Thank you for joining us to recognise volunteers for the vital role they play in communities across the country. While National Volunteer Week is over for another year, we hope we have inspired you to Recognise, Reconnect and Reimagine volunteering.
In the media
ABC Life Matters – Talkback: How volunteering enriches our lives Guests: Mark Pearce, Volunteering Australia CEO & Gus Sabatino, SES volunteer in Canberra
ABC Nightlife – Sunday 23 May 2021 Interview with Mark Pearce, Volunteering Australia CEO starting at 38:20
2GB Sunday Nights with Bill Crews Guest: Mark Pearce, Volunteering Australia CEO
Matman Breakfast Show – Triple M Sunraysia 97.9 Guest: Mark Pearce, Volunteering Australia CEO
It is the right time to start giving back – The Canberra Times
Opinion pieces
It’s time to recognise, reconnect and reimagine volunteering – Mark Pearce, Volunteering Australia CEO – Pro Bono News
Volunteering far and wide: A new normal for Australia’s Volunteers – Dr Sue Regan, Volunteering Australia Policy Director – Asia & The Pacific Policy Society, Policy Forum
Sustained effort needed to reinvigorate volunteering – Dr Sue Regan, Volunteering Australia Policy Director –Philanthropy Australia
The Volunteer Workforce Is Key to Achieving Budget Priorities – Dr Sue Regan, Volunteering Australia Policy Director – Austaxpolicy: Tax and Transfer Policy Blog
Exclusive National Sponsor: Aon Australia
Accord Partners
Sport Australia and AIS thank volunteers: ‘most important job in sport’ – Sport Australia
It’s time to acknowledge the vital role volunteers play – Save the Children Australia
2021 Theme: Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine.
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.
Wave Your Appreciation for Volunteers
Australians were again invited to put their hand up and thank the millions of volunteers around Australia with a special smile. View the NVW2021 Wave Your Appreciation for Volunteers gallery here.
National Volunteer Week Resources
National Volunteer Week 2021 resources are now available to download including logos, certificates, posters, social media tiles, invitations, and email signature banners. Be sure to check this page regularly as we add more resources to celebrate National Volunteer Week. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest updates.
Volunteer Thank You Gifts and Merchandise
The Volunteering Australia Shop is now open. Say thank you to your volunteers with high quality, volunteer-specific gifts, while supporting Volunteering Australia in advocating for the volunteering sector in Australia.
As well as the hugely popular lapel pins we have pens, lanyards, post-it notes and eco cups. We will again have a limited number of ‘V’ volunteer anniversary pins for volunteers who have volunteered for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years as well as the sought-after Red V lapel pins.
