Through the $9.5 million 2024-25 Volunteer Grant Round, community organisations across Australia will receive funding to buy small equipment for volunteers or reimburse their fuel, transport, or training costs.
For the first time this year, eligible community organisations were able to allocate their funding towards insurance premiums. This change helps successful organisations to better navigate rising operating costs and reduces out of pocket costs for volunteers.
Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters said this funding boost is welcomed in Bendigo as it will provide greater support for local volunteers and ensure they can continue to support their community.
A total of 19 local groups will share in the $66,225 in funding available to each Federal electorate. This round of successful grant recipients includes several community and neighbourhood houses, sporting organisations, and local services such as Sunshine Bendigo.
In order to be successful in the competitive process, groups were required to be a not-for-profit organisation with a minimum of 40% of volunteers in their organisation.
QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BENDIGO, LISA CHESTERS MP:
“Bendigo has a strong volunteer base, and these volunteers are the backbone of many of our community organisations.
“This year we have such a diverse range of recipients from across the electorate- from the Elmore Football Netball Club to the Kyneton Agricultural Society.
“I cannot emphasise enough how important Australia’s volunteers are to our community by providing vital support and services to those in need. At the end of the day, we want volunteers to know that we are backing them and will continue to support their work in assisting our community.”
A complete list of the successful groups and their level of funding for this round:
Group or organisation |
Funding |
Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre |
$5,000 |
Eaglehawk Community House |
$5,000 |
Bendigo Women's Football Club (Thunder) |
$5,000 |
Bendigo Theatre Company |
$5,000 |
Bendigo Blue Light Inc |
$2,213 |
Mount Alexander Shire Sustainability Group |
$4,361 |
Campbells Creek Bowling Club |
$1,505 |
Kyneton Agricultural Society |
$5,000 |
Maldon Folk Festival |
$3,000 |
Elmore Football Netball Club |
$4,000 |
Bendigo Community Toy Library |
$3,500 |
Marong Neighbourhood House |
$1,182 |
Bendigo Woodturners |
$2,683 |
Kangaroo Flat Community House |
$5,000 |
Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife Group |
$2,000 |
Castlemaine Rocky Riders Mountain Bike Club |
$5,000 |
Sunshine Bendigo |
$2,814 |
The City of Greater Bendigo Brass Band |
$1,917 |
Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival |
$2,050 |