The grant program provides Australia-wide assistance targeted financial support in the areas of education, employment, health and wellness.
There are three types of grants – dental, personal development, and health and wellness.
One of the grants that has the greatest personal impact is the dental grant. Interstate applicants can choose their own private dentist or those who live in Queensland can choose between their private dentist or a Queensland Health dental clinic.
A Letter of Intent between the Forde Foundation and Queensland Health allows dental grant recipients to receive a course of free dental treatment without being on public waiting lists.
Grant Eligibility
You were one of the following:
- A ward of the State of Queensland
- Under the guardianship of the State of Queensland
- A resident in a Queensland institution when you were a child
You must be registered with Forde Foundation to apply for grants.
If you are unsure if you have registered, please email us by clicking contact us below.
Our Grants
Health and Wellness
The health and wellness grant can assist applicants:
- Improve their ability to live more independently at home or with their families
- Maintain or enhance their connection to their community
- Maintain or enhance an active lifestyle
- Support their needs to improve their immediate quality of life
- Maintain or enhance their general health and wellness
Personal Development
The personal development grant can assist applicants:
- Improve their life skills so they can live more independently
- Improve their employment opportunities by gaining a certification or qualification
- Develop an interest in activities which are of therapeutic benefit.
Dental – QLD Health
The Queensland Health dental grant allows dental grant recipients to receive a course of free dental treatment without being on public waiting lists.
Dental – Private
The Private Dental grant allows applicants who live interstate or in Queensland to choose their own private dentist.
Grant FAQ's
Who can apply for a grant?
You may be eligible for a grant if you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions:
- Were you a ward of the state of Queensland?
- Were you under the guardianship of the state of Queensland?
- Were you a resident in a Queensland Institution when you were a child?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above AND you have registered with the Forde Foundation, you can apply for a grant from the Foundation to help you:
- with your dental needs
- with your studies
- obtain work and progress within your chosen field
- and live independently.
What should I do if I haven’t registered?
If you know you haven’t registered yet, you will need to do this before you can apply for a grant.
You can apply by completing the online application form from the Register For Forde button, you can also print out and post the form back to us.
Post: The Forde Foundation, Locked Bag 3405, Brisbane Qld 4001.
How are grant applications assessed?
All grant applications are assessed by the Board of Advice. The Board considers many factors when making a decision including:
- Whether the item or service is already freely available from another provider.
- How many successful grants and the value of those grants the applicant has already received.
Grants are assessed by the Board of Advice at the end of each grant round. The recommendations from the Board of Advice are provided to the The Public Trustee of Queensland for final approval.
How long does the process take?
It can take some time to process grant applications – outcomes are usually known around 6-8 weeks after grant round closure. Please take this into account when applying for funds. If you require funds urgently, you may need to find an alternative source of funding.
How will I know if my application has been successful?
You will be contacted via phone, email or letter to advise you of the outcome of your application. If your application was successful, you will also be sent an acquittal form which you need to complete and return to the Forde Foundation prior to payment being made. Please discuss with the team any concerns or limitations you may have around contact, or signing an acquittal.
How long do I have to spend my grant?
Once approved, you will need to use the grant within 12 months.
Why aren't all grants successful?
If your application was not successful, this is not a reflection on you personally. The Board has a limited amount of funds and has to make difficult decisions about how to allocate it. You may already have received a number of grants or you have applied for something that is available through the state or federal government, the local community or another service provider for no cost.
How are payments made?
There are three ways payment can be made to a retailer or a provider of your items:
- Direct deposit into the business bank account of the retailer/provider. The Public Trustee will transfer payment electronically into the bank account of the retailer/provider. However, you may need to wait for 2-3 days for the transfer to clear.
- B-Pay. If the retailer/provider has the option of B-Pay this will be paid in a similar manner to direct deposits.
- A cheque, written out in the name of the retailer/provider, will be sent by the Public Trustee of Queensland to your current postal address. You personally hand the cheque to the retailer/provider. However, the retailer/provider may need to wait for 3 days for the cheque to clear before you receive your items/service.
The main exception to these payment methods is if you have received a Queensland Health dental grant. The Public Trustee will make payments directly to Queensland Health.