Queensland celebrates volunteers who save the state billions every year
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
Queensland volunteers have many opportunities for experience and adventure, as the state celebrates the three million people who donate their time to good causes each year.
Volunteers can feed endangered sea turtles in a rehabilitation centre near Cairns, or help people with Motor Neurone Disease record their voices to use when they’re no longer able to speak.
Musicians can play for hospital patients. Animal shelters and wildlife refuges across the state need people. There’s the SES, the Volunteer Coast Guard, hospital foundations and community groups. Google “where can I volunteer in Queensland” for a very long list of possibilities.
Volunteering Queensland figures show Queenslanders gave 900 million hours of their time to volunteering in 2020. They gave an average 24.9 hours a month, or 5.7 hours a week, more time than many people spend socialising.
That effort was worth $84 billion to the state. The volunteering sector is around three times larger than the Queensland Government sector, and about the same size as the private sector.
Across the state, communities and leaders are celebrating this vital contribution during National Volunteers Week.
“Volunteering brings people together, it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone,” said Rockhampton Regional Councillor Drew Wickerson.
Sunshine Coast Council has released a series of videos showcasing the work of local volunteers.
“We’re very grateful to our volunteers who deliver vital services such as helping people learn to read, looking after our environment, preserving our history, and more,” said Councillor David Law.
So far this year, Sunshine Coast volunteers have donated 15,000 hours of their time.
Meals on Wheels has 45,000 volunteers working across Australia. President, Sharyn Broer, said it’s timely Volunteer Week falls in the final days of the Federal election.
“Volunteers have gone above and beyond, particularly during the past years when faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, fires and floods. They will continue to have a critical role to play in the years ahead supporting the country’s most vulnerable people.
“The incoming Federal Government must acknowledge the value of meaningful volunteering for rural, regional and metropolitan communities.”
