COFFS Coast Volunteering hopes the celebration and recognition of volunteers during the recent National Volunteer Week (16-22 May), has been heard as people head to vote in the Federal Election.

Coffs Coast Volunteers is advocating for political parties and candidates to commit to a positive agenda on volunteering, including the implementation of a National Strategy for Volunteering.

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“With over 19 percent of people in Coffs Harbour actively volunteering and setting an Australian record for the most volunteers registered in an LGA, we would hope that our community values around volunteering are heard loud and clear,” Di Woods, Manager of Coffs Coast Volunteering and Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre told News Of The Area.

Di says volunteers are integral to achieving many national priorities, playing vital roles in key national workforces – in aged, disability and palliative care and in mental health and community services.

She also cited volunteers’ roles in emergency response, recovery and resilience-building, as well as community sport.

“Yet repeated governments have failed to recognise and invest in these key volunteer workforces,” she said.

“Communities with active volunteers have strong social capital and are more resilient when crises hit.

“If we care about the nation’s mental health and the resilience of communities, we need to care about sustaining volunteering.

Volunteering does not “just happen” as Di points out, “It requires strategic consideration and investment to ensure its sustainability.”

Effective volunteering programs require recruitment, training, ongoing support, and recognition.

Deliberate and ongoing investment in volunteering infrastructure is essential to ensuring that volunteering can continue to deliver the myriad of benefits it provides.

“Failure to invest in a National Strategy for Volunteering is a direct threat to numerous services, supports and benefits in our community.”

While Coffs has a thriving volunteering culture, there has been a decline in formal volunteering over the past twenty years, significantly exacerbated by COVID-19.

“Without a National Strategy for Volunteering, we risk taking volunteers and the breadth of their contribution for granted, which will significantly impact local organisations, communities, and citizens who rely on the service of Australia’s volunteers every day,” said Di.

This Federal Election, Coffs Coast Volunteering is urging our community to ‘Vote for Volunteers’ and calling on candidates to recognise and support the vital role of volunteers, volunteer-involving organisations and volunteering support services in their electorates.

By Andrea FERRARI