SENATOR LOUISE PRATT

ASSISTANT SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMMUNITIES

SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ANDREW LEIGH MP

SHADOW ASSISTANT TREASURER

SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMPETITION AND PRODUCTIVITY

SHADOW MINISTER FOR CHARITIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS

SHADOW MINISTER FOR TRADE IN SERVICES

MEMBER FOR FENNER

Today marks the beginning of National Volunteer Week, and gives us the opportunity to collectively acknowledge the generous contribution volunteers make to Australian communities.

This week thousands of volunteers, organisations and volunteer support services across the country will be congregating to thank volunteers for the contributions they make. It is the contribution of over 6 million volunteers that make our Australian communities so strong and vibrant.

Senator Pratt, the Shadow Minister for Families and Communities said “This National Volunteer Week I’d like to thank anyone that contributes to volunteering in Australia.

For the past few weeks Mr Porter has been celebrating the volunteer grants the Government has given to local organisations all over the country. But this is merely lip service given Mr Porter’s plans to redesign the Strengthening Communities programme, which provides the only source of Federal funding for volunteer management and support services.”

Andrew Leigh MP the Shadow Minister for Charities and Not-For-Profits said “unfortunately many measures of community engagement are in decline. Therefore it is vital that programs like Strengthening Communities support volunteering and help arrest the decline in social capital in Australia.”

Under the current redesign of the Strengthening Communities programme, volunteer management services would no longer receive a devoted funding source. These organisations provide vital support to community services and to volunteer organisations, through sourcing volunteers and helping organisations meet administrative obligations.

Senator Pratt said, “The theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week is ‘Give Happy, Live Happy’ and I would encourage Mr Porter to do the same.”