The Australian Government’s Volunteer Grants 2024/25 can be used by Eligible not-for-profit community organisations to purchase communication or insurance items, and/or purchase items or services to assist volunteers or volunteer-run activities that support the well-being and development of children (under 18).
A funding pool of $66,225 has been allocated to each federal electorate to support eligible not-for-profit organisations whose volunteers assist their local community.
Eligible not-for-profit community organisations may apply for a grant valued between $1,000 and $5,000.
What can be applied for
There are two category streams for the 2024/2025 Volunteer Grants.
IF your organisation is eligible for Category 2 funding (ie projects that involve volunteers or volunteer-run activities that support the well-being and development of children (under 18), you CAN apply for items under both streams.
Category 1: Communication or Insurance Items for Volunteers
- Mobile phones, phone bills, and radio communication devices
- Computers, laptops, tablets, and iPads (for communications)
- Software for online communications and activity
- Electronic audio and visual equipment (for communications)
- Electronic payment devices
- Internet service plans
- Insurance premiums
Category 2: Items or Services Supporting Children’s Development and Wellbeing
- Accessibility equipment
- Background screening checks of volunteers
- Computers, laptops, tablets, and relevant software
- Educational equipment
- Electronic audio and visual equipment
- Event costs (including promoting volunteering opportunities)
- First aid, safety, and hygiene items
- Food preparation equipment and appliances
- Furniture
- Grounds maintenance
- Heat/cooling (portable)
- Office equipment
- Sport and recreation equipment
- Storage solutions
- Tools
- Training costs
- Travel/fuel costs
- Whitegoods and appliances
Be sure to read the grant guidelines for eligibility criteria and the full details on eligible projects
read volunteer grant 2024/25 guidelines »
Suggestions for Category 1 projects
Over the last couple of years, Junee Community Network have had discussions with a number of local community groups and sporting clubs about various IT and Communications related projects, including:
- Unified Communications Device (Mobile Phone)
- Portable EFTPOS & Fundraising Promotion Kit
- Laptop
- iPad Air
- Insurance
- Other ideas…
These projects could be suitable for submission as part of your NFP’s application to the 2024/2025 Volunteer Grants.
Unified Communications Device
“Unified Communications Device” is just a fancy name for a mobile phone that provides an organisation with a consistent point of contact, regardless of who the “current Secretary” or “primary point of contact” is within a community organisation or sporting club.
Junee Community Network have been developing this project since the introduction of the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program in Junee back in 2020.
By using a dedicated iPhone, the “Unified Communications Device” will become the Not-for-Profit Organisation’s:
- Primary Telephone Number:
A single central telephone that does not change when Office Bearers change… eg: after an AGM — simply pass the iPhone on to the new Secretary - Professional Voicemail System:
Included Visual Voicemail system allows direct forwarding of messages, as an audio file, to the appropriate person(s) within the organisation
Professional Voicemail Greeting that promotes the organisation properly rather than a “personal” greeting
eg “You have called ACME Inc. Our office is staffed on a part-time basis. Please leave your name, telephone number, and a brief message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.” rather than “Hi ya, Fred ain’t here. You know the drill” - Centralised Email Repository:
All the primary email addresses for the organisation can be accessed from one central device… with an easy reply facility and simple forwarding of messages - Social Media:
Easily post photos, videos, news, and even live stream from fundraising events, direct to various social media platforms.
Click the play button above to start the slideshow about the Unified Communications Device for NFPs (aka iPhone 16)
Portable EFTPOS & Fundraising Promotion Kit
Many not-for-profit community groups and sporting clubs here in Junee have already discovered the benefits of owning their own Portable EFTPOS Terminal and associated accessories.
Junee Community Network has over five years experience in finding funding for, and then configuring, Portable EFTPOS Terminal kits for local community groups and sporting clubs.
We have learnt from hard experience that you CAN NOT rely on a volunteer’s personal phone to be available as an “internet hotspot” to operate the EFTPOS Terminal during events. So we include a dedicated Telstra Hotspot in the kit, along with a 12-month pre-paid data plan.
The charging unit supplied with the Square Terminal is unwieldily, so we replace it with a shorter cable and a simpler two-port charger that can also simultaneously charge the WiFi Hotspot device.
Optional extras, but still highly recommended, for the kit include Marketing Display stands, a secure cash box and a heavy duty storage tub to store and transport the kits.
Community Groups and Sporting Clubs will be required to sign up for their own FREE Square Account. You only need to do this once, and we recommend you allow four weeks for the application to be processed (it is usually a lot quicker than this, but always allow for potential delays).
Use the following link to sign up for a FREE Square account AND receive free processing on up to $1,000 in sales during your first 180 days. Only merchants new to Square are eligible.
sign up for free square account »
Once you login with your organisations email address and password, funds collected through the terminal would go direct to your own organisation’s bank account, less a 1.6% processing fee by Square.
Click the play button above to start the slideshow about Portable EFTPOS Terminal for NFPs
Laptop
There is always demand for an inexpensive, yet powerful, laptop to assist with administration tasks within local community groups and sporting clubs.
Junee Community Network have developed budget that provides a laptop with ample storage (512GB) and memory (16GB) to undertake even the most demanding administration tasks. The kit includes all the appropriate software including a NON-SUBSCRIPTION version of Microsoft Office; a mouse, headphones for use with video conferencing or online training sessions, and an extra charger and power board for off site use; an ultrafast drive to backup the laptop; a backpack to store and transport the laptop and its’ accessories; plus the equipment needed to use the laptop as a Presentation Machine.
