NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK - 17-23 March 2021

National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteers. From Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd May 2021, NVW will celebrate the significant contribution of Australia’s almost six million volunteers. Each year these volunteers dedicate over 600 million hours to help others. The theme for NVW 2021 is Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine. which acknowledges that it is time to: 

• RECOGNISE, celebrate and thank volunteers for the vital role they play in our lives. 
  Never has this been more evident than after a year where Australia has dealt with drought, devastating bushfires, floods and then a global pandemic. Amidst the pandemic, while many of us stayed home, volunteers continued to deliver essential services, organise food packages and offer care, comfort and more to support the well-being of Australians. Volunteers make our communities stronger, especially during times of need, crisis or isolation. 

• RECONNECT to what is important by giving our time to help others and ourselves.
  In a year when many of us have experienced increased loneliness or isolation, mental health or financial stress, volunteering can help. Evidence shows that volunteering connects us to others in our local communities, to better mental well-being or to potential pathways to employment. When we help others in our community or give our time to a cause we value, we also give back to ourselves. Explore volunteer opportunities by visiting www.GoVolunteer.com.au. 

• REIMAGINE how we better support volunteers and communities they help. 
  Since 2014, Australia has seen a 20 per cent decline in the number of hours volunteers give. During COVID-19, two-thirds of volunteers stopped working and a recent study highlights that social purpose organisations continue to lose one in four volunteers due to illness or caring responsibilities. In the current changing environment, where Australians are time-poor and experiencing higher degrees of uncertainty and stress, we need to reimagine how we do things. We need to collaborate more and adapt our volunteering practices and programs so we can better support and engage volunteers to continue the necessary work that they do.

National Volunteer Week is supported again in 2021 by Aon Australia. For more information about National Volunteer Week 2021, please email Volunteering Australia. 

The Rural City of Wangaratta are calling for nominations of volunteers you would like to see recongnised. When you nominate a worthy candidate, you’ll be highlighting the great work that they do as a volunteer as well as creating awareness for the work of their volunteer organisation. Please complete the nomination form here.

Nominations close at midnight on Wednesday 12^th May 2021. 
 
Nominated candidates will be highlighted on social media during National Volunteer Week and at the King George Gardens Volunteer Celebration Event on Friday the 21^st May 2021.

Please share with all your fellow volunteers in the Rural City of Wangaratta!

Wave Your Appreciation for Volunteers

You are invited to put your hand up and thank the millions of volunteers around Australia with a special smile. The Wave Your Appreciation campaign is back to recognise the great work volunteers do each and every day.

How will you Wave Your Appreciation for Volunteers? National Volunteer Week is fast approaching, so get planning your special #waveforvolunteers. We will provide more information and resources in the coming weeks.

Join us as we RECOGNISE, celebrate and thank volunteers for the vital role they play in our lives this National Volunteer Week. Upload your wave photo to social media during National Volunteer Week and share using the hashtags #NVW2021 and #waveforvolunteers. 

https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/get-involved/nvw/