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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-18 Daily Xml
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National Volunteer Week

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:30): My question is to the Attorney-General. As I didn't have an opportunity to participate in many Volunteer Week activities, will the minister inform the council about National Volunteer Week?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:30): I thank the honourable member for her question. Indeed, National Volunteer Week is a very important week around the country and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the many thousands of volunteers in South Australia who dedicate their time, skills and care in a whole range of fields in order to help others.

Initiated by Volunteers Australia, National Volunteer Week is the annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation's volunteers. It's a time to particularly acknowledge that so many facets of South Australia's community would simply not be run if not for the dedication of volunteers. Many specialist services that fall within my department's remit, specifically focused on supporting victims of crime, strengthening crime prevention and rehabilitation, rely on the generosity, dedication and continued commitment of volunteers.

One such service is the Road Trauma Support Team of South Australia. The Road Trauma Support Team of SA is a not-for-profit organisation that provides support to people impacted by road trauma. This may be vehicle occupants, family members, friends and colleagues, witnesses and emergency services personnel. The administration of the team is run completely by the six volunteers who work with allied medical professionals to help get counselling provided to persons affected by road trauma. I want to place my thanks on the record to this team.

Also, the Homicide Victims Support Group is another community-led volunteer organisation supporting and advocating for people who have experienced the trauma of homicide. This service includes monthly group support meetings; seminars; guest speakers; therapy workshops; distributing brochures, pamphlets and newsletters; and holding a candle vigil to honour loved ones lost. I want to thank all the volunteers who do such a fantastic job in a crucial but emotionally testing role that occurs at a time of great emotional trauma for many families.

The Victim Support Service is another service that flourishes from the assistance of a dedicated team of volunteers, volunteers in things such as the court companion program that provides in-person support in the District and Supreme Courts to victims, witnesses and their families, as well as providing victims with information about the courts and its processes.

At the end of 2022, the court companion program had 30 volunteers, with 22 in metro Adelaide, three in Port Augusta and Port Pirie, and five in Mount Gambier. Having met with a number of the volunteers, particularly in regional areas, I know how important the work that they do and the trauma that they take on is in helping those involved in the justice process and I thank them for the work that they do.

The Victim Support Service also delivers the Safer Spaces program, which provides services to victim survivors in South Australia in person by telephone or in person at the head office in the Adelaide CBD. The program assists victims in the navigation of complex information and services and also provides referrals to counselling and other support services. At the end of 2022, this program had seven volunteers.

Another service that benefits greatly from the contribution of South Australian volunteers is the Women's Legal Service in South Australia. As I have spoken about in this chamber before, this service is a not-for-profit community legal centre focusing on meeting the legal needs particularly of vulnerable women in South Australia in a holistic and empowering manner. In 2021-22, the Women's Legal Service assisted some 2,388 women who, in total, raised 9,056 legal issues—a huge outreach helping South Australians during a stressful time in their life.

The Women's Legal Service has an intake of volunteers twice a year, the majority of whom are in their final years of legal studies, including students who wish to complete their Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice within the service.

All the volunteers are internally trained by the service and are given exposure to the day-to-day running of a community legal centre. The Women's Legal Service had 50 volunteers who dedicated over 3,000 hours in 2021, and I would like to thank them for the work that they do.

Last but certainly not least, the justices of the peace in South Australia are volunteers at the very beating heart of the justice system in this state. They provide a vital service by acting as an independent and objective witness to documents people use for official or legal proceedings. There are currently approximately 5,650 JPs appointed in South Australia. Almost 4,000 of those work in metropolitan SA, and just under 2,000 of those work in our regional areas.

Over 100 of those JPs have volunteered their time for South Australians for more than 50 years. One JP in South Australia has recorded 72 years of service, a particularly dedicated effort, and I wish to thank all the volunteers who provide these services to South Australians. Also, there was a JP Volunteer Service established in 2007, currently staffed by 15 volunteers, which provides assistance to many, many people. I would like to thank the JPs and also acknowledge the Royal Association of Justices of South Australia, which is a membership base to over 3,000 JPs, connecting and supporting members by group networks, and enabling justices to provide the best practice to the community.

The Royal Association of Justices of South Australia provide ongoing professional development and support for their members while also advocating on matters affecting justices of the peace. I wish to thank the RAJSA and all JPs who volunteer their time and contribute so much to South Australia.

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