8/8/01
Minister with Responsibility for Volunteer Services Sheila McHale has announced the establishment of a Western Australian Volunteering Reference Group to improve support and recognition for the State's 428,600 volunteers.
Ms McHale also announced $100,000 in funding to Volunteering WA for the Student Community Involvement Program. The program provides secondary and tertiary students with opportunities to work in the community as volunteers.
Ms McHale told delegates at Volunteering Western Australia's 'Challenge, Choice and Change: Vision Conference' that the new reference group would develop a compact between the State Government and the voluntary sector.
"The aim is to improve relationships and co-operation between the sectors, ensure active input from the volunteer sector into Government policy decisions and help overcome some of the practical problems faced by volunteer organisations," she said.
"The reference group will also provide guidance on the distribution of $2 million funding over four years that the State Government committed in an election promise to support a range of volunteer organisations and activities.
"That funding will include seeding grants to help communities establish resource centres, recurrent funding needs, technology and infrastructure, mobile referral units and training and development opportunities."
The WA Volunteering Reference Group will be chaired by David Templeman MLA, Member for Mandurah. Other members include:
- Judy Hogben, representing the State Government from the Department for Community Development;
- John Capes, representing the Fire and Emergency Services Board;
- Christopher Smith, representing the disability sector;
- Suzanne Johnson, from Alcoa, representing the private sector;
- Trish Langdon, from the AIDS Council, representing WACOSS;
- Judy Esmond, academic representative;
- Louise Weaver, Volunteering WA; and
- A Western Australian Municipal Association representative to be confirmed.
Media contact: Priscilla Fouracres 9213 6900
