Braille House, formerly known as the Queensland Braille Writing Association, is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to connect blind and sight impaired persons of all ages with written and print resources primarily through Braille. 

Braille is a code system of writing or printing where tangible dots are used by blind and sight impaired persons to access written text. 

Founded in 1897, Braille House, located in a historic building in suburban Annerley in Brisbane, holds a collection documenting the achievements and stories of the sight impaired for more than 100 years. 

Preserving important stories and achievements of the sight impaired

The collection, recognised in Australia and overseas, contains one of the most comprehensive examples of technological equipment utilised to connect the blind and sight impaired to the sighted world. 

The collection also describes important relationships and connections between the organisation, the Brisbane community, its staff, clients, volunteers, benefactors, and donors.

The impact of Community Heritage Grants

Similar to other organisations and consistent with the Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program structure, Braille House has progressed through a three-stage journey, over multiple rounds and years, to learn about their collection, how to care for it, and plan for its future. 

Projects also aim to build the knowledge and skills of paid and volunteer staff to increase their capacity to share valuable heritage collections with all Australians.

Past CHG grant projects they have received have enabled:

• In 2023, a Significance Assessment that identified the local and national significance of the collection. 
• In 2024, a Preservation Needs Assessment that ensured key aspects of the collection received extra attention, care and conservation to ensure their ongoing preservation. This project also identified key governance documents either needing review, or creation and adoption.
• In 2025, provided staff and volunteers with training in preventative conservation, alongside the purchase of materials for archival and preservation development. The funding also enabled the development of an Interim Disaster Preparedness Plan, an Interim Collection Policy and a Deaccessioning procedure. 

The CHG program is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts; National Library of Australia; National Archives of Australia; National Film and Sound Archive; and National Museum of Australia. 

Applications are currently open for 2026 Community Heritage Grants. 

New applicants have until Thursday 7 May to apply, and previous CHG recipients and proposals for training projects close on Tuesday 2 June.