Expressions of interest (EOI) for the 2023-24 Volunteer Grants are now open.

Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are available to help community organisations to support the efforts of their volunteers.

The grants can be used to:

• buy small equipment for volunteers
• reimburse of volunteer fuel, transport or training costs
• promote awareness and increase participation in volunteering opportunities.

The programme has a two stage process.

Firstly, a completed EOI form from the organisation to its relevant Federal Member (as the Federal Member for Bean, this includes organisations within the Woden, Weston Creek & Molonglo, and Tuggeranong area, and Norfolk Island).

Following a nomination panel process, a number of organisations will then be invited to make a full application to the Department of Social Services (Department) for the funding round.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to apply for funding you will need to:

• 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.
• have a minimum of 40% of volunteers working for your organisation
• be a not-for-profit organisation
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or be willing to provide a Statement by Supplier Form (reason for not quoting an ABN). Please refer to the Australian Tax Office website for further information
• have an account with an Australian financial institution in the name of the organisation applying.

To be eligible you must be one of the following entity types:

• Indigenous Corporation
• Company (incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth))
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority Cooperative
• Incorporated Association
• Statutory Entity and
• Be willing and legally able to enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth (refer to section 10.1).

Who is not eligible?

• an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’ (www.nationalredress.gov.au).
• An organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency website on the non-compliant organisations list.

Examples of eligible grant activities:

• 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.

Timeline

TO APPLY

1. Download the EOI Form
2. Submit form to [email protected] by COB Friday 8 September 2023
3. Ensure you have received confirmation of your EOI
4. Selected organisations will be invited to apply.

This grant program is administered by the Department of Social Services. More information and guidelines can be found on the Australian Government Community Grants Hub. 

Please get in touch with my office if you want to discuss the program in more detail on 02 6293 1344 or at [email protected].