More than 35 Greek Australian organizations have qualified to receive between $1,000 and $5,000 from the $16 million Volunteer Grants program.
Grants will enable organisations to purchase small equipment items to assist volunteers and contribute towards reimbursement of fuel costs, transport costs incurred by volunteers with disability who are unable to drive, training courses and background screening checks for volunteers.
Those benefiting will be many Greek community and welfare groups, women’s societies and RSLs. Andy Mylonas of the Greek Community of Northcote & Darebin District says he is very happy about the grant and will put the money towards necessities for the district. “It’s for the day to day running of the community. Like stationary, like computer software and travelling expenses,” he told Neos Kosmos.
The district will receive $4,200. This is the exact amount they asked the government for in their application. The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, and the Minister for Community Services, the Hon Julie Collins MP, announced that more than 166,000 volunteers across 4,800 organisations throughout Australia will benefit from $16 million of funding under Volunteer Grants 2012.
The work of volunteers can sometimes be thankless, and the Grants go towards re-numerating such great work. For the groups who get by with mostly philanthropic donations and state funding, the extra funds will go a long way to helping their community.
The full list of grants and successful applications can be found at http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/communities-and-vulnerable-people/grants-fundi…