Tania Lawrence (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government understands that it's not just industry, business or major projects that need financial backing to have a sound economic foundation. Volunteers, who are the social glue that binds our communities together, need our financial backing, too. That's why our budget provides dedicated funding to volunteering, including the Volunteer Management Activity program, and volunteer grants. The budget allocates over $77 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year, and a further $65 million in each of the three subsequent years of the forward estimates. Delivering certainty for our much-needed volunteer organisations helps them to plan their valued activities.

During Volunteer Week, I attended the Al-Noor Community Language School volunteer celebration in Ellenbrook. Al-Noor recently received a volunteer grant, I'm happy to say, which provides them with the school equipment necessary to support their organisation and to grow. The director, Aliaa Zayadi, also celebrated her volunteers, speaking about each of them in turn and highlighting how they have contributed so significantly to the community. The event was topped off with the most amazing and delicious shared meal.

We need to celebrate success. To this end, I've launched the inaugural Hasluck Volunteer Awards and I'm seeking nominations from Midland to Ellenbrook, to Guildford, to the foothills and beyond. I encourage everyone connected to volunteering—including online community groups, because we know how much effort goes into supporting them—to nominate for and contribute to the volunteer awards for Hasluck.