Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

National Volunteer Week is a great time to acknowledge all the amazing volunteers we have in our community. This year's theme, Give Happy, Live Happy, is celebrating the fact that those who volunteer are generally happier and healthier than those who do not. I encourage everyone to look into how they can volunteer in our local community, if they are not already doing so. There are so many opportunities, so no matter what your interest is there will be a volunteer group for you. Take for example, the local Meals on Wheels, which makes life easier for those who are housebound and gives them social interaction every day, and the Pyjama Foundation, which helps children learn to read and gives them more opportunities. I am fortunate that I have so many wonderful environment groups in my electorate, which maintain the ecology of our creeks and waterways.

Volunteers contribute $200 billion every year to the Australian economy, and only 10 per cent of not-for profit organisations in Australia have paid staff, which means most are operated by volunteers. Our country could not run without the contribution of volunteers. Volunteers are the glue which binds our local community together. That is why not just this week but every week I want to say, 'Thank you,' to all of the volunteers in Australia, and especially in my electorate of Ryan: We couldn't do without you.