A University of Adelaide study has found that volunteering in Australia is now worth more than the mining industry, declaring the true extent of its monetary value to be more than $200 billion a year.
The organisation I work for was originally founded by a group of passionate parents, volunteering their time and combining their efforts to raise money for research that would lead to a cure for their children. Today, volunteers are still a key part of all our activities - without them, we couldn’t raise as much money as we do, nor provide the support services that we promote.
I firmly urge all Australians, and people around the world, to consider their options for volunteering. It needn’t be something cliched like shaking donation tins at a train station at peak hour. Think about the skills that you have, and how you can offer them to a charity in need.
Everyone can, and everyone should, do their part to give back to the community and make the world a better place.