Council welcomes back volunteers after pandemic pause
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Published on 11 December 2020
Council volunteers are now able to resume their roles to support Council’s Aged and Disability Services team, following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Each year, hundreds of local volunteers dedicate their time to support Council’s Meals on Wheels service, Friendly Visiting program and Community Transport program to help residents attend medical appointments.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Council’s volunteers have been unable to assist for most of the year, with services delivered by Council staff instead.
Council has received funding from the Victorian Government’s Let’s Stay Connected fund to develop an online volunteer induction program for existing and new volunteers. The training will help volunteers deliver their support in a COVID-safe way.
About volunteering at Council
You can pitch in with as little or as much time as suits you. Some programs require as little as one hour a fortnight for driving, deliveries and friendly visiting, while other programs offer eight hours a week supporting group activities and social programs.
Volunteering is a great way get involved in community life with many benefits including:
Personal satisfaction, A sense of contributing to the local community, Skill and knowledge development, Work experience, Personal development, Friendship and fun, and Inclusion and community connection.Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is encouraged to contact Council's Community Programs team.
Successful applicants will be asked to attend an interview, undergo relevant background checking including a Police check, and then follow a standardised induction into Council. In some cases, a buddy system is offered for experienced volunteers to mentor newcomers.
For more information about volunteering with Council please go to the Volunteering page on Council’s website, email the Community Programs team or call 1300 229 229 (1300 BAW BAW).
Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Danny Goss
“Now that COVID restrictions have eased, Council is pleased to be able to welcome our volunteers back to support these valuable community programs. We’d also like to welcome applications from new volunteers. Whether you can spare a couple of hours a month, or each week, it all adds up and provides a huge benefit to our residents.”