The Cohuna Community Bus Committee will receive a Brumby Labor Government funding boost to help attract and train new volunteers, Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad announced today.
Ms Broad said the Cohuna Community Bus Committee had received $5,000 in the latest round of Victorian Volunteer Small Grants.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to strengthen communities and this grant will allow the Cohuna Community Bus Committee to introduce new people to volunteering as well as provide training and support to volunteers,” Ms Broad said.
“This grant will provide safe-handling training and equipment modifications to support the Community bus volunteers and bus users with disabilities,” Ms Broad said.
It is one of 25 projects to benefit from the grants announced this month.
Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor said that since 2004 almost 1200 Victorian organisations had shared in more than $3.6 million to attract and support volunteers.
“From training volunteers as literacy and numeracy teachers in Echuca to encouraging Filipino-Australians to volunteer in Dandenong, these grants help build strong, sustainable and connected communities,” Mr Batchelor said.
Mr Batchelor said additional funding was available to volunteer organisations working in the bushfire zones.
“Volunteers are working around the clock to help these communities and we are going to give them the support they need,” Mr Batchelor said.
“Community organisations can apply immediately for up to $5000 from the Volunteer Small Grants – Bushfire Relief 2009 program.”
The Victorian Volunteer Small Grants program is part of a $21 million package of support for volunteering and community enterprises. The Brumby Government will invest a further $6 million over the next four years to help people get involved and increase support for volunteers.
For more information about Victorian Volunteer Small Grants, visit www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/grants