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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-17 Daily Xml
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NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (16:01): As members of the house would be aware, last week was National Volunteer Week. National Volunteer Week is a week of activities and events that recognises the significant contribution that volunteers make to the community. Volunteering is very important for our community, and I have been able to further appreciate the valuable work of volunteers as chair of the Volunteer Ministerial Advisory Group (VMAG).

In South Australia we can be proud that around 70 per cent of our population volunteers in varying capacities. That is more than 830,000 people who are dedicated to making a difference to the lives of their fellow South Australians. It is not easy to fit volunteering into one's busy life schedule. Work and family commitments mean there is little time to spare. However, increasing demand for all kinds of services in the community means that volunteers are needed more than ever. Helping people, learning new skills and tackling new challenges through volunteering can be rewarding. Volunteers do not just give their time, they also offer their energy, skills, knowledge and, importantly, their passion. The state government is committed to supporting volunteers through a range of programs, including the provision of grants to establish community-council based volunteer resource centres.

The theme for National Volunteer Week 2011 was 'Inspiring the volunteer in you'. I was inspired by many volunteers that I was able to meet at various events to recognise their work which I attended during the week. On Monday morning I had the pleasure to officially launch National Volunteer Week for 2011 on behalf of the Minister for Volunteers, the Hon. Grace Portolesi. At the official launch were representatives from Volunteering SA, the Office for Volunteers and VMAG, all who work very hard to support volunteers and the volunteering effort in our community. Also present were representatives from a number of volunteering organisations who make a huge contribution to the wellbeing of our community.

Later that morning I had an opportunity to acknowledge the volunteers in my own electorate. I was able to pay tribute to the volunteers at a community event held in my electorate in Gawler in recognition of their service to local people. A film event organised by the District Council of Mallala, Town of Gawler, the Barossa Council and Light Regional Council was held in the Gawler cinema as a gesture of thanks to local volunteers.

On Tuesday afternoon, as an Italo-Australian parliamentarian, I was proud to attend the CO.AS.IT Volunteer Awards presentation, representing both the Premier, the Minister for Volunteers and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. This group is an Italian Assistance Association that promotes a collaborative approach to service providers providing quality, culturally and linguistically inclusive services that enable older Italian people to continue living as valued members of the community and to enhance their quality of life. Much of their work relies on volunteers.

Antonietta Perotta was recognised as volunteer of the year. She is one of the founders of the Unley Mensa and has volunteered since its inception 23 years ago. She is also involved with the church, home visiting and assists other older Italians to link into community services. The young volunteer award winner was Lara Di Fabio. Her contribution to the community is outstanding for someone of only 19 years of age. With not only a part-time job and full-time study commitments, she continues to volunteer for the community. Lara has volunteered with Italian radio as a presenter of a program aimed at Italian youth and is the president of it.sa and also a youth representative with G4 events.

On Friday evening, I attended the annual SA ambulance 25-year volunteer dinner as the guest speaker on behalf of the Minister for Health. The SA Ambulance Service volunteer workforce is made up of close to 1,500 volunteers who provide a 24/7 ambulance service from more than 70 stations around the state. Last year, SA Ambulance Service volunteers carried more than 12,000 patients and travelled further than 400,000 kilometres.

At the event, Mr Geoff Mackereth of Bordertown—but formerly of Wasleys, in my electorate—was recognised for his 25 years of service to the SA Ambulance Service. Geoff joined the Bordertown branch of St John Ambulance in 1985. He was an enthusiastic team member and first aid instructor and was rapidly promoted to the rank of divisional officer. On the night of the SA Ambulance event, I also heard about Mr David Heard. Mr Heard has volunteered for the SA Ambulance Service for a magnificent 55 years, which must be an all-time record. What an achievement.

National Volunteer Week was a great opportunity to highlight the role of volunteers in our communities and to say thank you to the more than five million Australians who volunteer. Volunteers are estimated to make a $40 billion contribution to the nation every year, with $5 billion to the South Australian economy alone. However, in my view, the contribution made by volunteers to the development of community—that is, helping communities connect—is priceless. If you ever want to fully appreciate the value of volunteers in our community, imagine your community not having volunteers for one day. We all have the spirit of volunteering in us, we just need to help some to find it.

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