Community organisations encouraged to apply for grant

Community organisations encouraged to apply for Medibank grant

9 September 2013

More New Zealand community organisations are in line to receive grants to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities, as applications for the Medibank Community Fund (MCF) 2014 grants open. The 2014 grants are worth a total of $100,000 – an increase of $35,000 from the 2013 grants.

In 2013, grants went to the IN2IT street games in Auckland promoting unstructured, creative play for everyone; the Waikato International Community Garden Project; Water Safety Auckland; the Nourish cookery programme at the New Brighton Community Gardens; Te Ara Hauora – The Path of Wellbeing in Greymouth; and Garden to Table which shows primary school children how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food.

Medibank Health Solutions General Manager New Zealand, Andrea Pettett, says the community grants programme is all about helping projects to improve health locally.

“Communities play a vital role in helping people to stay connected and in good health by being mentally and physically active.

“We are delighted to give a boost to projects that are making a difference in our communities, and strongly encourage organisations to put in an application for this funding round.”

Grants vary in value depending on the project and organisations applying for a grant must have a project that meets at least one of three criteria:

• • healthy eating

• • encouraging greater exercise

• • greater community connectedness.

Andrea Pettett says the successful grants are chosen by Medibank employees, who review the applications and select the projects that best meet the criteria.

“We are looking forward to learning more about local initiatives which are supporting the health of our communities.”

Applications must be completed and submitted electronically. Application forms and an information kit for the 2014 Community Grants are available online from the Medibank Community Fund website - http://www.medibankcf.com.au/

Completed applications will be accepted until 2pm on 6 December 2013.  Successful applicants will be announced by 1 May 2014.

About Medibank Health Solutions

In Australasia, Medibank Health Solutions has been providing healthcare services to business and government for over 35 years. In New Zealand, this includes the delivery of Healthline, on contract to the Ministry of Health. Healthline is a telephone triage and advice line, staffed by registered nurses, that has taken over three million calls in New Zealand since it began in 2000.

Medibank Health Solutions New Zealand also operates Mental Health Line for a number of District Health Boards and a number of other services, such as the Patient Access Centre for Midlands Health Network. We are a national provider of homecare services for ACC.

About the Medibank Community Fund

The Medibank Community Fund (MCF) was set up by Medibank in 2011 to encourage people of all ages to live longer and in good health. Each year one percent of Medibank's pre-tax profit is invested in the fund to support four programme areas: partnerships, community grants, scholarship grants and donations.  In 2012-2013, this resulted in around $3 million in New Zealand and Australia being directed to partnerships and programmes that encourage healthy eating, greater activity and more community connectedness.

In New Zealand, as well as the 2013 grants to community groups, the Medibank Community Fund provided a grant of $15,000 per annum for three years to two Pacific nurses; and telenursing scholarships of $10,000 per annum for three years for two Maori nurses.

ENDS

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