International Year of Volunteers + 10 Launches
17 February 2011 at 11:06 am
The Australian Not for Profit sector has taken part in the launch of Australia’s involvement in the 2011 International Year of Volunteers Plus 10 (IYV+10) campaign.
The Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, formally launched the International Year of Volunteers Plus 10 at a reception for volunteers at Admiralty House, Sydney this week.
About 100 volunteers attended the reception including a group from Queensland and Victoria who were involved in the response to the recent floods, as well as volunteers from local Not for Profit organisations.
The United Nations has declared 2011 the International year of Volunteers Plus 10 (IYV+10) reprising the original International Year of Volunteers celebrated in 2001.
Volunteering Australia CEO, Cary Pedicini, welcomed the UN recognition saying yet again the role of volunteers in communities has been prominent with floods and fires ravaging parts of Australia.
Cary says it is timely that volunteers again be recognised at this international level for the extraordinary commitment they make to their communities.
The UN has announced four aims of IYV+10:
Recognition: acknowledging the value of volunteerism to society all over the world and the connection between volunteerism and the MDGs.
Facilitation: ensuring that the maximum number of people from the broadest range of backgrounds have access to volunteer opportunities
Networking: fostering the exchange of experience and strengthening partnerships among different entities promoting and implementing volunteer projects
Promotion: promoting inclusive volunteerism representative of the diverse groups in society
The Federal Government has marked the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10), by announcing the membership of a new Volunteer Advisory Group, which will provide advice to the Government.
Full membership of the council includes:
- Ms Sue Vardon AO (Chair), Member of the Australian Red Cross Board, former Chief Executive at the Department for Families and Communities (SA) and former Chief Executive Officer of Centrelink
- Ms Margaret Bell AM, President of the Chain Reaction Foundation
- Ms Dimity Fifer, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Volunteers International
- Mr Andrew Coghlan, Chair of the Australian Emergency Management Volunteers Forum
- Mr Doug Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of United Way
- Mr Cary Pedicini, Chief Executive Officer of Volunteering Australia
- Ms Julie Pettett, Consultant at the Conservations Councils of Australia
- Mr James Demetriou, Executive Officer of Sports Without Borders
- Ms Ronni Kahn, Founder of OzHarvest
- Ms Belinda Ding, National Youth Manger, St John Ambulance Australia
The Minister for Social Inclusion Tanya Plibersek says the group will provide insight into the volunteering sector and assist in creating an environment in which volunteering is encouraged, supported and properly recognised.