This budget can easily be modified to suit each organisations specific needs and requirements — eg an external monitor could be included to improve workspace efficiency.
[PS: We also have a similar budget available for groups that would prefer a Mac laptop instead]
Click the play button above to start the slideshow about Laptops for NFPs
iPad Air
A few organisations have expressed a need for a tablet device over a laptop for their specific needs.
The 11-inch iPad Air is an ideal tablet for not-for-profit organisations to use as a administration device, as well as a kiosk to handle event registrations and sign-ins, paperless membership applications, and attendee surveys.
Junee Community Network have developed a budget that includes a 128GB iPad Air with WiFi + Cellular, an external wireless keyboard, a rugged case to protect the iPad, AppleCare+ insurance, 12-months prepaid cellular data service, iCloud+ cloud services (includes email address, and syncing/backup services for email, photos, files, notes, passwords, calendars, bookmarks, contacts, and device backups), video adapter and cables to connect to an external monitor or projector, plus stands to use as the iPad as a standalone, or desktop, kiosk.
Click the play button above to start the slideshow about iPad Air for NFPs
Insurance
Public Liability Insurance, and often Content Protection Insurance, are some of not-for-profit community groups and sporting clubs largest annual, and reoccurring, expenses.
The Volunteer Grants 2024/2025 could be ideal
You could also consider obtaining Directors and Officer’s Liability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance for Volunteers, and/or Cyber Liability Insurance.
The Institute of Community Directors Australia, have an excellent article entitled “Types of insurance an organisation needs” that highlights some of the considerations you need to consider for your own organisations risk profile.
OurCommunity also have some useful articles about insurances for not-for-profit organisations:
Help Sheet: Introducing the Community Insurance Centre »
UPDATE: (10-Dec-2024) We have been advised that the Meals on Wheels NSW Insurance contact details mentioned in the above article are incorrect. Current information about their Community Underwriting services can be found at https://nswmealsonwheels.org.au/about/community-underwriting, which in turn links to https://www.communityunderwriting.com.au.
Community Underwriting provide:
- General Liability Insurance
- Property Insurance
- Commerical Motor Vehicle Insurance
- Voluntary Workers Personal Accident Insurance
- Association Insurance
Public Liability Insurance for Australian not-for-profits, by AON »
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance for Australian not-for-profits, by Ansvar Insurance »
NRMA, Allianz and QBE have joined together to form a partnership, Local Community Insurance Services (LCIS), to cover community groups throughout NSW and ACT. It is now up and running and you can obtain a quotation at www.community-care.com.au.
LCIS provide:
- General Public and Product Liability Insurance
- Association Liability Insurance
- Voluntary Workers Insurance
- Event Insurance
- Market & Stallholder Insurance
- Property & Asset Insurance (Business Pack)
- Council Candidate Insurance
- Art Group Insurance
for organisations that: Provide services to the community; Do not distribute profits to their members; and Are primarily driven by the efforts of volunteers.
Disclaimer: Junee Community Network, nor our team, are NOT financial or insurance advisors. The above information is provided as some general thoughts for not-for-profit community groups and sporting clubs to potentially consider to see if they might suit your organisations’ particular needs. We strongly recommend you seek independent advice from a licensed financial advisor, or an insurance broker, or insurance provider, to determine the exact needs for your individual organisations circumstances.
Other ideas…
- Walkie Talkies — we know a couple of groups have need for walkie talkies to provide essential communication and security services at their events. GME have some great Dual Packs with external microphones and others accessories, and Quad Packs with just transceivers and chargers; both of which can be purchased locally at Jaycar.
- Annual Zoom Subscription — if your organisation regularly uses Video Conferencing, or wish to start to conducting webinars or virtual meetings, then an annual subscription to Zoom could be beneficial
- Annual NBN internet subscriptions — A few not-for-profit organisations are fortunate enough to have their own premises, either owned or leased, and thus have either installed (or considered installing) a WiFi network to allow volunteers and visitors to their premises to access the internet. Junee Community Network recently assisted assisted the Junee Seniors to install a WiFi network within the Junee Seniors Hall using Superloop as the service provider… we can assist other organisations to implement a similar setup
- Defibrillator and First Aid Kit — IF your organisation is eligible for Category 2 funding, then consider purchasing either a wall mounted and/or a portable Defibrillator and First Aid Kit.
Check out how other organisations have paired a $500 Save a Life AED Grant from Alpha First Aid with grants similar to the Volunteer Grants 2024/205 program to maximise funding efficiencies and potentially increasing your applications success by providing a “co-contribution” towards the total project cost.
Applying for a 2024/2025 Volunteer Grant
If your organisation is interested in applying for any of the above mentioned project suggestions, be sure to chat with Nicholas from Junee Community Network BEFORE submitting your EOI! We can supply full budgets and support documents to assist with your application.
There is a two step process to apply for the Australian Government’s Volunteer Grant 2024/2025 round:
- A simple Expression of Interest form needs to be completed and emailed back to your local Federal Member of Parliament — For the Riverina, it’s a simple two page PDF
- Your local MP will then consult with a local advisory committee on which EOIs progress to the application stage. Successful EOIs will then be invited to fill out an application form in February 2025.
Expressions of Interest by community organisations based with in the Riverina Federal Electorate must be submitted by 5pm on January 6, 2025.
Download Riverina EOI form for 2024/2025 Volunteer Grant Round »
If you are located in another federal electorate, please contact your local Federal Member of Parliament for their EOI form and closing date.
And please remember that if you are ultimately successful in obtaining funding under the Volunteer Grant 2024/2025 program, the actual funds will not be available until mid-2025!