The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been successful in two Federal Government grant applications totalling AUS$98,219 (€58,000), made through the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund (NEVSF).
Funding from both grants will be used to further develop ADRA’s National Program support for its Disaster Recovery Volunteers. This includes improvement of volunteer recruitment, training, equipment, operational resources and database development.
Gary Christian, ADRA Australia’s National Program Director, said, “This is a significant achievement for ADRA and the growth of our Disaster Recovery Volunteers Program. This not only allows us to grow and improve the quality of our program but also illustrates the confidence that NEVSF have in the organisation and the credibility of ADRA’s work in Australia.”
“This funding will make possible significant improvements to our program, that will help ADRA be more efficient, responsive and enhance capacity, when an emergency happens,” said Chris Olafson, ADRA Australia’s Disaster Response Coordinator.
The two grant applications of AUS$55,000 (€32,500) and AUS$43,219 (€25,500)were submitted on 2 March 2006 and were approved for the full amount requested. ADRA was one of 440 agencies applying for this funding.
Currently the ADRA Disaster Recovery Volunteers Program has resourced over 2,000 volunteers throughout Australia. The program provides emergency accommodation services to evacuees and emergency management personnel.
ADRA Australia is a non-government organisation (NGO) fully accredited with the Australian Government’s Agency for International Development (AusAID). It is signatory to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct which requires members to maintain high standards of corporate governance, public accountability and financial management.
Part of ADRA International, the global humanitarian operation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, ADRA Australia is helping people in need from all walks of life all over the world.