Funding grants available to support Men’s Sheds

Australia’s 135 Men’s Sheds will share in $500,000 funding under the Morrison Government National Shed Development Programme.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the grant would support Men’s Sheds to buy tools and equipment, maintain their infrastructure, coordinate training events and host community activities about men’s health issues.

“Grant rounds are held twice a year and eligible Men’s Sheds, including the five in my electorate of Bonner, are able to apply for grants of up to $10,000, with priority given to sheds in disadvantaged areas,” Mr Vasta said.

“Men’s Sheds are places where men can find social support and camaraderie while engaged in meaningful projects. “Since 2013, the government has provided $4.92 million to support Men’s Sheds through this programme.”

In this year’s budget the Morrison Government announced continued and expanded funding to support the Men’s Shed movement. Funding includes:

  • Funding to Men’s Sheds through the National Shed Development Programme will be continued, and increased to $1 million per year for four years ·
  • $1.5 million to fund regional coordinators at the grassroots level in each state and territory which aims to provide direct assistance in Men’s Shed;·
  • $3.6 million to the Australian Men’s Shed Association to support Men’s Shed at a national level;

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Volunteers needed to feed students breakfast

Mount Gravatt-East State School (MGESS) is looking for volunteers to help provide breakfast through their morning Top-Up Station to ensure kids have the brain food they need to start their day of learning.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said volunteers were the lifeblood of local communities and what MGESS needs to keep this great initiative going.

“The idea of the Top-Up station is to provide a breakfast based snack for kids who may have missed breakfast or need an extra snack to fill them up before they start school,” Mr Vasta said

“It’s a judgement-free zone which means all kids feel welcome and have food in their bellies so they can concentrate on their lessons rather than a rumbling belly.”

Mr Vasta said MGESS would love more volunteers to get involved or alternatively, donations of food were also welcome to keep this initiative going.

“Without volunteers, well-meaning initiatives like this are limited in how they operate and how many people they can help,” Mr Vasta said.

“I am proud to have my office team volunteer on a regular basis at MGESS and witness the positive impact they’re having on students.”

“If you are a local business in the food industry or have staff free for the first part of the morning, why not donate some of your time and resources by giving back to the local community.”

If you want to know how to become a volunteer or to donate, please contact my office on 3893 3488 or email ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au

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New grants available to help Bonner get active

The Morrison Government’s $19.6 million Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity grants program is open now.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said it was a great opportunity for local organisations to apply for the grant and run programs which aim to break down barriers that stop people getting active, and bring communities together.

“Australia is one of the world’s great sporting nations but not all Aussies come from sporting backgrounds,” Mr Vasta said.

“Playing sport is a great way to be a part of the community and promote social inclusion so it’s important we provide a helping hand for people to get involved, particularly people with disabilities, new migrants and Indigenous Australians.

“These grants will also help build on the fantastic participation boom our government is supporting in women’s and girl’s sport.”

Minister for Youth and Sport, Richard Colbeck said the grants are part of the Morrison Government’s plan to make Australia the world’s most active sporting nation.

“Our Government’s national Sport 2030 plan is to make Australia the world’s most active sporting nation, and to do that we need everyone joining in,” Mr Colbeck said.

“We invested $190 million to grassroots sporting infrastructure to encourage female participation, because everyone should feel welcome at their local sporting club.”

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, David Coleman said the program was part of the Government’s $71 million investment in social cohesion initiatives to build stronger communities.

The grants are open to applications from not-for-profit organisations including local community organisations, sporting organisations and local government entities and are available assist the following community groups get involved in sport and recreational activities:

  • newly arrived migrants and refugees
  • people with a physical or mental disability
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
  • women;

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

  • engaging with community organisations to deliver sport and physical activity projects;
  • coaching clinics to teach sports skills and techniques;
  • participation in local sports competitions;
  • instruction in exercise and physical activity classes delivered by qualified instructors;
  • research and data collection; and
  • recruitment and engagement of translators required to deliver the activities.

Further information about the Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity Grant Opportunity (GO2645) is available from the GrantConnect website.

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