National Volunteer Week 16th – 22nd May 2022

Do you manage volunteers? Are you a volunteer, or are you considering becoming a volunteer? If so, then read on.

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and is being held on 16th – 22nd May 2022. The theme for National Volunteer Week 2022 is “Better Together”.

Volunteering is spending time willingly to help someone else without being paid. It can be formal or informal. Informal volunteering includes helping friends and family with things like babysitting, home repairs or caring. Formal volunteering usually takes place through a charity or other not-for-profit or community organisation.

There are many organisations that are actively seeking volunteers in the Yass Valley, including:

• Vinnies (retail and sorting roles)
• Ethics teaching in local schools
• Residential aged care visiting
• United Nations Youth NSW
• Volunteer telephone caller for the Australian Red Cross
• Volunteer musicians for “A Sound Life”.

These local volunteering opportunities were sourced on: Volunteering Opportunities in Yass NSW | GoVolunteer

You can also volunteer for organisations with a focus on:

• Animal welfare like the RSPCA
• Conservation — see Conservation Volunteers Australia or call 1800 032 501
• Vulnerable people, like the Australian Red Cross, The Smith Family, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, UnitingCare Australia, and Meals on Wheels
• State emergency services, rural fire services
• Volunteering overseas, like Projects Abroad, World Youth International and Australian Volunteers Program

Being a volunteer has lots of benefits. It can bring meaning and purpose to your life, while increasing your self-esteem and wellbeing. Volunteering can also relieve stress, and alleviate symptoms of depression. As well as having a positive impact on your community, volunteering can improve your relationships.

If you manage volunteers, then you should check out the resources available to you on the Volunteer Australia website. There you can find online certificates of appreciation that you can email to your volunteers, posters to hang up around your business, and you can invite all your volunteers to a morning or afternoon tea to thank them for their service with Volunteer Australia event invitations.

• Topics:

• Volunteering