The Emerging Stronger community grants program opened this week with the aim of ensuring local volunteers can emerge stronger from the pandemic.
The state government grants are available to volunteers who are critical to the delivery of essential and community services.
Disability, Ageing and Carers Minister Anthony Carbines opened applications for the $1 million program last week.
“Volunteers are vital to a vast array of essential services and community activities,” Mr Carbines said.
“They are also healthier and happier through social connection, and the sense of purpose and achievement volunteering provides.
“The grants program will boost volunteering to help drive Victoria’s social recovery from COVID-19.”
The program is a key component of the Victorian Volunteering Strategy launched in May, which encourages people to give volunteering a go, or get back into it, after a significant decline in volunteering when the global pandemic hit in 2020.
The Victorian Volunteering Strategy is the state government’s five-year action plan to promote, build, support and celebrate all forms of volunteering.
Applications for grants of up to $80,000 are open for projects to re-engage volunteers, broaden the volunteer base, and strengthen volunteering in local communities.
To be eligible applicants must have an established partnership or network that enables activities to start immediately.
For more information and grant applications, please visit volunteer.vic.gov.au/grants
Applications close at 9am Monday, July 18. Successful applicants will be announced in August.