Western Australia has joined in the nation’s biggest annual celebration of volunteering with 2022’s National Volunteer Week being busily celebrated across the State.
Supported by the Minister for Volunteering, Stephen Dawson, the national week is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the generous contribution Western Australia’s volunteers make and whose selfless work benefits all of its communities.
“The theme for National Volunteer Week 2022 is ‘Better Together’,” Mr Dawson said, “referring to the strength volunteering has in bringing people together, building communities and creating a better society for everyone.”
He said that in view of the State’s vast geography and population it’s vital that Western Australia encourage a diverse and well-established volunteer workforce.
“I have seen extraordinary people and organisations continue to contribute, without hesitation, lending an essential hand where it was most needed and assisting people and communities in recovering from crisis,” Mr Dawson said.
He said the State Government was committed to supporting volunteering and volunteer organisations in the community where a total of 178 are located across the State, including Broome, Esperance, the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island.
According to Mr Dawson about four out of five Western Australians aged 15 years and over volunteer in some way each year.
“The combined economic, social and cultural value that volunteering brings to WA has been calculated to more than $39 billion,” the Minister said.
He said volunteering helped people develop stronger social networks and friendships and volunteering roles could also lead to the acquisition of new skills and knowledge, often improving employability.
“On behalf of the McGowan Government and as the Volunteering Minister, I say thank you to all the incredible volunteers across Western Australia,” Mr Dawson said,
“Our State simply could not function without your selfless efforts and dedication.”
