Grants SA

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:16): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding Grants SA. Can the minister provide an update to the council on how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting not-for-profit community organisations through Grants SA funding rounds?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for her question and for her interest in the Grants SA program, which has for many years been providing support to all our fantastic community and non-government organisations throughout South Australia through a range of rounds of funding. It has purchased kitchens, trailers for Lions groups to take along when they are doing their Bunnings' barbecues, a whole range of things, and unique little programs that organisations have run that have helped with capacity building in the community.

We are really pleased that the latest round of Grants SA has now been released. We have two rounds, the medium and minor rounds, for this particular financial year, and we are encouraging all community organisations to participate with that. The themes for 2021-22 include women's leadership and economic security; youth outcomes, which are aligned to our youth action plan; and support for the South Australian LGBTQIA+ community. We have allocated some $2½ million via the two grant rounds and we encourage organisations to apply for those through the DHS website.

Grants SA has existed in many forms since roughly 1996. It's funded via the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund and the Gaming Machines Act. The department receives approximately $4 million a year annually from the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund. It also provides funds to a range of other community organisations, which include Good Shepherd Microfinance, Second Chances SA, Prisoners' Kids program, Foundation SA and a range of other programs.

These grants will support the vital work of the not-for-profit community organisations, and include previous recipients such as the Australian Migrant Resource Centre. For instance, $9,000 was invested in its Sister Act initiative, which enabled its Murraylands team to train 40 migrant and refugee women on alternative pathways to employment, social enterprise, self-employment and tourism.

Through that program, the Murraylands Migrant Resource Centre has partnered with the Rural City of Murray Bridge and Monarto Safari Park to develop a volunteer program involving participants in various roles, including tour guides, driver and information centre workers, which has assisted with the local regional tourism and hospitality sectors.

It is a very diverse program and I am always delighted and amazed at the particular applications we get that we are able to fund. They are very diverse and often incredibly innovative. We look forward to receiving those applications, and I encourage all members to let their local community groups know about these two rounds.