The State Government has announced more than $660,000 of equipment grants to community groups supporting disadvantaged South Australians.

Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Ian Hunter, says the Community Benefit SA Equipment Grants will assist 120 not-for-profit groups in their work with individuals, families and communities in need.

"By giving them access to new equipment, the grants will help these groups to deliver or improve their community services to disadvantaged South Australians and boost their participation in the community," he said.

"There were over 250 applications received for the grants and the fact that we are funding 120 of these projects highlights both the high quality of applications received and the importance of the grants to groups working with disadvantaged South Australians."

Projects winning grants include:

  • Catherine House: $10,000 for a computer server to manage the complex administrative demands of supporting residential care and supported accommodation for 1,000 women;
  • Edmund Rice Camps SA: $9,830 for office equipment to store confidential information, and for equipment to promote their camps for the social and personal development of disadvantaged children and their families;
  • Eyre Futures: $5,430 for equipment to help establish an annual, alternative learning program in Yalata and Koonibba for 60 young Aboriginal people. The program promotes community participation and improved wellbeing;
  • Foodbank of South Australia: $10,000 to improve safety and handling at the Riverland Foodbank warehouse, which provides food and groceries to support more than 8,000 people each year;
  • Migrant Resource Centre of SA: $5,000 for whitegoods, programs and play equipment for community development and support initiatives in Naracoorte for persons who recently arrived from Afghanistan.

A full list of the grants can be found on the Department of Communities and Social Inclusion website at www.dcsi.sa.gov.au . Go to Grants for Organisations, click on Community Benefit SA and follow the link under Equipment Funding.