Portfolio — 28 May 2026

Minister Anika Wells used National Volunteers Week to recognise 40 community contributors in her Lilley electorate and announce direct grant funding to support volunteer organisations [TA-260527-house-ef5cc5d1c124:s101]. The centrepiece policy announcement was the Lilley volunteer grants program: nearly 30 not-for-profit organisations will share more than $66,000, with individual awards of up to $5,000 administered through the Department of Social Services [TA-260527-house-ef5cc5d1c124:s101].

The grants are structured as electorate-level funding rounds, a mechanism the portfolio uses to channel support directly to volunteer-led community services.

At the Lilley Volunteers Awards breakfast, Wells spotlighted both ends of the generational spectrum. On the younger side, 11-year-old Clara Scott of Chermside West was recognised for contributions across school events, reading support, historical-society projects and Parkrun. Sixteen-year-old Archie Dutschke was praised for his weekly Auskick coaching at the Aspley Hornets, with Wells noting his role in building skills and confidence among younger children.

On the lifetime-contribution end, Wells presented Elaine Darling Awards to 16 recipients, including 90-year-old Mavis Baxter, who has volunteered continuously since age 16 across Norths rugby league, Nundah amateur swim club and local historical societies. Wells also paid tribute to the late Beverley Donaghey, acknowledging three decades of leadership as president of the Boondall Synchronized Ice Skating Club.

The $66,000 grant announcement is the substantive policy output from the week's activity. The recognition events serve a dual function: they profile individual contribution and provide a public platform to present the funding commitment as a government investment in community resilience. This framing — pairing personal recognition with structured grant delivery — is the consistent approach the portfolio has taken across the National Volunteers Week window.