International Volunteer Day - Motion

Wednesday 29 November 2023 

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (12:06): I move: 

That this house— 

(a) notes that 5 December 2023 is International Volunteer Day; 

(b) expresses thanks to the nearly one million South Australians who volunteer each year; 

(c) acknowledges the work of our emergency service volunteers and other volunteers who assist our community during times of natural disasters such as floods, bushfires and storm events; 

(d) acknowledges the support provided by Volunteering SA/NT as the peak body and the Volunteer Resource Centres; and 

(e) notes the work of the Malinauskas Labor government to support and promote volunteering in South Australia. 

It is often said that South Australia, in fact our country, could not operate as it does without the work of volunteers, and that is indeed very true. The millions of hours provided by volunteers across our state and our nation each year would cost the nation billions of dollars if to be provided through paid employment. Yet Australians do not volunteer for recognition but because they believe it is the right thing to do. 

The National Strategy for Volunteering informs us that 56 per cent of Australians undertook volunteering in 2022, and next week we celebrate these Australians on International Volunteer Day. On 5 December, we will celebrate and thank our volunteers while also raising awareness of the important role volunteers play in responding to the many challenges facing our world. 

International Volunteer Day, mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, is held each year. It is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organisations to celebrate their efforts, share their values and promote their work among their communities, non-government organisations, United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector. 

This year's theme for the day is 'If everyone did' and centres on the power of everyone and the power of collective action in a time where much of the progress made on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, including the 17 sustainable development goals, are stalled or reversed with only one—responsible consumption and production—now 40 per cent complete. 

There is a sense of urgency to respond to global development challenges ranging from climate action to natural disasters, reducing inequality, hunger, health and rising poverty to endangered natural resources. All these challenges require collective action, as do so many other challenges in our own community such as combating hunger, providing emergency assistance, saving lives and keeping our community safe. 

I wish to express thanks to every volunteer in our community. Whether they give hundreds of hours every year or several hours a month, every contribution is valuable, and if everyone did something then it would further enhance our community. If everyone could find some time to volunteer, our world would be a better place. Imagine more than eight billion of us volunteering—the possibilities are endless. 

I am proud to be one of those volunteers putting my hand up at Oaklands reserve parkrun. There are many volunteer roles that you can do at parkrun, so there is a place for everyone. You can be a timekeeper, or you can be a park walker. In fact, last Saturday I tried a new volunteering role as a guide for the vision impaired, for one of our park runners, Rolf. 

We also have in my community the weekly St Jude's community meal, another event at which I volunteer where possible, not only serving a meal to those in need in our community but also, once they have had time to eat, sitting down and chatting with them and making some connection. I have also had the opportunity to volunteer at the Marion RSL, pulling beers on ANZAC Day so our veterans can spend time together. I know many of my colleagues also volunteer, and I look forward to hearing everyone's contributions. As I mentioned earlier, nearly one million South Australians volunteer each year, and I ask every member in this place to encourage our community members to exceed one million volunteers, as the need never diminishes. 

Earlier this week, as the weather raged we saw that our State Emergency Service volunteers were on the frontline protecting lives and property. This is just the most recent example we have seen, from the extensive work that occurred through the summer floods to their work during the Naracoorte storm last week and fighting bushfires across our state, unfortunately on a regular basis. Combined, the services of the SES and the CFS have nearly 15,500 volunteers and attended more than 20,000 incidents during the 2022-23 year. 

We especially thank these women and men as they put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. In addition, I would like to thank the emergency volunteers from the Salvation Army and the staff from Housing SA who provide assistance on the ground in these circumstances. On the frontline in my electorate are our surf lifesaving volunteers who we know are so highly trained and thankfully not too often called upon. But, unfortunately, as we saw at Port Noarlunga recently, their critical work helps keep our community safe and save lives. 

Mr Acting Speaker, if you decide today that you want to volunteer, how would you find out which organisations could use your skills? That is where Volunteering SA&NT and the volunteer resource centres come in. Through these centres you can inquire about what is available, what you can offer an organisation, and if there is any training you might need. These organisations provide referral services, quality training, research and information, and run the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme in several areas across Adelaide. 

Volunteering is for everybody regardless of age, gender identity, background, sexuality or ability. Through a partnership between Orana, Southern Volunteering and Northern Volunteering, the Volunteerability program was developed to support volunteers living with a disability and volunteer-involved organisations to work together in a successful, inclusive way. 

Of course, like every community, there are particular volunteers who stand out. In Brighton, we have Virginia Summers, a prolific volunteer in my local community. Her volunteering commitment to the community is seemingly endless. She is a church warden at St Jude's and works in support of St Jude's Community Meal; and, with her many contacts in the community, she sources food for those meals. She volunteers at the Seacliff Esplanade parkrun and is a Joey leader with Scouts Darlington and so much more. In fact, I was proud to be volunteering at the St Jude's Community Meal just a couple of weeks ago when Virginia was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by Minister Cook, and flowers by Sophie from St Jude's. Thank you, Virginia, for everything you do. 

In addition to Virginia there are hundreds of volunteers in my community. Our volunteers at Brighton and Somerton Park Surf Life Saving keep our beaches safe, provide first aid and youth development opportunities. The Brighton and Marion RSL sub-branches facilitate fellowship for our veterans and ensure that we remember the fallen. 

My local service clubs, such as Brighton and Marion Lions, organisations such as MarionLIFE, St Jude's Anglican Church and St Elizabeth of Hungary Anglican Church provide community services, care for those in need and provide connections in our local community. Every weekend, we have sport playing across Gibson, and all those teams require volunteers, be it coaches preparing training plans, volunteers running the lines or parents cooking the barbecue, washing kits or driving kids to and from training. Without these people our sports would not run so successfully. 

Our young people, too, participate in volunteering in many organisations, including Scouts and Guides, Youth Collective and HoldUp youth committees, and many other places providing community service, learning skills, advocating for change and running events. And if you care particularly for the environment, in our local community we have the Friends of Minda Dunes and Sturt River Landcare—environmental volunteer groups, which I have also spent some time volunteering with. 

In 2023-24, the Department of Human Services is providing $718,000 in funding to the volunteering sector for a range of grants, including for sector support and advocacy, community capacity programs and volunteer support and recognition. This includes $431,000 to Volunteering SA&NT for sector advocacy and impact as a peak body. 

I am proud to be part of a Malinauskas Labor government that supports and promotes volunteering in South Australia. My friend Minister Cook knows the value of volunteering and that every volunteer is special in our state. 

Every year we have the South Australian Volunteer Awards, which recognise the invaluable work that volunteers, volunteer managers, community organisations and businesses contribute to the South Australian community. We also have volunteer certificates and special volunteers' days for our volunteers each day on the second Monday in June. I thank every volunteer and commend this motion to the house.