A number of organisations in the South West have received a Brumby Labor Government funding boost to support volunteers.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said that the South West organisations had received a total of $18,000 from the latest round of Victorian Volunteer Small Grants.
The organisations and funding details are:
– Brierly Christ Church Cricket Club – $3,700 – To strengthen volunteer program by purchasing training materials and equipment for curators who will also train younger members as part of the organisation’s succession plan
– Loaves and Fishes – $600 – To fund the training of two volunteers to the “Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop” who will then share their learnings to other members and volunteers in the organisation
– Terang and District Historical Society – $2,740 – To purchase DB/TextWorks cataloguing program to enable our volunteers to use a computer to catalogue our growing collection of historic photographs, local history documents and records, and memorabilia
– Port Fairy Community Group Inc. – $4,500 – To further develop and provide Volunteer Training Module/s to ensure sustainable recruitment, assessment, placement and mentoring of volunteers in locally registered not-for-profit organisations.
– Warrnambool College Wannik Group – $3,600 – to train volunteer educators who will teach Koori students to gain some symbolic connectedness with the school and their indigenous history. The project also aims to recruit indigenous volunteers to participate in the activities
– Basalt to Bay Landcare Network Inc. – $2,865 – To train volunteer Landcare groups in South West Victoria on enhancing biodiversity and managing environmentally threatening weeds
“The Brumby Labor Government is proud to support volunteers because they are the lifeblood of our community,” Ms Tierney said
“We know communities with higher rates of volunteering are stronger, more resilient, healthier and happier and people who volunteer report a greater sense of wellbeing and a greater connection to their community.”
The Victorian Volunteer Small Grants program is a key component of the Victorian Government’s $9.3 million Victoria’s Volunteering Strategy 2009, which aims to strengthen volunteering by making it easier to volunteer and by supporting volunteers and the organisations that rely on them. .
Community Development Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the lives of people in communities across Victoria were touched daily by the efforts of volunteers who gave their time to help others.
“From training programs to give safety qualifications for volunteer children’s swimming instructors, to community events to attract new volunteers, the Volunteer Small Grants will help bring communities closer,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“By volunteering you not only improve the lives of others but also make your own life richer, since volunteering helps you meet new people and gives that terrific feeling of having helped someone else.”
“Many people also volunteer to learn new skills that improve their employment opportunities.
“I encourage people and organisations interested in volunteering to visit the Brumby Labor Government volunteering portal at www.volunteer.vic.gov.au to find a range of information and resources to get them started,” she said.
Since 2004, the Brumby Labor Government has provided more than $5.9 million in Victorian Volunteer Small Grants to more than 1660 community organisations.
For more information visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au
