Volunteer Grant Programme - NOW OPEN
Volunteer Grants recognise the valuable role volunteers play in building more resilient and cohesive communities. Grants of between $1000 and $5000 are available to help community organisations to support their volunteers.
This year, changes have been made to the Volunteer Grants program to better respond to the environment volunteer organisations are now faced with and our government’s commitment to children and young people.
There are now two categories for Volunteer Grants which reflect areas of high demand for volunteer organisations:
Category 1
Purchase communication or insurance items as listed below that will benefit any of the community organisations’ volunteers:
- Mobile phones, phone bills and radio communication devices
- Computers, laptops, and tablets, where those items are primarily used for online communications and activity
- Software, where the software is primarily used for or to facilitate online communications and activity (e.g. email or videoconferencing software)
- Electronic audio and visual equipment, where the equipment is primarily used for or to facilitate online communications and activity (e.g. video-communication equipment)
- Electronic payment devices where the device is primarily used for or to facilitate online communication and activity
- Internet service fees incurred by the community organisation
- Insurance premiums incurred by the community organisation
Category 2
(A) Purchase items or services for the main purpose of supporting a community organisation’s volunteers from the following cohorts:
- Children (under 18) as a means of supporting their development, or
- Adults whose volunteering activities support children’s development and wellbeing
(B) Fund volunteer-run activities within the community organisation, for the main purpose of supporting:
- Children’s (under 18) development and wellbeing, or
- Parents/carers to develop the skills necessary to ensure a child’s development
These changes mean Volunteer Grant funding will be more targeted to where it is needed most.
The Volunteer Grants will fund volunteer organisations for costs associated with any activity helping and supporting children and young people under 18, to help with the costs of modernising their operations and to cover key costs, including insurance premiums and internet bills.
If you are interested in submitting an expression of interest, please find the EOI form here and return it to my office by 14 January 2025.
If you require assistance, please call my office on 07 3266 8244 or email us at [email protected].
I would highly recommend that you read the grant opportunity guidelines available here to obtain more information on the program’s changes and the eligibility criteria. My office is also happy to help talk you through the changes.
