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Seniors Month 2024 COTA banner png

Love getting older in Queensland.

Share your love this October with the return of Queensland Seniors Month.

The month-long celebration, held from 1—31 October, will promote positive community attitudes towards older people and ageing, provide opportunities for community participation to enhance community connections, and celebrate older Queenslanders and their ongoing contribution to the state—whether as volunteers or in the workforce, community leaders or carers, grandparents, or advocates.

Seniors Month is all about increasing the social connectedness of older people and their communities, and we want older people to be:

  • connected to their communities and the important people in their lives.
  • cared for and supported if care and support are needed.
  • celebrated as valued community members.

Show your love for older Queenslanders by planning and hosting inclusive events and activities and supporting older Queenslanders to share what they love, such as their:

  • Love for connections,
  • Love for sport, recreation, and the outdoors,
  • Love for family and friends,
  • Love for contributing to their community,
  • Love for learning,
  • Love for caring for others; and
  • Love for volunteering.

Seniors Month begins on the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (Tuesday 1 October) and includes the celebration of National Grandparents Day on Sunday 27 October 2024.

The Seniors Month Grant program is funded by the Queensland Government. The total funding allocated to this program is $100,000.

Eligible applicants can apply for a grant up to $2,000 to host events and activities from Friday 1 March – Monday 15 April 2024.

All funded events and activities must be held in Queensland during October 2024.

Access the 2024 Grant Guidelines by clicking on this hyperlink.

Applications for grants can be made online through SmartyGrants qldseniorsmonth.smartygrants.com.au.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland coordinates Queensland Seniors Month on behalf of the Queensland Government and receives funding to collaboratively plan, run and subsidise events and activities.

Frequently asked questions

What are the key dates I should be aware of?
Stage Date
Grant applications open Friday 1 March 2024
Grant application closes Monday 15 April 2024
Grant application assessed May 2024
All applicants will be notified in writing May 2024
Payment of successful Grant applications May 2024
Queensland Seniors Month 1-31 October 2024
International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) Tuesday 1 October 2024
National Grandparents Day Sunday 27 October 2024
Acquittal due for funded events and activities Monday 11 November 2024


Is Seniors Month a national event?
No, the states and territories celebrate Seniors Months and Weeks at different times of the year and for various lengths of time. Making Queensland Seniors Month, unique to Queenslanders. Did you know the first Queensland Seniors Month, or Old People’s Week as it was known when it was first launched, was held in October 1960.

What are the dates of Seniors Month?
Queensland Seniors Month’s will be held 1- 31 October 2024.  Beginning on the United Nations International Day of Older Persons and including the celebration of National Grandparents Day on Sunday 27 October 2024.

What is the theme?
Seniors Month 2024’s theme is Love Getting Older in Queensland-celebrating older Queenslanders as the heart and soul of our communities and encouraging people of all ages, cultures, and ability to connect and celebrate

What are the 2024 program objectives?
The three objectives of Queensland Seniors Month 2024 are for Queensland Seniors to be: 

  1. Connected to their community through inclusive events that are culturally inclusive, intergenerational, with opportunities to continue to learn through community education, lifelong learning, and digital literacy beyond Seniors Month.
  2. Cared for and supported through the discovery of supports and services, and events that encourage older Queenslanders to live active and healthy lives with improved physical and mental wellbeing.
  3. Celebrated for the contribution they make as workers, volunteers, carers, and community leaders.

Successful grant applicant events and activities should be inclusive of all, and accessible to the diversity of older people including:

  • Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • South Sea Islander peoples
  • Culturally and Linguistically Divers (CALD) peoples
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTI) peoples
  • People with disability
What is the eligibility to apply subsidy?
All eligible applicants must:

  • be in Queensland.
  • be a registered charity, incorporated association, or company limited by guarantee.
  • hold public liability insurance of a minimum of $20 million.
  • demonstrate alignment between the event or activity and the 2024 program objectives.
  • demonstrate financial viability through a comprehensive budget.
  • follow the current health directives.

* If your organisation is not any of the above, or does not have $20 million in public liability insurance, the applicant can be auspiced (sponsored) by an organisation that meets the above criteria or local council. Read more about applications via auspicing on page 7 of the Grant Guidelines.

What kind of events can I host?

Older Queenslanders are diverse and have a range of interests. We’ve asked older Queenslanders what kinds of events and activities they would like to attend, and their responses are below:

  • Art classes and exhibitions.
  • Cinema days.
  • Classic car days.
  • Come and try days.
  • Cooking classes.
  • Dances and dance classes.
  • Excursions, tours, and bus trips.
  • Expos.
  • Fitness classes ranging from aqua aerobics to Zumba.
  • Forums.
  • Gardening classes and demonstrations.
  • Information days.
  • Lawn bowls.
  • Live entertainment.
  • Meetups.
  • Music and concerts.
  • Outdoor theatre.
  • Sports.
  • Story sharing.
  • Technology classes.
  • Tennis and pickleball.
  • Trivia and games.
  • Walks and fun runs.
  • Workshops, and more.

Where possible it is best to ask your community what types of event and activities they would like to attend.


How do I apply?
All applications and acquittals are to be completed using SmartyGrants, an online grants management system.   You can sign up for a free account or use your existing account at qldseniorsmonth.smartygrants.com.au. Applications open at 9am Friday 1 March 2024 and will close at 11:59pm Monday 15 April 2024. 

What will I need to apply?
Before getting started you will need:

Your SmartyGrants login details. If you do not have one you can sign up for free and use it to apply for other grant rounds sperate from Council on the Ageing Queensland.

Your ABN number.

If you do not have an ABN number, you will need to complete a Statement by Supplier form – www.ato.gov.au/forms/statement-by-a-supplier-not-quoting-an-abn/.

A digital copy of your organisations or auspicing organisations Public Liability Certificate of Currency showing the insured coverage amount as $20 million or more to submit to in the application.

Clear details of your event, location, the cultural and social outcomes aligning to the program objectives, estimated number attendees and target audience.

A budget including your income and expenditure.

Please note you will need to complete an application for each event you are seeking funding to support. If successful, each event will require a separate acquittal.  


How much can I apply for?
Eligible organisations can apply for up to $2,000 and are encouraged to contribute to event. This could include:

  • sponsorship,
  • cash or in-kind support contributions such as venue hire,
  • operational costs, including staff wages,
  • and organisational contributions.

What can I spend the subsidy on?

Subsidies can be spent on the following items:

  • Venue hire.
  • Catering.
  • Guest speakers, entertainment, musicians, artists, workshop facilitators.
  • Temporary instructors and tutors engaged specifically for the event.
  • Transport to and from the event.
  • Marketing and advertising of the event.
  • Tools and resources specific to the event or activity such as art or cooking supplies.
What is not covered?
The subsidy does not cover the following:

  • The same activity twice, i.e., two organisations cannot apply for the same event or activity.
  • Staff wages and organisational running costs.
  • Administration fees including phone and postage charges.
  • Capital works including building upgrades.
  • Collateral items including banners, signage, flags, cloth napkins, and crockery.
  • Permanent equipment or software purchases such as computers, tablets, and software and database programs.
  • Gifts of any sorts.
  • Raffles and door prizes.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

You can reach the team at COTA Queensland by emailing seniorsmonth@cotaqld.or.au or by phoning 07 3316 2999.