Non-profit organisations and their volunteers recently received a much-needed financial boost to support their work in helping vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians, through the Volunteer Grants 2009 initiative.

In a joint media release, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, announced that over 6,700 community organisations, involving more than 366,000 volunteers, across Australia would benefit from more than $21 million funding for Volunteer Grants 2009.

Volunteer Grants 2009 recognises the valuable work of Australia’s volunteers and is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting volunteers and encouraging inclusive communities. It is estimated that volunteers contribute over $14.6 billion to the Australian economy each year. Volunteer Grants 2009 supports volunteers by providing grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 for non-profit organisations to buy items like computers, printers, fridges, marquees and fuel that will help their volunteers in their important work.

Volunteer Grants is one way the Government is supporting volunteers as part of its Social Inclusion Agenda.

Senator Stephens said:

“Volunteers are the backbone of so many of our non-profit organisations and make a real and lasting difference in the lives of so many people in our community.”

For a full list of successful organisations, please visit the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.

To read the full media release about the Volunteer Grants 2009, visit the Minister’s Media Centre.