About Volunteer Grants
Each year, not-for-profit community organisations can apply for $1,000 to $5,000. The grants help eligible organisations to support their volunteers and encourage more people to volunteer.
Organisations can use the grants in the following ways.
Items that will benefit volunteers – Category 1
Funding to buy communication and insurance items, such as:
Mobile phones, phone bills and radio communication devices.
Computers, laptops and tablets that are primarily for online communication and activity.
Software packages that are primarily for online communications and activity. For example, email or videoconferencing software.
Electronic audio and visual equipment that is primarily used for, or to help with, online communications and activity. For example, video-communication equipment.
Electronic payment devices that are primarily used for, or to help with, online communication and activity.
Internet services fees incurred by the community organisation.
Insurance premiums incurred by the community organisation
Items for specific cohorts – Category 2A
Funding to buy items for the main purpose of supporting volunteers from these cohorts:
- Adults who volunteer to support children’s development and wellbeing
- Children under 18 as a means of supporting their development
- First Nations people
- Newly arrived migrants (within the last 5 years) who are not citizens
- People with disability
- Unemployed people who volunteer to build skills that increase their capacity for employment
- Veterans and Australian Defence Force members
- Women experiencing, or at risk of experience , gender-based violence or isolation to assist them to overcome that gender-based violence or isolation
Volunteer‑run activities – Category 2B
Funding for volunteer‑run activities that are for the main purpose of supporting the cohorts above. It can also be used for the main purpose of supporting:
Women experiencing gender-based discrimination or disadvantage by addressing gender‑based:
- disadvantage in sport
- discrimination in emergency services roles
- disadvantage in rural and remote areas
- disadvantage and discrimination in trades
- disadvantage in the form of food insecurity.
Eliminating racial discrimination. Also promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship amongst racial or ethnic groups. This can be through:
- activities that provide anti racism training and promote cultural safety
- multicultural art, dance, theatre, and cultural events
- language classes designed to encourage social cohesion and promote interracial harmony
- programs linking international students to volunteering
- sporting events promoting the participation of teams and players from diverse
- backgroundsevents celebrating Harmony Week or the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Volunteer Grants stages
Volunteer Grants rounds have two key stages:
Stage 1
Members of the Australian Parliament consult with their local community. They:
- invite expressions of interest for Volunteer Grants
- work with a community committee which reviews expressions of interest and makes recommendations
- nominate organisations and recommend funding amounts to us.
Stage 2
Department of Social Services (DSS) invite organisations nominated by a member of the Australian Parliament to apply.
- The organisation lodges their online application through GrantConnect.
- DSS assess applications against the eligibility criteria and program requirements.
- DSS make payments to successful applicants.
The timing for expressions of interest and applications varies each year.