Volunteers are being empowered to provide welfare checks, deliver supplies and offer essential transport to vulnerable people through a new online platform linking community members with charities, non-profit organisations and Councils.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Gareth Ward encouraged volunteers and organisations to register on the new Emergency Support Volunteering website to help people impacted by COVID-19.
Mr Ward said the NSW Government had partnered with the Centre for Volunteering to develop the platform which was also operating in Victoria and Western Australia.
“In times of crisis, we rally around each other and do everything we can to support those who are struggling,” Mr Ward said.
“We saw it during the bushfire emergency and we are seeing it again now,” he said.
Mr Ward said the pandemic placed a significant strain on volunteer-driven organisations that supported vulnerable members of the community and many required more people to help meet demand.
Chief Executive at the Centre for Volunteering, Gemma Rygate said the platform prioritised the safety and wellbeing of participants and was designed to offer informal voluntary opportunities that considered physical distancing restrictions.
Ms Rygate said there were many ways to safely volunteer during the pandemic, including making welfare check phone calls, or delivering groceries to those unable to do their own shopping.
Further information, including how to sign up as a volunteer can be accessed at this PS News link.
