Media Releases

Better Together | After a Tumultuous Two Years

After a tumultuous two years of Covid-19 and floods, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Recovery is on the agenda highlighting that the community is ‘Better Together.’ National Volunteer Week (NVW) is celebrated during 16 – 22 May 2022. It is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering.

This year, Volunteering Gold Coast (VGC) will showcase, acknowledge, and celebrate the thousands of Volunteers right here on the Gold Coast’s doorstep, who have risen to the occasion through such trying times, banding together and helping where needed.

The floods hit SEQ and the Northern Rivers at a time of change in the volunteer recruitment landscape. Across Australia, there are Volunteer Resource Centres (VRC’s) like VGC, that has provided a key role in recruiting volunteers to multiple organisations and causes. VGC does this for around 110 organisations.

Last year VGC recruited around 3,500 volunteers during COVID times, and as high as 6,000 volunteers outside of COVID. These are primarily new volunteers, year on year. Volunteer Resource Centres (VRC’s) are instrumental in event and disaster recruitment, but just as importantly in the community recovery because we find, screen, and provide volunteers for community groups and programs that recover communities.

“National Volunteer Week is the opportunity to celebrate many variations of volunteering. Over the last 6 weeks, we’ve seen spontaneous volunteering at its best. It’s been monumental for the Lismore community. I have been humbled to see so many Gold Coasters volunteering during their weekends to help on the ground in Lismore cleaning, dismantling, fixing, providing food, drink, care packs, transport and so much more.” Said Mr Brad Cooper CEO of VGC.

“People really want to help one another. Perhaps the last two years have ignited this. You just have to look at the real sense of comradery among the volunteers who have been assisting flood affected areas.” Said Mr Cooper.

Volunteering opportunities are variable. The key is to identify something that will resonate with you, and keep you interested, engaged and fresh. Individuals genuinely feel better once they have volunteered. It is a natural instinct to want to help, and it creates positive mindfulness and well-being.

Identify which type of volunteering suits your lifestyle whether it be spontaneous volunteering, event volunteering, individual volunteering, corporate volunteering, or executive volunteering. Volunteering brings people together, it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone.

Together, through volunteering, we are changing communities for the better. We are, Better Together.

Media Contact: Nicole Smith P: 07 5526 0688 M: 0439 929 655 e: nicole.smith@volunteeringgc.org.au

Volunteering Gold Coast extends the impact of services and programs through a volunteering movement that empowers purposeful, connected, and inclusive communities.

ENDS