Paul Szep among Australian changemakers spotlighted during National Volunteer Week 2023

May 18, 2023

With National Volunteer Week 2023 running from 15th to 21st May, and with volunteers being the backbone of the Australian sports community, Volunteering Australia is highlighting the powerful impact volunteers across make all sectors.

With the theme, ‘The Change Makers’, this year’s National Volunteer Week is spotlighting the role of volunteers in supporting individuals, communities and the nation with the week-long event recognising the millions of volunteers across Australia giving their time and energy to make change in our communities while encouraging others to consider 'putting their hand up'.

Former NSW and Queensland wicketkeeper and President of the Blind Bats, Paul Szep is one of an estimated five million people who volunteer through an organisation annually. Szep, who became visually impaired at the age of three, has spent his life volunteering. However, it was his love for the game of cricket which led him to set up the Blind Bats Inc, a charity focused on the inclusion of sighted and vision-impaired people of all ages.

In fact, Szep has spent the past few years developing a battery-operated beeping cricket ball - a world first - that is increasing participation among visually impaired players and hopes to take it around Australia and for it to become the new international standard for blind cricket.

A new report from Volunteering Australia reveals that for 72% of volunteers, personal satisfaction, and the desire to do something worthwhile are primary motivations. Helping others and the community is also a significant motivator, with 61% of volunteers indicating this as a driving factor.

Australia has faced an array of challenges over the last few years, from natural disasters to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Remaining a constant source of stability through these difficult times, volunteers are now more important than ever.

As the cost-of-living crisis bites, volunteers are vital in supporting our communities and helping those who are struggling in the challenging economic climate. Volunteering takes many forms, from fighting bushfires and supporting healthcare to simply bringing a smile to someone's face.

Volunteers are an integral part of Australian society, and it is estimated that over five million people volunteer through an organisation annually, while an additional 6.5 million provide informal volunteering support within their community.

Explaining that while the common volunteering motivators are personal satisfaction and helping others in the community, motivations can differ with each sector, Volunteering Australia Chief Executive, Mark Pearce comments “volunteering extends across society, including in the arts, education, emergency services, sports, environment, health, aged care and disability, community welfare and other vital community programs. Our new analysis of the latest volunteering data demonstrates that not all motivations and modes of volunteering are the same across sectors..

“For me, it was my love for animals that led me to volunteer my time and be a part of the Animals Australia board. Additionally, I believe that everyone has a right to education that is tailored to their needs, so I volunteered my time launching The Sycamore School.

“Opening in 2017, the school was the first facility to Queensland to provide specialist support and education to people on the autism spectrum.”

Pearce adds “Looking ahead, the new National Strategy for Volunteering (2023-2033) presents our collective vision for a future where volunteering is at the heart of Australian communities. The new data suggests this vision will be realised through celebrating all the different reasons why people volunteer and what motivates them to be change makers in their communities.”

The lockdown experience taught us the necessity of connection to others. In fact, seeking social contact was the most influential motivation to volunteer in emergency services (53%), arts and heritage (49%), and aged care (45%) organisations.

Places to start your volunteering journey include the GoVolunteer website, contacting your State and Territory volunteering peak body or by approaching organisations in your local community.

For more information Australians can visit www.volunteeringaustralia.org/

Image. Paul Szep. Credit: Blind Bats

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