Grant Programs

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:17): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding the support for not-for-profit community organisations. Can the minister please update the council on how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting not-for-profit community organisations through Grants SA?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for her question. The Grants SA program does provide a lot of support to a range of community organisations throughout South Australia and is a great program for organisations to be able to fund things that they might not be able to otherwise obtain. Last year, we particularly focused on the COVID challenges to support organisations through their experiences.

As we know, many of our non-government organisations are heavily reliant on volunteers, so needed to find new ways of engaging. The Department of Human Services undertook a broad analysis of the Grants SA COVID-19 support grant, which closed in October last year. An industry survey was undertaken recently to assist the social impact of the COVID-19 support grant and the immediate needs of the not-for-profit sector, which has informed the design for our program for the remainder of this particular financial year.

What we are providing are single grants of up to $25,000 to eligible organisations with projects aligning with particular key themes, including local community needs, strong and inclusive communities, wellbeing, disadvantaged young people, adults and families, being the services that we support and the themes being connecting (to provide communities with opportunities to engage and participate) and belonging (belonging to communities that are inclusive, equitable and resilient).

Grant funding can be for a range of things, including improving services or facilities, purchasing equipment or supplies, or infrastructure. Those grants opened on 22 March and close on 23 April. I do note that quite recently there was a launch, which the Hon. Ian Hunter attended as well, which was about loneliness and which I think was co-sponsored by Communities SA and one of the other organisations.

There is clearly concern in our community about people being isolated, which has been particularly highlighted through the COVID period, and so we encourage organisations to apply for grants so that they can continue to support people in their community.