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Media Releases My electorate office distributes information which is important to the Southport electorate in particular, and the Gold Coast in general. This information goes to the print and electronic media, however due to space or time constraints it doesn’t always get printed or broadcast. Through my website however, you can access all news stories which emanate from my office and thus keep up-to-date with State Government issues relating to Southport.
Gold Coast volunteers acknowledged |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Dec 05 2005 |
| Media Releases >> |
International Volunteer's Day was observed on the Gold Coast today when local volunteers were honoured for their outstanding contribution to the community.
Member for Southport, Peter Lawlor, represented the Minister for Communities, Warren Pitt, at a Gold Coast Volunteer Awards ceremony at the Sheraton Mirage.
Mr Lawlor said volunteers made a significant contribution that helped build stronger more supportive communities.
"Volunteers made the world of difference in so many ways, and today it is only fitting that their contribution be acknowledged," Mr Lawlor said.
"A recent example of the important work undertaken by volunteers was the participation of Volunteering Gold Coast members in the recent Gold Coast Schoolies Week celebrations.
"Some three hundred volunteers through Volunteering Gold Coast played an important role in the event, as members of the Schoolies Support Team.
"The Department of Communities worked closely with Gold Coast City Council and members of the Gold Coast community to make Gold Coast Schoolies Week 2005 a safe and enjoyable experience for the entire community.
"I believe the overall success of Gold Coast Schoolies Week is evidence of the level of support and assistance offered by local volunteers.
Mr Lawlor said another area where volunteers played a crucial role was in the non-government sector.
"Recently, the Minister was pleased to provide $250,000 for Volunteering Queensland as part of the Strengthening Non-Government Organisations project, which aims to ensure that non-government organisations receive the practical support and assistance they need, in order to deliver vital community services," he said.
"The primary aim of the partnership between the State Government and Volunteering Queensland is to offer immediate support to agencies which provide basic but vital support services to Queensland communities and people with needs.
"$20,000 of that funding will be used on the Gold Coast to fund the Gold Coast Volunteer Resource Centre which will trial major initiatives to increase the capacity of volunteers and organisations working with volunteers."
Mr Lawlor said this project will provide support for community organisations to use a statewide IT network that will link volunteers to NGOs with the tools, training and resources for NGOs provided by Volunteering Queensland.
The number of Australians who volunteer is rising; recent figures show that volunteers contribute an estimated 836 million hours each year to Australian communities.
The same research indicated that 41 per cent of the Australian population volunteered.
Queensland volunteers undertake almost 120 million hours of formal volunteering work each year for the betterment of Queensland communities.
Volunteers make a significant contribution to public well-being across all areas of civic and community life, including areas such as sport, health, education, welfare, arts, public safety, and the environment. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 2:06 PM
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