Volunteer grants of up to $5,000 are available now for community groups on the Sunshine Coast. The Morrison Government is backing Australia’s volunteers, with up to $20 million in grants now available to support them in local communities across the nation.
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said that up to $132,450 is available in the electorate of Fisher as part of the 2021 Volunteer Grants round.
“Volunteers on the Sunshine Coast do a huge amount to build our community’s resilience, provide social support for isolated and vulnerable people, and deliver pathways to employment for school leavers, and they rarely ask for anything in return. However, this is not the time to be shy, and I would encourage all groups on the Coast to think about what kind of difference this sort of funding would make to them.” Mr Wallace said.
Mr Wallace is calling for eligible, not-for-profit community organisations in Fisher to contact his office on andrew.wallace.mp@aph.gov.au or 07 5493 5556 to receive an expression of interest form. Community organisations should submit their completed expressions of interest forms to his office before Friday 16 April 2021.
“I am currently working with community leaders and groups in
Fisher to identify priority volunteer support for our local area, but I am keen
to hear from as many organisations as possible.” Mr Wallace said.
Twenty-two organisations in Fisher received Volunteer Grants in 2020 including Mooloolaba Surf Life Savers who received $4,950 for improved safety and security equipment; 5th Light Horse Regiment Maleny Troop who received $5,000 for new uniforms and riding equipment; and Caloundra Committee of Services to the Aging (CCSA) who received $4,990 for computer and gardening equipment.
“We have a terrific track record of receiving funding under this program on the Sunshine Coast, with more than 70 grants in Fisher since 2016 alone. More funding is available this year than ever before, so now is the time to get in an expression of interest!” he said.
Volunteer Grants of $1,000 to $5,000 will help volunteers and volunteer groups to buy small equipment for volunteers, reimburse volunteer fuel, transport or training costs, or support promotional activities. To receive a grant, organisations must have been nominated by their Federal Member of Parliament and meet the eligibility criteria.
The Department of Social Services will send an application form to nominated organisations to apply for funding in May 2021. Successful applicants will be announced in November 2021.
More information is available by contacting Mr Wallace on andrew.wallace.mp@aph.gov.au or
07 5493 5556 or by visiting the Australian Government’s GrantConnect
website at www.grants.gov.au.
