South Australia’s volunteering organisations share in $1.2 million
Over 450 community organisations in South Australia will benefit from more than $1.2 million in Australian Government funding for volunteer grants.
This is part of the $21 million in Volunteer Grants which will go to over 7,200 community organisations across the country.
Under the program, grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are provided to non-profit organisations.
Volunteers are the backbone of so many of our community groups and the non-profit sector. In SA, there are more than 360,000 volunteers.
Every day volunteers are out in their local communities working tirelessly to help the elderly, the sick and those who have hit hard times.
The Government values the enormous contribution volunteers make in our community and this funding will ease the financial pressure on non-profit organisations and volunteers.
In SA, the Volunteer Grants Program 2008 will assist organisations to buy small equipment and sporting items, to train volunteers, and to help with fuel costs.
Organisations to receive funding in South Australia include Meals on Wheels, the SA Country Fire Service and the Amateur Football League North Adelaide.
Meals on Wheels is a community organisation that provides affordable nutritious meals and friendly contact so that people in the community can continue to live at home. It is supported by a vast team of trained community volunteers. Funding of $227,500 will assist around 4,040 Meals on Wheels community volunteers across the state.
Six branches of the SA Country Fire Service (CFS) in the Goolwa area will receive a total of $30,000 in funding, which will benefit the 351 volunteers involved in the service.
The addition of fridges on fire trucks will enable volunteer firefighters to keep their lunches cool, providing some relief during the long hours of hard and often dangerous work.
The fire service will also buy better presentation equipment which will make safety training activities for volunteers more effective.
The CFS provides assistance in all manner of emergency situations including road accidents, fires in buildings, bush fires, and when there is flooding and storm damage.
The South Australian Amateur Football League North Adelaide encourages community involvement and active participation in sport that promotes healthy living within the community. Funding of $108,800 will assist around 730 Football League community volunteers across the state.
The Volunteer Grants Program 2008 delivers on a Rudd Government election commitment.