- Cook Government announces $2.1 million commitment to boost regional volunteering
- More than $6 million committed by State Government to the Volunteering Development Service Program across five years
- Centacare Family Services awarded new contract to develop volunteering opportunities in the Gascoyne region
The Cook Government has announced a new $2.1 million commitment in the Mid-Year Review to regional volunteering participation in Western Australia.
The funding will be used to support and strengthen the Volunteering Development Services (VDS) Program, which delivers a range of activities to support Western Australians to engage in volunteering.
Volunteering Minister Don Punch announced the $2.1 million boost today at a 'Thank A Volunteer Day' event in Bunbury, which is celebrated in WA every year on December 5 to coincide with International Volunteer Day.
Funding will be used to address gaps for regional volunteering services and organisations across WA's regions including the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Mid West, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, and Goldfields-Esperance. Funding will also be directed to Peel to expand a pilot program supporting people with a disability to participate in volunteering.
In addition, the State Government has also committed $346,175 to establish a new VDS contract with Centacare Family Service, to support volunteering opportunities in the Gascoyne region.
The announcements bring the WA Government's total funding for the VDS Program to more than $6 million across five years.
Centacare's service in the Gascoyne region will start from 1 January 2024, under a three-and-a-half-year contract to align with the existing 13 funded services across the State.
Volunteering services and resource centres play a vital role in boosting volunteering across WA by developing more local opportunities, upskilling volunteers and working with volunteer involving organisations to respond to community needs.
The Cook Government is committed to supporting more volunteering opportunities and a procurement process is currently underway to expand VDS into all regions of WA. For more information about your local VDS program visitVolunteer Resource Centres - Volunteering WA.
As stated by Volunteering, and Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"The Cook Government is committed to supporting volunteering in Western Australia and is proud to deliver $2.1 million to boost regional volunteer opportunities.
"We're also pleased to engage Centacare Family Services to help develop more volunteering opportunities in the Gascoyne region.
"Volunteers play an important role in building better, more connected communities for everyone to enjoy. This funding will go a long way to addressing gaps for volunteering services in our regions."
