national volunteer week

by kate eats - victoria based media stringer

Happy National Volunteer Week 2021! This week is Australia’s annual celebration of volunteers; it’s an opportunity to recognise and acknowledge the vital role volunteers play. This year National Volunteer Week runs from Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd May. The theme for this year is Recognise, Reconnect and Reimagine.

Like most events in a small community, the Harrow Long Lunch runs on the strength of its volunteers

Volunteers required to bring the event to life include dedicated chefs and cooks, waiting staff, a cleaning team, master of ceremonies, photographer,...the list goes on. The Harrow Long Lunch is a massive team effort. Events like the Harrow Long Lunch breathe life into the whole community. It’s about connection and bringing people together while raising much needed funds. 

Community events and fundraising activities face competition from other forms of entertainment and therefore must strike a balance between meeting the expectations of attendees and being viable to run. The Harrow Long Lunch is a brilliant example of how events in small country towns continue to evolve. The town and surrounding districts rally behind it, with tickets selling out within hours.

Volunteers make an impact that can be difficult to measure, their contribution has such a ripple effect. People volunteer for different reasons, for example, altruistic values; to give back and serve the community, caring about the well-being of others, wanting to make a difference and contribute, or keeping the community and clubs alive for future generations. Some volunteers thrive on the deep sense of belonging that comes from volunteering, especially in a regional community. For some, volunteering is appealing for the social benefits as it provides them with an opportunity to interact with like-minded people.  

The survival of rural towns relies heavily on volunteers. However, unfortunately volunteers are often in short supply. This raises the question how do community groups and committees ensure sustainability as the pool of volunteers reduces? I believe the solution lies in the culture; striking a balance between tradition, what has always been done in the past, with the need to stay relevant and evolve. For example, ideas that didn't work ten years ago might be worth trying now with a modern twist.

Volunteers should feel that their time and efforts matter, and that they’re valued and appreciated. Steering committees and organisers can create a positive and inclusive environment for volunteers if they remain open to new ideas and listen to suggestions from volunteers. Sharing the load is also critical to success; volunteer burnout is a dangerous thing. Sometimes there can be a tendency to attract new volunteers and then offload an overwhelming workload onto them. The old guard should be available to provide advice and offer direction to incoming, new volunteers. Similarly, the enthusiasm of new volunteers needs to weld with the wisdom of long-standing volunteer members. 

For communities to thrive, volunteers need to be engaged and supported. Lending a hand whenever possible helps others and National Volunteer Week celebrates and acknowledges the good work volunteers do and highlights what they contributes to our communities.