You’ve probably seen Shirley before. She volunteers for the Salvation Army.
She is the lovely, little lady standing patiently between Perth station and the CBD Myer most days, donning her pressed white and navy uniform with a collection tin in hand.
While Shirley was reluctant to give her age away, she has been fundraising for three days a week, over four hours a day, for at least 20 years now… all to help fund the Salvation Army soup run for the homeless in Perth.
So why does she do it?
‘Because it is a necessity’ she said firmly, ‘and because I’m a Salvo!’
A year ago, the nation’s Productivity Commission found that volunteers contributed an enormous four per cent to Australia’s Gross Domestic Profit (GDP). This roughly translated to $43 billion with the most recent figures revealing nearly five million Australians volunteered around the county in 2007.
Community groups in Perth may differ in areas of expertise but they all share one common denominator: volunteers and committee members are always welcome.
A 2009 survey found that 80 per cent of volunteers donated their time because they believed they were making a genuine difference.
The most important factor for the sheer majority of volunteer participants was ‘knowing that my contribution would make a difference’.
James Turner has been volunteering at the Freedom Centre for over a year now and said he was just giving back to an organisation that gave him so much.
‘For me, I find it pretty important in my life,’ the 20 year-old said.
‘I was a visitor at the Freedom Centre for a few years; it is putting back into something I found really helpful and appreciate.
‘I know for many young people it is a huge part of their lives … you can see people appreciate the service and the role we play for young people of diverse sexuality and gender.’
But volunteering isn’t just about warm fuzzies.
Western Australia’s LGBTI community has thrived for years off the invalueable work of volunteers; free labour and skills from donors have powered advocacy and support services.
Hannah Schwartz said organisations wouldn’t survive without volunteers.
Schwartz is the director of Givenow.com.au; a website dedicated to reinvigorating the act of giving in Australia.
‘I’d have to say volunteering is the lifeblood of the community organisations, they’re a really big deal,’ she said.
‘From parents helping out at fetes to people in voluntary positions for major community organisations.
‘Volunteering is moving away from just stay-at-home mums and retired people.’
Younger volunteers have been steadily growing since the ’90s. In 1995, 18 and 24-year-olds made up 17% of volunteers; this demographic grew in 2006 to 32% of all volunteers or more than 570,000 young people.
‘There are a lot more professional people volunteering and providing services from their skill-base which are really beneficial to community organisations,’ she said.
There are a range of options in volunteering; from can-shaking on the street to organisational management and operations.
Perth groups aren’t always looking for just anyone to lend a helping hand, though. Many are also seeking people with particular skills to fill particular roles.
Committee boards are also another avenue for volunteers, as board members help steer the organisation and deliver services.
Support organisations such as the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Services are always looking for new board members to help facilitate the vital telephone service.
Advocacy groups such as Gay and Lesbian Equality, who have been fighting for years to establish an equal playing field for the sexuality and gender diverse, can benefit from a healthy-sized committee board.
Organisations don’t expect the world from their volunteers or as much commitment as Shirley has dedicated to the Salvos.
But while a few hours a month of volunteering may seem like a menial task, it may just improve the life of someone else. Or even possibly change it’s course. And there’s nothing more rewarding than changing the course of someone elses life.
Want to join a GLBTIQ Borad or Committee? Upcoming AGM dates include:
Pride WA
AGM on 28 March 2011
www.pridewa.asn.au
Gay and Lesbian Equality
AGM in July/August 2011
www.galewa.asn.au
Gay Lesbian Retirement Association Inc.
AGM in August 2011
www.grai.org.au
Gay Lesbian Counselling Services
AGM in August/September 2011
www.glcs.org.au
WA Gender Project
AGM in late 2011
www.wagenderproject.org
Benn Dorrington
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