LATEST research commissioned by Australia Post has found that 40% of regular-giving Australians have donated less in the past 12 months due to cost-of-living pressures, with half of Australians saying they give less to charity because of the increased cost of groceries and essentials.

To help address growing financial pressures faced by community groups nationwide, Australia Post is awarding over $400,000 in grants to over 200 grassroots community and not-for-profit groups around Australia through its People of Post grants program.

In Victoria, Australia Post has awarded grants to 79 nominated community organisations, with the majority of projects focusing on mental health. This initiative will help to foster community connection, resilience and awareness.

Now in its eighth year, the People of Post program is a unique employee-led community grant initiative that enables Australia Post team members, including Posties and Post Office workers, to nominate local community or not-for-profit groups for a grant of up to $2,000.

Australia Post General Manager Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey, said, “Being part of a community and feeling connected is more important than ever before. That’s why Australia Post continues to support local communities through the People of Post grants.

Bass Coast/South Gippsland Wildlife Rescue & Shelter, founded by Sue Moore was a recipient of the community grant. The volunteer organisation is committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native wildlife across the Bass Coast and South Gippsland regions.

Their mission is to provide compassionate care for injured, sick, and orphaned native animals, ensuring their safe return to the wild. The organisation has been awarded a People of Post grant to help Sue purchase new surveillance cameras and equipment to monitor wildlife in rehabilitation, enhancing their ability to track progress and ensure the security of the animals without causing distress or increasing human contact.

“We’ve had 320 animals come through in the past 12 months, including 80 koalas. At the moment, we’ve got a koala with a steel plate in its leg — we’ve named him Kenny,” said Sue.

“We’ve got a hospital shed, incubators, and volunteers who help clean, transport and care for the animals. Sometimes people drop them off in the shed. The cameras will be used to monitor owls in the aviary, also help us keep an eye on the koalas — whether they’re exercising, sitting out the front, or tucked off to the side.”

Bass Coast/South Gippsland Wildlife Rescue & Shelter have strong relationships with local veterinarians and residents to help care for the animals before they are safely released to the wild, and grant programs help keep the program running, 20 years on.