News

    Volunteer grants to support local community groups

    Jenny Macklin,Mike Symon posted Wednesday, 4 August 2010

    Twenty-seven local community organisations in the electorate of Deakin will share in more than $88,000 to help cover the cost of petrol and buy much-needed equipment, as part of the Gillard Labor Government’s Volunteer Grants initative.

    The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Member for Deakin, Mike Symon, today visited the Heathmont Scouts to meet local volunteers.

    Mike Symon said the Heathmont Scouts were one of 27 local community organisations in Deakin to receive grants of between $1000 and $5000.

    “The Heathmont Scouts are receiving $5000 to buy a new trailer to transport canoes.  They will also use the funds to purchase petrol for volunteers and a projector screen.” Mr Symon said.

    “The Gillard Labor Government recognises the role of volunteers in supporting our communities and helping to move Australia forward.”

    For the first time the grants will also help organisations meet the costs of training their volunteers and completing police and background checks.

    “They are being delivered as part of the Gillard Labor Government’s $21 million Volunteer Grants initiative to help more than 250,000 volunteers from more than 6000 community organisations across Australia,” Ms Macklin said.

    “Volunteers are the backbone of so many community groups.”

    Mr Symons welcomed the new grants which will help support a range of local groups including the Whitehorse Community Chest, Ringwood Movie Makers group and the Greek Elderley Citizens Club of Maroondah.

    “Every day volunteers are out in Deakin, giving their time, expertise and understanding to help people in need and enrich our sporting and cultural life,” Mr Symon said.

    “Federal Labor values the enormous contribution volunteers make and this funding will help ease the financial pressure on community organisations and volunteers in Deakin.”

    Funding is provided from the Gillard Labor Government’s Volunteer Grants Program 2010, which was announced on 14 July 2010 and has already been included in the Federal Budget.

    Below is a list of the successful local organisations:

    Provider Total Funding Provider location
    Wahroonga Adventist Development and Relief Agency $5,000 Nunawading
    Blackburn Mitcham Australian Breastfeeding Association $1,012 Mitcham
    Australian Institute for Patient and Family Centred Care $5,000 Burwood
    Barngegong Reserve Kindergarten Inc $2,100 North Croydon
    Blackburn South Tennis Club $4,860 Blackburn South
    Camp Cooinda Inc $2,010 Nunawading
    Eastern Regional Access Television $2,693 Croydon
    Eastwood Primary School Parents and Friends Committee $1,250 Ringwood East
    Donvale Nunawading Girl Guides $4,000 Nunawading
    22nd Victoria Mitcham Girls' Brigade $3,000 Mitcham
    Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Maroondah $1,030 Ringwood
    'Brush with Kindness' Bushfire Relief Program $4,831 Ringwood
    JCI Whitehorse Maroondah $4,154 Nunawading
    Jeffery Street Association $3,225 Blackburn
    Lao Australian Welfare Association $4,497 Forest Hill
    Maroondah Orchid Society Inc $2,850 Mitcham
    Mt Pleasant Rd Primary School Parents and Friends $4,000 Nunawading
    NewHope Baptist Church $1,800 Blackburn North
    North Ringwood Uniting Church $4,364 North Ringwood
    Probus Association of Melbourne Outer Eastern Region $3,293 Bayswater North
    Ringwood Movie Makers Inc $1,039 Ringwood East
    Slavery Links Australia Inc $4,496 Blackburn
    St John of God Accord Croydon Opportunity Shop $3,490 Croydon
    Mitcham Boys Brigade $2,000 Mitcham
    Heathmont Scouts Venturer Unit $5,000 Heathmont
    2nd Blackburn Scout Group $4,200 Blackburn
    Whitehorse Community Chest Inc $2,500 Forest Hill

     

    Tags: Community, Deakin, Heathmont, Symon