Through volunteering, you:<\/p>\n
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National Volunteer Week (NVW)<\/strong>\u00a0is Australia\u2019s largest annual celebration of volunteers.\u00a0From Monday 17th\u00a0to Sunday 23rd\u00a0May\u00a02021, NVW\u00a0will\u00a0celebrate the\u00a0significant\u00a0contribution of\u00a0Australia\u2019s\u00a0almost\u00a0six million\u00a0volunteers. Each year these volunteers\u00a0dedicate\u00a0over\u00a0600 million\u00a0hours\u00a0to help others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The\u00a0theme for NVW\u00a02021\u00a0is\u00a0Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>which acknowledges that it is time to:\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \tNever has this been\u00a0more\u00a0evident than\u00a0after a\u00a0year\u00a0where Australia has\u00a0dealt with drought,\u00a0devastating bushfires, floods\u00a0and\u00a0then a global\u00a0pandemic.\u00a0Amidst the\u00a0pandemic, while many of us stayed home, volunteers\u00a0continued to deliver\u00a0essential services,\u00a0organise\u00a0food packages and offer\u00a0care, comfort\u00a0and more\u00a0to support the well-being of\u00a0Australians. Volunteers make our communities stronger, especially during times of need, crisis or isolation.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/p>\n \tIn a year\u00a0when many of us have experienced increased loneliness or isolation,\u00a0mental health or financial stress, volunteering can help. Evidence shows that volunteering\u00a0connects us\u00a0to others in our local communities, to\u00a0better\u00a0mental\u00a0well-being\u00a0or to\u00a0potential pathways\u00a0to employment.\u00a0When we help others in our community or give our time to a cause we value, we also give back to ourselves.\u00a0Explore volunteer\u00a0opportunities\u00a0by visiting\u00a0www.GoVolunteer.com.au<\/a>.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/p>\n \tSince 2014, Australia has seen a 20 per cent decline in the number of hours volunteers give.\u00a0During COVID-19, two-thirds of\u00a0volunteers stopped working\u00a0and\u00a0a recent study highlights that social purpose organisations continue to\u00a0lose one in four volunteers due to illness or caring responsibilities.\u00a0In the current\u00a0changing environment,\u00a0where Australians are time-poor\u00a0and\u00a0experiencing\u00a0higher degrees of uncertainty and stress,\u00a0we\u00a0need to reimagine how we do things. We need to collaborate more and\u00a0adapt\u00a0our\u00a0volunteering practices and programs\u00a0so we can\u00a0better\u00a0support and\u00a0engage\u00a0volunteers\u00a0to continue the necessary work that they do.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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