The Albanese Labor Government is underscoring its commitment to strengthening the nation's volunteering sector with more than $5 million in funding to support Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) and volunteer involving organisations.
VRCs previously funded by the government will receive a further $1.75 million, through their state and territory volunteering peak bodies, to assist them to transition their services to align with the Volunteer Management Activity (VMA), the national program seeking to build the capacity of the sector and break down barriers to volunteering. This funding comes on top of the $4 million in support to VRCs announced in February 2023.
The Government is also providing $3.5 million to state and territory volunteering peak bodies to administer small grant rounds to volunteer involving organising for projects that build the capacity of volunteering programs and support the strategic objectives of the National Strategy for Volunteering.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth said that the investments are targeted steps to achieving the strategic objectives of the National Strategy for Volunteering, announced in February 2023.
"Volunteers enrich our society. They are vital to a vibrant, inclusive Australia,' Minister Rishworth said.
"This new funding will help the sector to recruit, train and retrain volunteers and respond more efficiently to current and emerging needs.
"The Government is working in partnership with the sector to ensure Australia has a strong, sustainable and accessible volunteering sector."
The new funding to support volunteer involving organisations will be available through grants of up to $20,000, provided under the Volunteer and Community Connectedness, Strong and Resilient Communities Activity.
The funding accompanies a suite of commitments provided to strengthen the volunteering sector. This means the Government is investing $81.4 million to support volunteering between 2022−23 and 2025−26 including:
- partnering with Volunteering Australia to develop, implement, raise awareness of and promote the activities of the National Strategy
- building the capacity of volunteer involving organisations, and breaking down barriers to volunteering through the VMA
- supporting VRCs to transition to the redesigned VMA model
- providing $10 million annually in Volunteer Grants to support volunteers and encourage volunteering
- celebrating the vital contributions made by volunteers by providing funding to Volunteering Australia for National Volunteer Week celebrations in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
