41% of Australians Vounteer

SYDNEY, May 13, 2007 (catholicweekly.com.au):   John O’Neill, NSW/ACT State president of the St Vincent de Paul Society, writes for The Catholic Weekly -  Research by the Australian Council of Social Services found that 41 per cent of Australians volunteered in 2004.  During that time it was estimated that volunteers gave “an estimated 836 million hours of their time and an average of 132 hours per year”.

These figures are testament to the extraordinary generosity of ordinary Australians.  During National Volunteer Week (May 14-20) we celebrate the outstanding endeavour shown by the millions of Australians who contribute to their local community through volunteering. Volunteering gives people the opportunity to get involved in a cause or activity they are passionate about. It also provides the chance to meet others who share their commitment.  The St Vincent de Paul Society’s ‘good works’ rely on the efforts of over 20,000 Society members and volunteers across NSW and the ACT. Society members and volunteers are involved in a wide range of activities.

Thanks to Tim Williams CM for drawing attention to this.