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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-06-04 Daily Xml
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Volunteers

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:12): I rise today to thank South Australia's 900,000 volunteers—900,000 out of a population of 1.6 million, that is an incredible effort. Their efforts contribute to an estimated 1.7 million volunteer hours per week. While we recognise National Volunteer Week in May and celebrate Volunteers Day in South Australia on 8 June (on Monday), it is important to reflect on this outstanding contribution to our community, socially and economically.

From a financial perspective, just in our state alone, volunteering is estimated to be valued at almost $5 billion annually. Volunteers also keep our not-for-profit sector afloat. Of the 600,000 not-for-profit organisations in Australia, only a tenth of those employ paid staff. What our volunteers contribute may be skilled or unskilled, from auditing the books of an organisation, teaching a language, administering first aid at events, cooking meals or coaching a children's sports team, to collecting donations, driving a community bus or sharing a cup of tea with someone who is lonely or confined to their home.

Volunteer work is vital too within the many hundreds of groups, clubs and associations in my electorate of Elder, including the great team of Edwardstown Meals on Wheels, those in aged-care facilities and retirement villages, businesses, childcare centres, kindergartens and schools, churches, charities and religious groups, councils, emergency services, environmental groups, health providers, lobby groups, multicultural groups, Neighbourhood Watch chapters, resident action groups, RSLs and service clubs, senior groups, recreation and sports clubs, and the list goes on.

Another organisation from my electorate I would like to mention is the Maria Goretti Social Group, which has been offering a weekly social and recreational gathering for over 50s of Italian heritage for many years in Ascot Park. In addition to weekly bingo, cards, bocce and yoga, they host a home-cooked lunch on the last Monday of the month, and I can attest to the fabulous quality of the cooking.

About Time: South Australia's History Festival 2015, which was held last month in May at sites around the state, was an important reminder to all of the great volunteer work done to unearth, preserve and pass on the stories of our local heritage. Here I make mention of the Marion Historical Society and the great work that volunteers do in this area, as do all the Marion Historic Village Display Centre volunteers, who ensure the past of Marion continues to be told through stories and displays. I can attest to the outcomes of their great passion and commitment.

As well as helping people of all ages throughout our community, volunteers are helping themselves. As research shows, just a few hours of volunteer work makes a positive difference to people's state of mind and wellbeing. Adelaide's National Volunteer Week parade and Volunteer's Day Concert are timely reminders to thank our volunteers, wherever they might be working, and whether it be in times of crisis, catastrophe or celebration.

Last month, I was honoured to represent the Minister for Volunteers (Hon. Zoe Bettison) at the St John Community Care National Volunteer Week function in my area, a great group of people with an infectious love of community. In the same week, I also had the pleasure of representing the health minister, the Hon. Jack Snelling, at the SA Ambulance Service event for those who have volunteered for service for 25 years or more.

I am pleased to recognise and applaud the merits of the people who volunteer for these magnificent life-saving services as well as help our community in a vast range of ways. In the case of both groups, their service and commitment to the South Australian public is without doubt inspiring. As well as giving of their time and talents to raise money and awareness, St John volunteers also form the back bone of the service's wonderful Community Care program. Through this program volunteers help the frail aged, the sick, the isolated and the disabled by taking them on social outings or shopping.

The SA Ambulance Service is also an integral part of our health system and, last financial year, volunteer ambulance officers treated around 15,000 patients across the state. These are just a few of the ways our volunteers make our communities a better place to live. Thank you to all of our volunteers, both in Elder and across our state and nation, for all that you do. We salute you and thank you.

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