What’s happening?
Energy infrastructure company Jemena has launched its 2025 Community Grants Program, offering grants of up to $10,000 to support education, training, and employment initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The program also supports social enterprises that help build local capacity. Applications close on 24 June 2025.
Why it matters
“With our commitment to Reconciliation and desire to build respectful and inclusive relationships, we’re very pleased this year to focus on initiatives supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as part of our long-standing Community Grants Program,” said Craig Ypinazar, Executive General Manager, People, Safety and Governance, and Chair of Jemena’s Reconciliation Action Steering Committee.
Jemena has worked closely with Traditional Owners and local communities during the development and operation of its gas and electricity assets. The company has supported Aboriginal employment programs in the Northern Territory since 2019, following the construction of Jemena’s Northern Gas Pipeline.
“We’re seeking grant applications from groups and projects that provide education and employment opportunities and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as social enterprises that help build capacity in local communities,” Mr Ypinazar added.
Local Impact
For Rockhampton and surrounding areas, this presents an opportunity for community groups and organisations to access funding that fosters educational growth, job readiness, and enterprise development. Jemena’s presence in the region through the Queensland Gas Pipeline, which supplies Gladstone and Rockhampton, makes local community engagement a key focus.
By the numbers:
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Up to $10,000 per grant is available to eligible community organisations.
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Since the program’s launch in 2019, Jemena has awarded almost $800,000 in local grants to 78 community groups.
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The company manages $12.9 billion in energy assets across Australia, including assets that directly service Rockhampton and the wider Central Queensland region.
Zoom In
This year’s program runs across two streams:
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The First Nations stream, supporting education, training, and employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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A second stream, opening in late July 2025, will focus on initiatives that assist people experiencing disadvantage and support community wellbeing in designated locations in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland.
Eligible areas for the current stream include Rockhampton, Gladstone, Biloela, Rolleston, Roma, Dalby, Wandoan, Mt Isa, and others across Queensland and Northern Territory, plus selected areas of NSW and Victoria.
Zoom Out
Jemena’s Community Grants Program is part of its broader social responsibility strategy. The company operates significant energy infrastructure including:
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Queensland Gas Pipeline supplying Gladstone and Rockhampton.
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Northern Gas Pipeline, delivering gas from the Northern Territory to north-west Queensland.
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Victorian electricity network, servicing 377,000 customers.
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Eastern Gas Pipeline, Darling Downs Pipeline Network, and Atlas Gas Pipeline, among others.
By investing in local initiatives, Jemena aims to leave a lasting legacy in the communities it serves.
What to look for next
Community groups in Rockhampton and surrounding regions have until 24 June 2025 to submit their grant applications.
Visit www.jemena.com.au/communitygrants for application forms, eligibility criteria, and full program details.
The second stream of Jemena’s 2025 Community Grants Program will open in late July 2025.
