Wave your appreciation for Volunteers

This year has tested our Aussie spirit as we have dealt with devastating droughts, fires and floods, not to mention a global pandemic that will change the way we live. While we go through this time of change, our country’s backbone will continue to be held together by our resilient volunteers who dedicate their time to the community.

Amidst the pandemic, while many of us have stayed home, volunteers in essential services have remained on the frontline. Volunteers have been packaging food deliveries, checking in on the elderly, supporting families and helping others through these tough times.

In an ordinary year, a third (31%) of Aussies volunteer their time, contributing 128 hours of their time to the community [1]. This year however, we have called on our volunteers like never before.

With over 200,000 volunteers in emergency services[2] risking themselves to save others, emergency management volunteers are more important than ever, working alongside other essential volunteers in affected communities.

Volunteering Australia is working closely with State and Territory Volunteering Peak Bodies to advocate for the continued safeguarding of volunteers and adequate resourcing for Volunteer Involving Organisations.

This National Volunteer Week (18 May – 24 May), to recognise all volunteers, Volunteering Australia will be holding online activities and are
calling on Aussies to ‘wave your appreciation’ to volunteers by sharing a photo of themselves waving their hand of thanks and using the hashtags #NVW2020 and #waveforvolunteers.