Judges Announced for Volunteering Video Competition

A national panel has begun judging just over 70 videos that capture the fun and benefits of volunteering submitted by young Australians as part of the Federal Government’s Volunteering Video Competition.

The Federal Government launched the online video competition to increase volunteering participation among young people in April.

The Government’s National Volunteering Strategy identified that the rate of youth volunteering is below the national average and needs to be better supported and encouraged.

The Volunteering Video Competition for Young People invited young Australians to create a video that will promote ways for young people to be involved in their community and capture the enjoyment, fun and social interaction that volunteering brings.

In confirming the judging panel, the Government says those chosen reflect Australia’s wealth of young volunteering heroes who are champions of volunteering, skilled in media, graphic design, communications and filmmaking.

The judges are:

Melissa Abu-Gazaleh, youth worker with the Port Kembla Youth Project and Managing Director of the Top Blokes Foundation.

Michael Green, filmmaker and founder of Drift Media. The company's passion lies in all things media?from underwater documentaries to short film narratives including titles such as Visions of Blue, The Secrets of Port Phillip Bay (Network 10), Colours By Numbers (ABC), Quickly Go Mad and Paradise Blown.

Melody Pedler, a rural journalist who completed her Journalism degree at the University of Queensland. Melody was awarded the 2011 JB Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism and was also a winner of Heywire for her short documentary about growing up in rural Queensland.

David Whitbread has an extensive background in graphic design. He is now the Corporate Communications Manager of the Australian Government Solicitor, having been Director of the Design and Video Teams at the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

The judges will be scoring entries to identify the videos that best:

• promote volunteering to young people
• reflect the theme of the competition – Your Passion, Our Nation. Volunteer Now!
• display creative and original ideas and style
• draw the attention of the audience, particularly young people
• demonstrate quality filmmaking

The results of the competition will be announced early next month. Updates can be found on twitter @volvidcomp or on Facebook.