Expressions of Interest for the 2025-26 Volunteer Grants Program are CLOSED!

The Volunteer Grants program supports the work of local community organisations by reducing barriers for volunteers and increasing participation in volunteering.

Not-for-profit community organisations in the Fowler Electorate are now invited to submit an Expression of Interest for grants of between $1,000 and $5,000.

Community organisations will need to apply under one or more of the following categories to be eligible for funding in the 2025-26 Volunteer Grants round.

Category 1

Purchase communication or insurance items as listed below that will benefit any of the community organisations’ volunteers:

  • Mobile phones, phone bills and radio communication devices.
  • Computers, laptops and tablets, where those items are primarily used for online communication and activity.
  • Software packages, where the software is primarily used to facilitate online communications and activity (for example email or videoconferencing software).
  • Electronic audio and visual equipment, where the equipment is primarily used for or to facilitate online communications and activity (for example video-communication equipment).
  • Electronic payment devices where the device is primarily used for or to facilitate online communication and activity.
  • Internet service fees incurred by the community organisation.
  • Insurance premiums incurred by the community organisation.

Category 2

(A) Purchase items for the main purpose of supporting a community organisation’s volunteers from the following cohorts:

  • Adults whose volunteering activities support children’s development and wellbeing
  • Children (under 18) as a means of supporting their development
  • First Nations People
  • Newly arrived migrants (within the last 5 years) who are not citizens.
  • People with disability (within the meaning of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
  • Unemployed people who are volunteering to increase their capacity to engage in employment.
  • Veterans and Australian Defence Force members.
  • Women experiencing or at risk of experiencing gender-based violence or isolation to assist them to overcome that gender-based violence or isolation

 

(B) Fund volunteer-run activities within the community organisation, for the main purpose of supporting:

  • Children’s (under 18) development and wellbeing and/or parents/carers to develop the skills necessary to ensure a child’s development.
  • First Nations People.
  • Newly arrived migrants (within the last 5 years) who are not citizens.
  • People with disability (within the meaning of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) to participate in any aspect of life.
  • People who are unemployed to increase their capacity to engage in employment (for example, through training or access to existing employment services).
  • Veterans and Australian Defence Force members.
  • Women experiencing or at risk of experiencing gender-based violence, discrimination, disadvantage or isolation.
  • Eliminating racial discrimination and promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship amongst racial or ethnic groups.

Assessment Process

Expressions of Interest (EOI) will be assessed by an independent community panel, who will determine which EOIs will proceed to the application stage. If your EOI is approved, you will be invited to complete a detailed formal application through an online portal, which will be processed by the Department of Social Services. Funding is limited, so unfortunately not all EOIs will be able to proceed.

Please note: the Department of Social Service’s timeline for this round of grants indicates that funds will be made available to successful organisations in October 2026.

For more information, please contact the Fowler electorate office on (02) 9726 3988 or email info@daile.com.au if you have any questions or need assistance.

Please read the Grant Opportunities Guidelines before submitting an EOI.

Key Dates

Expressions of Interest close: 27 March 2026

Successful organisations application period: 18 May – 29 May 2026

Payments to successful organisations: October 2026

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