International Volunteer Day is celebrated this Sunday, 5 December with the theme ‘Volunteer now for our common future’.
Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson thanked volunteers across regional Victoria and Australia for the enormous contribution they make, including through the pandemic and encouraged people who may have the opportunity to consider how they can help out.
“International Volunteer Day is an opportunity to acknowledge, thank and shine a light on the important work of volunteers, who range from people helping at the local kids sport, to delivering meals to working to make our communities safer,” Senator Henderson said.
“This year’s International Volunteer Day asks people to Volunteer now for our common future and inspires people to take action now for people and the planet,” Senator Henderson said.
“Volunteers and volunteering as a whole have been impacted greatly by the impact of COVID-19 and with vaccination rates so high and life returning to normal, now is the time to invest and commit to reinvigorating volunteering in Australia.
“In the face of declining rates of people volunteering through organisations and the pervasive effects of COVID-19, this is a critically important and unique opportunity to redesign an optimistic future for volunteering in Australia.
“I would like to encourage people to consider volunteering as an important part of creating a more equal and inclusive future for communities worldwide.”
Volunteering Australia is leading the development of a new National Strategy for Volunteering. Designed and owned by the volunteering ecosystem, it will provide a blueprint for a reimagined future for volunteering in Australia.
The National Strategy for Volunteering will engage people and organisations from across the entire volunteering ecosystem, with a focus on inclusion and diversity. It will provide strategic direction and enable volunteering across Australia to be effective, inclusive, and sustainable.
4 December 2021