National Volunteer Week has been launched in Western Australia with the naming of a Marine Rescue vessel in Two Rocks, an outer suburb of Perth.
Running until next Sunday (21 May), this year’s National Volunteer Week theme is The Change Makers recognising volunteers as the ‘change makers’ who take action to make the world a better place.
Minister for Volunteering, Stephen Dawson said the week’s events included the State Government Volunteer Service Awards and the Western Australian Volunteer of the Year awards.
He presented volunteers from the Two Rocks Marine Rescue Service with a new vessel, the Neptune, enhancing the service’s ability to respond to emergencies at sea.
Mr Dawson also used National Volunteering Week to launch the WA Volunteering Strategy Action Plan 2023-2026.
“Developed to support the WA Volunteering Strategy which was launched in 2017, the action plan is a response to the changing needs of volunteers, including the unforeseen challenges of natural disasters and the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Dawson said.
“The action plan focuses on delivering initiatives over the next three years to meet six key outcomes.”
These were the changing needs of volunteers; increasing the number of volunteers; harnessing technological innovation; involving communities and organisations; recognising and celebrating volunteers; and recognising them for contributions.
The Minister said the action plan involved 25 activities, a mix of strategic initiatives and on-ground projects, involving a State-wide, whole-of-Government approach to supporting, recognising and promoting volunteering across WA.
