The Hon. Luke Howarth Member for Petrie and Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services came in to the 101.5 FM Studios to give his insight on the local volunteer organisations which give to the community and recognise their service on this world wide international volunteers day.

Today marks International Volunteer Day, an annual United Nations event held to celebrate the essential work of volunteers and recognise the significant contribution they make to the lives of Australians.

Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services, Luke Howarth, said he was pleased to thank some of the volunteers who dedicated their time to Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism at an event today.

This year’s theme, ‘together we can through volunteering’, highlights the tough year Australians have experienced.

“Volunteers have played a critical role in this difficult year with bushfires and a pandemic, and the incredible support they’ve given has been instrumental in the nation’s ability to keep moving forward.

“This week I was pleased to announce $2.7 million in funding for community organisations to support the work of Australia’s volunteers. These grants provide a funding boost to volunteer organisations so they can buy equipment for volunteers or reimburse the costs of fuel, transport or training,” Assistant Minister Howarth said.

Assistant Minister Howarth spent time with some of the volunteers from his local community Petrie during the event. He paid tribute to the hard work of volunteers, their dedication, and the contribution they make to the fabric of Australian society.

“Today is an opportunity to really get behind our volunteers and show our thanks.

“Volunteering is part of the Australian way of life. It is all about making significant contributions to the local community. It has many social and economic benefits, like increased confidence, reduced marginalisation, and skill development.”

More than 8.7 million volunteers across the country give their time freely to support their communities, representing an economic contribution of around $290 billion each year.

For more information about how you can be involved in volunteering, visit the Volunteering Australia website.