Emergency Management Australia (EMA) are calling for applications from volunteer emergency service based organsiations. Attorney General Mr Robert McClelland announced that "Volunteer support funding is intended to assist organisations to develop recruitment, retention and training initiatives," Mr McClelland said. "The Rudd Government recognises that emergency volunteers give so freely of their time to protect the lives and property of others."

Eligible volunteer emergency management organisations nationwide are encouraged to apply. Applications for funding through the initiative will close on 7 March 2008. "Since the introduction of the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund, 595 projects have been funded to a total value of $15.3 million.

"I am particularly pleased to see the level of response by volunteer groups. "There are up to 500,000 people in emergency response and recovery activities across the nation who can utilise the fund to prepare their pool of willing people for a whole range of possible emergencies."

Since the funding program has been in place Surf Life Saving operations and clubs around Australia have benefited greatly from grants recieved as part of this intiaitive.  All successful applications can be reviewed via the EMA web-site www.ema.gov.au/communityengagement.

Surf Life Saving clubs are eligible to recieve funding and SLSWA encourage all Clubs to consider submitting an application with previous success rates being very high.  

When considering what to apply for or programs that meet the scope for funding consider reviewing the previous years successful grants.  Just because a club or program has already received funding it does preclude Clubs applying for funds to undertake a similar program.  The EMA grants are designed to improve responses to local emergencies and on this basis many local communities may have the same need.

When developing and submitting a grant application it is good practice to engage and seek the support of the Local Emergnecy Management Committees (LEMC) coordinated through your Local Government Authority.