Minister for Communities Sue Ellery has delivered a $1 million boost to Western Australia’s flourishing volunteering sector by funding its successful Volunteer Resource Centre Program for a further three years, starting from 1 July 2007.
The 14 centres, located both in regional and metropolitan areas of the State, will receive $25,000 per year until 2010 to continue to provide vital referral services linking potential volunteers with organisations looking for volunteers.
The centres also offer support, training and information to organisations using volunteers in their area, promoting volunteering and acting as a centre for information in the local community.
Ms Ellery said the centres had previously operated on one-year agreements but their continuing success in developing volunteering throughout the State merited a longer period of funding.
“Many of our State’s 430,000 volunteers have benefited from the excellent advice and referral service provided by the Volunteer Resource Centres. By matching people with roles that best suit them, they ensure that volunteers and organisations receive the maximum benefit from the volunteering experience.
“The new three-year service agreements will ease the pressure on the 14 centres by giving them the stability and security to concentrate on developing volunteering in their community.”
The following Volunteer Resource Centres have signed the three-year service agreements through the Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering:
· Albany Volunteer Centre
· Armadale Volunteer Resource Service
· Busselton-Dunsborough Volunteers
· Cockburn Volunteer Resource Centre
· Esperance Volunteer Resource Centre
· Fremantle Volunteer Centre
· Kalgoorlie Boulder Volunteer Centre
· Melville Volunteer Resource Centre
· Nedlands Volunteer Resource Centre
· Nannup Volunteer Resource Centre
· Peel Volunteer Resource Centre
· Swan Volunteers
· Volunteer South West
· Wickepin Volunteer Centre