling us why your project is important to your community
- posters or artwork that tells the story of your project.
We will also need some basic details like your business name and location.
You will need to express your interest via SmartyGrants.
SmartyGrants will automatically close at 11:59pm on the closing date and will not allow applications past this time. Please ensure you allow adequate time to submit your application. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted after this time to ensure fairness to all applicants.
Stage 2: Full application
We are assessing the expression of interest submissions and will invite shortlisted organisations to complete a full application.
Your full application will need to address the full application assessment criteria, including budget, project activities, outcomes and your experience.
Shortlisted organisations will also need to submit your full application via SmartyGrants.
More information
- Read our funding guidelines for more information about the program including available funding, who can and can’t apply, how the panel will assess your application, and assessment criteria.
- Read our How to write an effective grant proposal resource for help with your application.
- Reporting documents, including a sample progress report template and sample acquittal report template, cover the reporting requirements expected of an organisation successful in this grants program.
- Frequently asked questions addresses common questions and issues, and provides you with additional information that may be helpful when considering applying for a grant.
- Read our additional supporting resources, including a Sample Full Application Template to assist you with preparing a full application under Stage 2.
- Our Terms and Conditions document outlines the legal requirements of applying for a Queensland Justice Reinvestment Grant.
Successful funding applications
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the assessment process. A list of successful applicants will be available on this page.
Contacts
If you have questions or would like to yarn about the grants program, please email us at fnjo-funding@justice.qld.gov.au.
For more information about applying online, you can read the SmartyGrants—Help guide for applicants. If you need assistance with your SmartyGrants account, you can contact SmartyGrants Technical Support on (03) 9320 6888 or service@smartygrants.com.au. Support desk hours are 9am to 5pm AEST, Monday to Friday.