Community invited to celebrate National Volunteer Week 2024

Wellington Shire Council will commemorate National Volunteer Week with a week-long celebration to thank and celebrate the hard working volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to helping local communities thrive.

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and this year will be held between 20 – 26 May 2024. The theme ‘Something for Everyone’ plays a fitting tribute to the diverse passions and talents that everyone brings to the act of volunteering.

Following the success of last year’s National Volunteer Week community events, Councillors will again host a series of thank you events, including a volunteering expo, across the municipality. Each event will recognise the valuable contribution volunteers provide to their local communities, all while encouraging new people to give volunteering a go within Wellington Shire.

Anyone interested in volunteering will have plenty of opportunities available to them to discuss the different roles available within Wellington Shire and to find a position that suits their lifestyle and availability.

It will also be an opportunity for Councillors to join in conversations with current and future volunteers, to better understand how Council can support community groups, sporting clubs and organisations to grow their volunteer database, and build a team of skilled, engaged, and passionate volunteers to support community development.

To pay tribute to volunteers who work hard to support their local communities, Councillors will host thank you events in Heyfield, Sale and Golden Beach starting Monday 20 May. Events will be held at:

• Heyfield on Monday 20 May, 2pm – 4pm at the Heyfield Memorial Hall (Macfarlane Street, Heyfield)
• Sale (including volunteering expo) on Wednesday 22 May, 4pm – 6pm at The Wedge (100 Foster Street, Sale)
• Golden Beach on Thursday 23 May, 11am – 1pm at Veronica Maybury Memorial Reserve (89 Surf Edge Drive, Golden Beach)

Each event is free to attend and will include catering, guest speakers, door prizes, networking opportunities, and an acknowledgement and thank you from Wellington Shire Council Mayor, Ian Bye.

New to this year’s lineup will be the inclusion of a volunteering expo, to be held in Sale on Wednesday 22 May. The foyer at The Wedge Performing Arts Centre will be transformed into a volunteering hub and will feature a range of volunteering exhibitors from across the Shire. The goal is to inspire and help people get involved in volunteering in their communities. The expo will connect attendees with not-for-profit organisations and community groups, offering resources and opportunities to learn practical skills and gain real hands-on experience in community volunteering.  

Groups like Wellington Shire Youth Council and GippSport will be in attendance to chat to potential volunteers that are seeking an easy pathway to get involved.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye said that Wellington Shire is a great place to volunteer, and we are always looking for more people to help out in the community.  

“People think volunteering means taking on big roles or going to lots of meetings, but that's not true. You can help out in many different ways. Our communities need people to do all sorts of things, from cooking BBQs, to supporting grant applications, managing social media and organising events. The roles are endless”.  

“I have been a volunteer for most of my life, and I've seen how rewarding it is for both myself and the community. It feels great to belong and to feel more connected to the community I love” Cr Bye said.

“Whether you volunteer or know someone who does, come and join us to celebrate National Volunteer Week 2024. We would love to see you there”.

To learn about how you can get involved in National Volunteer Week, visit Council’s website at wellington.vic.gov.au/nvw24 or contact Council’s Wellington Centre Support Officer on 5142 3178 or email enquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au.

Attendees are encouraged to register their attendance via TryBooking by visiting Council’s website at the link provided.