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Gippsland needs more volunteersThe Member for Eastern Victoria, Philip Davis, has appealed for more Gippslanders to join the ranks of the region’s estimated 60,000 community and emergency service volunteers. By Kevin Balshaw - 7th September 2009 - Back to News The Member for Eastern Victoria, Philip Davis, has appealed for more Gippslanders to join the ranks of the region’s estimated 60,000 community and emergency service volunteers.
Mr Davis said an increase in the volunteer effort was essential to strengthen community development, and he believes governments should back the volunteer network with increased support for recruitment and training.
"We have also been made acutely aware of the importance of volunteers at times of crisis — in the Black Saturday fires this year and the alpine fires, floods and mudslides that hit Gippsland two to three years ago," he said.
"Not only is the contribution of volunteers critical during an emergency, but also in the rebuilding and restoration of community resilience that comes in its aftermath.
"Volunteers are also the backbone of community social services and the multitude of local organisations that support people ranging from the elderly in their homes to children on the sporting fields and in their educational endeavours."
Mr Davis said statistics gathered by the national organisation, Volunteering Australia, and its Victorian associate show that in the welfare sector alone volunteers are responsible for about one-third of the services.
However, he said the existing volunteer workforce was unable to meet an increasing demand for welfare, leaving many needy people without vital support.
"The need for volunteers is most acute in country areas such as Gippsland where many people are suffering hardship because of prolonged drought and natural disasters," Mr Davis said. "There is also the factor of isolation, which means services and community support networks are not so readily accessible as in the city.
"A strong sense of community is one of the features of country areas, and country communities enjoy a higher volunteer rate than metropolitan areas, but demand is not currently being met because of the increasing constraints on people’s time and there is a need for more volunteers in a wide range of areas."
National statistics show more than 5.4 million Australians over 18 do some volunteer work, about 35% of the adult population.
"Contrary to general perception, the largest volunteer group is from the 35–44 age bracket, clearly leaving scope for the recruitment of more young people and retirees," Mr Davis said.
"Surveys reveal the majority of people engage in volunteering for the entirely altruistic motives of helping others or the community, personal satisfaction and to do something worthwhile."
References for further information:
www.volunteeringaustralia.org
www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: kevin.balshaw@parliament.vic.gov.au
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