The application period for the Australia Direct Aid Program opened Monday.

The Direct Aid Program is a flexible, small grants scheme for development activities in some 66 countries. The emphasis of the program is on alleviating basic human hardships.

For the 2015-16 financial year, the priority areas include public health and non-communicable diseases, agriculture and food security, coral reef protection, climate change and fisheries initiatives, water and sanitation, and other small scale projects.

Gwendolene Roberts, the Policy and Research Officer at the Australia High Commission recently met with potential beneficiaries.

"We are very pleased that you are here Mrs. Roberts, because we believe your presence here indicates the seriousness of the Government of Australia to continue to help us," Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation, Hubert Emmanuel said. "We are fellow members of the Commonwealth and it’s always good to see fellow members coming to help us in the smaller islands.

"The truth of the matter is that there is no shortage of aid to small islands like Saint Lucia, but the difficulties sometimes is in knowing how to access it."

The opening dates for applications are from Sep. 21 to Oct. 16.  More information can be found on the Australian High Commission website.