Celebrating volunteers

A LONG list of local not-for-profit organisations are beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s 2023 to 2024 Volunteer Grants round.

About $66,000 is being shared by 24 groups within the Federal Ballarat electorate, and grants were announced just in time for National Volunteer Week, on now until Sunday 26 May.

The recipients have each been awarded up-to $5000 to buy equipment for volunteer use, or to reimburse them for transport or training.

One of those organisations is the Ballarat Repair Cafe, awarded $1200, and coordinator Sue Jakob said it will allow for the purchase of a laptop computer.

“We’re really excited to receive this grant,” she said. “It means that our volunteers will have access to the internet while they’re repairing peoples’ items.

“It also means that we can keep a register of the work we do.

“Having this data on hand will support our efforts at future advocacy and growing our organisation so that more community members can repair their items instead of throwing them away.”

Other successful volunteer organisations include Ballarat Police & Citizens Youth Club, Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre, Wattle Flat Pootilla Landcare Group, Heartbeat Ballarat, Meals on Wheels Ballarat, and the Ballarat Gold Swimming Club, Ballarat Football and Netball Club, and Meredith Community Centre.

Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library, Bungaree Bowling Club, Brown Hill Senior Citizens, Gordon Public Hall, Ballarat African Association, St John Ambulance Ballarat, Haddon Neighbourhood Centre, Rotary Club of Alfredton, and Eastpoint Football Netball Club North were also successful, and the Ballarat Football Netball Club.

“Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2024 Volunteer Grants,” said Member for Ballarat Catherine King, who met Ballarat Repair Cafe volunteers last week.

“Thank you to the many people who volunteer time and energy to make our community a better and more inclusive place.

“Whether it’s for training, petrol vouchers, tech equipment, uniforms or first aid training, these grants are empowering our local volunteer organisations to provide support to those who need it.”

National Volunteer Week recognises the diverse passions, skills and talents people contribute in supporting and strengthening their communities.According to an April 2023 survey by peak national volunteering body Volunteering Australia, 36 per cent of Australians had formally volunteered in the previous 12 months.

2020 research showed that more-than five million people had volunteered through an organisation or group that year.

The Federal Government’s General Social Survey on volunteering showed the most common types of organisations for which people volunteered were those relating to sport and physical recreation (30.7 per cent), religious groups (23.1 per cent) and education and training (18.8 per cent).