Volunteer Strategy and Action Plan adopted

Published on 25 August 2021

Central Goldfields Shire Council adopted the 2021-2024 Central Goldfields Volunteer Strategy and Action Plan at last night’s (24/08) Council Meeting.

Implementing the Strategy and Action Plan will help support and increase volunteer numbers, who contributed almost $92,000 of value to Council services in 2020-21.

The Strategy and Action Plan has been developed in consultation with Council officers who manage volunteers, meetings with the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre, one on one interviews with volunteers and a focus group session with local volunteers and volunteer organisations. Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped shape the Strategy and Action Plan.

Establishing a Council-wide plan has been a priority since October as well as developing a Council-wide approach to volunteering, as well as developing a close and supportive working relationship with the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre.

Central Goldfields Shire Maryborough Ward Cr Grace La Vella said volunteers are an essential part of life in the Shire.

“Volunteers are important to every community and in Central Goldfields, it is no different. In the Central Goldfields, we have a higher than average volunteer rate of 42.9 percent (according to the 2016 Census), compared to the Victorian average of 36 percent,” she said.

“This shows how much residents care about their local community and we, as a Council, need to do what we can to support our volunteers and continue our volunteer growth rate.”

Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre Steering Committee member Jeff Hoober said he, along with other members, are excited to see Council adopt the Volunteer Strategy and Action Plan.

“During this terrible time with the pandemic and people are getting lonely, volunteering is something we need to be talking about more,” he said.

“Congratulations to Central Goldfields Shire Council for adopting this Strategy and Action Plan. Councils now are engaging with the community more and it is so exciting to see this happening. Our Council is definitely leading the way with community engagement.”

You can view the Volunteer Strategy and Action Plan at www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/strategies