“On this International Volunteers Day, we celebrate the vital and invaluable contribution volunteers make to our community,” said the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens.
There are an estimated 5.2 million volunteers in Australia who jointly contribute an estimated $42 billion to our economy. Whilst a large proportion of volunteers are mature Australians, the number of young Australians volunteering has been increasing.
“Australia’s diverse volunteers of all ages contribute to the richness of Australian life in so many ways. From teaching English to new Australians to keeping people safe on our beaches, volunteers bind us together into a cohesive community.
“Volunteering provides experiences that allow people to grow in confidence, build social networks, become involved, and be seen and valued in their communities,” Dr Stephens said
Senator Stephens highlighted that volunteering is an integral part of the government’s Social Inclusion Agenda to build a fairer Australian where every person is fully engaged in the social and economic life of our country.
“Crafting a national vision and commitment to volunteering in Australia is a key part of this agenda,” said Dr Stephens.
She welcomed the work done by Volunteering Australia on researching the views of volunteers and volunteering organisations on a possible National Strategy for Volunteering.
“This is very timely work as we look to 2011, which marks the decade since we celebrated the International Year of the Volunteer,” Senator Stephens said.
“There has been so much good activity in the intervening years: the establishment of Volunteering Australia and the 2020 Summit with its creative suggestions for recognising and encouraging volunteering.
“I am excited at the prospect of government and the volunteering sector working together to develop a national vision and commitment to volunteering in advance of 2011,” Senator Stephens said.