Celebrating 2024 National Volunteer Week

Key Events for National Volunteer Week

The Centre for Volunteering marked the beginning of National Volunteer Week with the annual National Volunteer Week Forum. Reflecting on the theme Something for Everyone, CEO Gemma Rygate said, “Volunteering should be for anyone who wants to participate, as it carries our communities.” You can read our special report on the Forum here.

Ms Rygate attended a number of other events throughout the week, including the Premier’s Volunteer Reception, the rollout of the Youth Volunteer Guidelines, and the Thank You NSW Volunteers event hosted by the NSW Rural Women’s Network.

Premier’s Volunteer Reception

The Premier’s Volunteer Reception at the NSW Art Gallery, hosted by NSW Premier Chris Minns MP, recognised and celebrated a diverse range of volunteers whose generosity and resilience brings a strong sense of community to our State. Every day, these remarkable individuals contribute their time and skills to various causes throughout NSW, often without recognition or fanfare. Their selfless work both enriches their local communities and inspires others to follow their example. CEO Gemma Rygate and Director Rachel Rainbird represented The Centre at the event.

Images courtesy of the NSW Government.

Youth Volunteer Guidelines

CEO Gemma Rygate attended the launch of the Youth Volunteer Guidelines last week at the Museum of Sydney. The guidelines are an initiative under the NSW Volunteering Strategy 2020-2030, which aims to support volunteer involving organisations to engage with young people and encourage them into volunteering roles.

The guidelines offer advice, strategies, and solutions for eliminating barriers to youth participation and enhancing recruitment, retention, and recognition of young volunteers. A copy of the latest guidelines can be found here.

Pictured at the launch, left to right are Glen Crump from the Volunteering Taskforce, Gemma Rygate, Rebecca Ju (NSW Young Volunteer of the Year), and The Hon. Jodie Harrison MP.

Thank You NSW Volunteers

As part of National Volunteer Week, the Thank You NSW Volunteers event at Wagga Wagga celebrated the vital role that volunteers play in nurturing vibrant NSW communities. Hosted by the NSW Rural Women’s Network, 91 women were recognised for their contributions to volunteering at this year’s event.

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty says, “In regional and rural NSW, women’s dedication to volunteering is remarkable, whether it’s on the frontline with the RFS, on the fields of the local sports team, saving lives with their local surf lifesaving club or providing friendship and support to those in need week in week out. These remarkable women see something that needs to be done and they get out and do it.”

A key part of the event was to launch the Hidden Treasures program for 2024. The program acknowledges the important volunteer roles that women fulfil within NSW regional, rural and remote communities. Women are nominated by peers, friends, or their volunteer organisation to be included on the digital honour roll.

The event included a panel of 4 consisting of The Hon. Jodie Harrison MP, Gemma Rygate, CEO of the Centre for Volunteering, Vivienne Marris (2023 Hidden Treasures Nominee) and Lynne Strong (2023 Hidden Treasures Nominator, and 2010 Hidden Treasures Nominee). Ms Rygate spoke about the services provided by The Centre and the importance of best practice volunteer management for Volunteer Involving Organisations.