A nationwide recruitment drive is underway to encourage even more people to join the 4.4 million Australians who already ‘participate, activate and create’ in their local communities through volunteering.

Anthony Albanese, the Federal Member for Grayndler said locally, volunteers performed a range of vital services including beach patrols, rural fire fighting services and environmental programs.

“Places like Marrickville and Leichhardt would be lost without the hundreds of volunteers who give up their time to support their local community.

“For example, the Meals on Wheels service operated by Marrickville Council out of Tom Foster Centre in Newtown would not be able to deliver thousands of hot meals to the elderly and frail living in this area.

“Local organisations from sporting clubs to charity groups are always looking for more volunteers and there is an amazing variety of volunteer positions available.

“For example, on the Volunteering Australia recruitment website (www.govolunteer.com.au) you can access volunteering opportunities as different as being a puppeteer at a kids’ camp, a water aerobics assistant or the producer of craft pouches for orphaned possums!”

“National Volunteering Week runs from May 10 and is a great time for people to offer their services to their community by becoming one of Australia’s millions of volunteers,” Mr Albanese concluded.