International Volunteer Day

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts has today paid tribute to the hundreds of thousands of volunteers working for the Queensland community.

“Tomorrow is International Volunteer Day, a timely reminder to consider the marvellous role that volunteers play in our community and to re-affirm our commitment to those selfless individuals and groups who are literally the glue binding our society,” Mr Roberts said.

International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations in 1985 and is now a world wide celebration with a range of initiatives, including clean-up campaigns, conferences, exhibitions, and many other activities that highlight the role of volunteers.

Volunteering is a key plank in the Government’s Q2 vision for the State, which aims for a 50 per cent increase in the proportion of Queenslander volunteers across the community by 2020.

“Our Queensland volunteers number in the hundreds of thousands, and we congratulate their selfless commitment, their time and their effort in caring for our community,” Mr Roberts said.

“That’s why we’ve introduced new payroll tax concessions for employers who support our volunteer bushfire fighters, emergency workers and honorary ambulance officers.

“And the Government continues to provide significant funding to the Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association, as well as the Royal Life Saving Society Queensland and Surf Life Saving Queensland,” he said.

“There is no denying the enormous contribution volunteers make to our State,” Mr Roberts said.

Emergency Services directly engages with almost 74-thousand volunteers such as:

·Honorary Ambulance Officers (including Ambulance Attendants, Community First responders, Volunteer Drivers and Health Service Responders);

·State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers;

·Emergency Service Unit (ESU) volunteers;

·Emergency Services cadets;

·Rural Fire Service volunteers;

·Marine rescue organisations; and

·QFRS Scientific Unit volunteers.

“DES is also supported by a network of volunteer organisations, advisory bodies and community organisations and continues to review and enhance its procedures and equipment to assist volunteers.

“International Volunteer Day is an opportunity for all of us to say thank you and well done,” he concluded.

Media contact – Malcolm Grieve – 0427 822 676