Investing in Strong and Resilient Communities

Objectives

The objectives of the Strong and Resilient Communities Activity grants are to:

• build volunteer management capability within organisations;
• uplift volunteer capability, including volunteer knowledge, skills and volunteer numbers; and
• support alignment with the strategic objectives of the National Strategy for Volunteering and National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.

If your volunteer involving organisation supports one or more of the following identified cohorts, we encourage you to apply:

• young people 12 to 18 years who are disengaged, or at risk of disengaging, from education to reconnect with their community, school, training and/or employment;
• people with disabilities and/or mental health issues to participate in the community, and work towards becoming or remaining independent and engaged in the economy and/or society;
• women who experience, or are at risk of experiencing isolation or discrimination to participate in the community and/or economy and increase their self-agency; and/or
• people who are unemployed to increase participation in their community and/or increase their capacity to engage in employment, training, or existing employment services.

Eligibility

The small grants are to build capacity of volunteering programs in grassroots organisations that:  

• have an annual income under $500,000 OR are an autonomous branch/subgroup of an organisation with an annual income greater than $500,000, but that branch/subgroup income is under $500,000; 

• use a large proportion of volunteers (40% or more of the workforce);  

• are 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);  

• have an account with an Australian financial institution; and  

• support one or more of the identified cohorts (as mentioned above in the Objectives). 

Note: We cannot consider your application if you do not meet all the eligibility criteria.

What the funding can be used for

• Training opportunities for volunteer managers to improve the quality of volunteer programs e.g. building volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention.

• Engaging consultants to review policies and processes (such as recruitment and retention processes) to align with National Standards for Volunteer Involvement and the National Strategy for Volunteering to promote inclusion of identified cohorts.

• Cultural workshops with your volunteers to understand the needs of, and support people within the identified cohorts.

• Training opportunities for volunteers to facilitate group workshops, self-empowerment activities, and activities that support independence and self-reliance for people within the identified cohorts.

Please read Section 3 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines for more examples and eligibility requirements.

Expressions of Interest Now Closed

• In NSW, Expressions of Interest open at 9:00 am AEST Wednesday 18 September 2024 and close 4:00 pm AEST Friday 4 October 2024.

• Following a review process of the Expressions of Interest, eligible organisations will be contacted on 14 October 2024 and invited to submit an application through their State or Territory volunteering peak body.

• Grant Opportunity Guidelines and Information Video
• Expression of Interest Form (sample)
• Application Form (sample)
• On-Funding Funding Agreement (sample)
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Child Safe Statement of Compliance (G8A)
• Child Safe Statement of Compliance (CB9)
• Questions and Answers – last updated Wednesday 2 October
• Watch the Information Video

Key Dates

Expressions of Interest will be collected nationally, and the assessment and selection process will be coordinated by each of the State and Territory volunteering peak bodies.

Note: All project activity must be completed within the Grant Activity Period, 29 November 2024 – 30 May 2025 as specified in Section 1.3 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

Enquiries

The grants are funded by the Department of Social Services and administered by the volunteering peak bodies. The Centre for Volunteering will be supporting grant recipients in NSW. 

Please direct enquiries to grants@volunteering.com.au or call (02) 9261 3600.