At Ventia, we believe we have a responsibility to the communities in which we operate. Beyond our role in providing services that support essential community infrastructure and capability, we also believe in building on regional strength and sustainability.

One way we do this is by giving back; supporting community organisations to provide social support and activity for the benefit of people in these regions. 

For the past 10 years, our Rig and Well Services business (formerly known as Easternwell) has run a Community Grants Program focused on helping community groups, schools, aged care providers and other small organisations in the Pilbara, Surat Basin and Roxby Downs regions to create a better future for people who live in these communities. 

Established in 2011, the program provides funding assistance of up to $2,000 per applicant, per round to support activities or projects that provide lasting community benefits in areas like community, education and training, health, Indigenous support, safety and youth.  

Creating positive community outcomes

Funds provided through the Community Grants Program have been used for a wide variety of projects or activities - from helping a community garden to purchase new seedlings, to providing resources for dental care education for youngsters in the Pilbara, to providing enough funds for a local Queensland scout group to purchase electrical appliances after a flood damaged their hall.

Since the launch of the program, more than $460,000 has been distributed to 286 community groups. 

Groups that are granted funding are required to demonstrate lasting benefits to the community; enhance community operations through programs, infrastructure or equipment; improve the capability of the organisation; and be located in key areas near our Resources operations. 

In 2022, we hope to expand the program into additional regions serviced by other parts of the Ventia organisation.

Demonstrating long-term benefits for communities

There are countless community groups, clubs and associations in the regions in which we work that provide essential services to their communities. In many cases, these groups are helping fill gaps in their local areas that provide critical safety, health or educational needs for members of the community, from young children through to seniors. This commitment to essential services is close to our heart.

Previous grant recipients include:

In the Surat Basin, Surat Aboriginal Corporation received a grant for supplies and ingredients for their Breakfast Club program. The club supports 1,300 Indigenous primary and secondary students start their day at school with a healthy breakfast. 

Hear and Say Darling Downs received a community grant to purchase clinical resources, toys and equipment that assist in delivering speech, language, social and other health development outcomes for children with hearing loss in the region.

Over in the Pilbara, the Rose Nowers Early Learning Centre received a grant that allowed them to purchase resources to provide dental care education.  

The Community Grants Program also enabled Karratha Community House to purchase play equipment, toys and art supplies for their early learning programs. 

What recipients had to say

Protea Place is Toowoomba's only frontline women's support centre, providing a safe day space for women to access showers, laundry facilities and meals as well as support services. 

CEO of Toowoomba Women's Collective Amanda Dalton says that most of the women that access their program have or are currently experiencing domestic and family violence, homelessness and disadvantage. 

With the grant received from Ventia, they were able to purchase security cameras for the facility. 

Jandowae Kindergarten Association received a grant to purchase a greenhouse and gravel. 

Naomi Black from the association says that they are focused on teaching children about sustainable living and caring for their environment. 

An award-worthy program

The team behind the Community Grants Program were proud to be finalists in the inaugural Surat Basin Energy Awards in the Community category.

The Community Award was for a business that has supported the local community through social investment, and the awards more broadly were designed to showcase the economic contribution and the positive impact the energy sector has made to the region. 

These awards are run by the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, a not-for-profit, independent economic organisation that links business with opportunities to create sustainable economic growth and diversity in the region.