Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Michael Ferguson said the $2 million Emergency Volunteer Support Fund covered training, engagement activities and station upgrades.

“What they do for our state in times of stress and hardship is phenomenal … Saying thank you is not enough – we want to actually demonstrate our thanks and our support,” Mr Ferguson said.

“It’s for non-core equipment, building minor improvements, training opportunities and they things that can make life more comfortable for the volunteers.”

SES assistant director Leon Smith said both services could improve their amenities using these grants, which would help to attract more volunteers.

“It’s a great initiative. We know that resources and facilities are two of the most important drivers for volunteer sustainability,” Mr Smith said.

Equipment could include radios, pumps, floodlights or items to improve the amenity of volunteer stations, such as a television or computer.

Tasmania Fire Service George Town brigade chief Andrew Taylor said the services had different needs because “each is a different size, make up, different backgrounds”.

“It’s thousands of dollars that these brigades are going to get access to,” he said.

Tasmanian Volunteer Fire Brigades Association state president Robert Atkins said it was important that volunteers could nominate how funds should be used.

“Hopefully brigades can put something down that they would never think they’d be able to achieve or get and it’ll improve the social aspect of their brigade,” Mr Atkins said.

There will be one round of grants each year for four years.

Applications for the first round close on January 31, 2019.

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