Volunteer Grants 2023-2024 (Now Closed)

NOW CLOSED

The Volunteer Grants program was an initiative of the Coalition Government, continuing our commitment to assist volunteers and encourage volunteering.
 
Grants between $1,000 and $5,000 are available to eligible not-for-profit community organisations to support the efforts of Australia’s volunteers.
 

Volunteer Grants are about strengthening communities by increasing participation in volunteering. The objectives of Volunteer Grants are to:

  • help community organisations to support the efforts of Australia’s volunteers
  • help community organisations to support the inclusion of vulnerable people through volunteering; and
  • encourage, support, and increase participation in volunteering.

Grant funding can only be used for eligible activities or items such as:

  • small equipment that will assist the volunteers in their role
  • transport costs of volunteers with disability
  • fuel costs incurred by volunteers
  • training for volunteers
  • background screening checks of volunteers
  • promotion of volunteering opportunities
  • adapting practices to support volunteers’ safety in the Coronavirus pandemic environment.

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply you must be an organisation that has been nominated by my office, receive an invitation to apply through GrantConnect and:

  • be a legal entity, or
  • be an unincorporated association that agrees to the primary contact on your application entering into an agreement on behalf of the Unincorporated Association.

If your organisation or your organisation’s volunteers are in my electorate of Petrie, I encourage you to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form by Sunday 10th September 2023. Please note that your expression of interest does not guarantee your grant approval. Please refer to the application process and timeline below. For more information about the grant and eligibility, please CLICK HERE for the 2023-2024 Volunteer Grants Opportunity Guidelines. Please do not hesitate to contact my office on (07) 3284 8008 if you have any questions.

HOW TO APPLY?

 Applying for a Volunteer Grant is a two-stage process:

1.Submission of “Expression of Interest” (EOI) form to the Member for Petrie.

2.Submission of “formal” application to Department of Social Services (the Department) via the Community Grants Hub.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

1.Complete an Expression of Interest form and email back luke.howarth.mp@aph.gov.au

EOI’S must have been received by the electorate office by 5pm Sunday 10th September 2023. EOI’s received after this date will unfortunately NOT be considered. 

2. Expressions of Interest will be assessed by the Petrie Volunteer Grants Committee (the Committee) early October 2023. The Committee is made up of a broad range of community members who assess EOI applications impartially.

3. Successful and unsuccessful Expressions of Interest applications will be notified to each organisation between late October 2023. (Note total grant funding for distribution in each electorate totals $66,225 but there is no limit in the number of grants for allocation).

Please note approval of your Expression of Interest by the Committee does not guarantee approval of your formal grant application.  Your formal grant application will be assessed by the Department of Social Services.

4. Prior to 15th November 2023 you will be notified by our office if your EOI has been progressed to stage 2. The Department will then send invitations to successful EOI/nominated organisations to submit their “formal” applications for the 2023-24 Volunteer Grant Round.

5. “Formal” applications close 5th December 2023.

Formal Grant Applications can only be made via the link in the invitation the Department sends direct to your organisation. Please ensure the email you provide in the EOI stage 1 is an email that is regularly monitored.

6. 6th December 2023-April 2024 the Department will assess the “formal” grant applications.

7. May 2024 our office will advise the successful applicants.

8. June 2024 Grant agreements and money paid by Department.

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