National Volunteer Week is reminding Australians of the crucial role that volunteers make in our local communities.
As Australian communities recover from multiple natural disasters and emergencies, we remember the tireless work of the volunteer community who support in many roles.
Volunteering Australia estimates that five million people volunteer each year, with an addition 6.5 million providing informal volunteering their local communities.
In 2022 Volunteering in Australia conducted research into why Australians give up their time with 71% of volunteers, "[indicating] that they volunteer for personal satisfaction and doing something worthwhile."
CEO of Volunteering Australia, Mark Pearce, explains that whilst the common volunteering motivators are personal satisfaction and helping others in the community, motivations can differ with each sector.
“Volunteering extends across society, including in the arts, education, emergency services, sports, environment, health, aged care and disability, community welfare and other vital community programs. Our new analysis of the latest volunteering data demonstrates that not all motivations and modes of volunteering are the same across
sectors,” says Pearce.
National Volunteer Week is from the 15th - 21st of May 2023.