The Federal Government is offering $10 million overall in Volunteer Grants this year to help support and encourage volunteering in local communities.

Volunteer or not-for-profit organisations could receive between $1,000 and $5,000 to help make their volunteer work safer and easier. This could be done through buying new equipment or covering the cost of training courses.

“Volunteering is an important part of the fabric of our society. It strengthens and enriches the lives of the people who volunteer, as well as the people or cause they are helping,” Ms Rowland said.

“Whether it’s parents helping out with their child’s cricket team, looking after a community garden or delivering meals to our senior citizens, volunteers play a vital role in our local community.

“I’m always struck by the generosity of so many local people in giving up their time to help out, so I encourage all the wonderful groups in our local community to apply for a grant so that this hard work can be recognised and supported,” Ms Rowland said.

Applications for grants close at 2pm on Tuesday, 20 December 2016.

More information about Volunteer Grants 2016 is available at www.dss.gov.au/grants.