Media Release: Second Round of Australian Aid: Friendship Grants Now Open

The second round of the Australian Government’s Australian Aid: Friendship Grants is now open for applications.

Organisations eligible to apply are Australian community organisations that provide assistance to communities in Indo-Pacific countries authorised to receive overseas development aid.

Federal Member for Bradfield Paul Fletcher said that the Friendship Grants program recognises the important work and experience of Australian community organisations, and allows them to apply for Government funding to further implement their projects overseas.

“There are many community organisations across Australia that have forged strong relationships with local communities in our region”, Mr Fletcher said.

The first round of the Friendship Grants program has been a great success with more than 200 applications received, and 46 organisations awarded Friendship Grants to support their important work overseas.

There are a wide range of projects now being delivered across our region, such as a home reading literacy program in Timor-Leste; a catering business which will be operated by war-widows in Sri Lanka; improving the water supply in the Solomon Islands through water well drilling; an agriculture training program in Papua New Guinea; and a mobile health clinic to deliver medical treatment and child health education in remote villages in Indonesia.

Now in its second year, the three year $10 million program provides grants of $30,000 to $60,000 for activities that work to strengthen relationships with overseas partner organisations, demonstrate successful and innovative development approaches and strengthen an overseas community’s capacity or socio-economic situation.

For more information visit www.dfat.gov.au/friendshipgrants.