Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the $10-million 2025-26 Volunteer Grants Round are now open and close at 5pm on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.
One-off individual grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are available for eligible not-for-profit groups who rely on the work of volunteers with total funding of up to $66,000 available for the Blair electorate.
Mr Neumann said he encouraged all eligible not-for-profit groups across the Blair electorate to consider applying for a Volunteer Grant.
“Volunteer grants support the work of community organisations that rely on volunteers by removing barriers to volunteering and promoting awareness of volunteering opportunities,” Mr Neumann said.
“Grants can be used for things like IT and other equipment or training for volunteers, background screening checks, insurance premiums, and sporting equipment to train junior sports teams.
“If your organisation relies on volunteers, this is a great opportunity to boost your capacity. Funding is limited, so I encourage groups to get in early.
“If you are interested, go to my website to read the grant guidelines and check your organisation’s eligibility, and then submit a short online EOI form by 7 April 2026.
“You can also contact my office on (07) 3201 5300 or at Shayne.Neumann.MP@aph.gov.au for more details.
“Selected organisations will then be invited by the Department of Social Services to submit a full application in May 2026.”
Further information, including the Grant Opportunity Guidelines and EOI form, is available at https://www.shayneneumann.com.au/community/grants/blair-volunteer-grants-2025-26/
In the last funding round, 26 local organisations in Blair received more than $62,000 in grants.
The Albanese Government has invested over $85 million to date to support the volunteer sector and help connect people with opportunities in their local community.
Volunteer Grants form part of a broader commitment to building a thriving volunteer sector, supporting initiatives under the National Strategy for Volunteering 2023-2033 and complementing the recent Hanging Out to Help Out campaign, a national campaign to promote volunteering to young people.
Mr Neumann said volunteer groups provided vital support and services to those in need across Ipswich and the Somerset Region, while allowing volunteers to gain valuable skills and social connection.
“Volunteer groups are the lifeblood of our communities and we want to give our hard-working volunteers a helping hand.”
Previously, the Volunteer Grant program focused on supporting young volunteers, however this has now been expanded to include the following cohorts:
• First Nations people
• Newly arrived migrants
• People with disability
• Unemployed people who are volunteering to improve their skills
• Veterans and Australian Defence Force members
• Women experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, gender-based violence or isolation
• Women experiencing gender-based discrimination or disadvantage
• Eliminating racial discrimination and promoting understanding, tolerance and friendships among racial or ethnic groups.
