Pittwater Online News

national volunteer week 2023: help your community by being a change maker in whatever is your passion

National Volunteer Week runs 15-23 May 2023. The theme for National Volunteer Week in 2023 is The Change Makers. This National Volunteer Week Volunteering Australia are asking, what kind of Change Maker are you? 

You may be a Caregiver, Guardian through your local Residents Association, Sports club coach or canteen person, a Nature restorer and Bushcarer, Wildlife Rescuer and Carer, a Rotary or Probus club member, Surf Lifesaver, SES, RFS or Marine Rescue member, Zonta girl, P and C Member at your local school, cleaner of beaches and waterways, race official at any of the numerous regattas on Pittwater by all our local sailing clubs, a communicator on Radio Northern Beaches or a Speaker at U3A or Council meetings, a collator of data with Living Ocean, a defender of bush, heritage or waves beside Surfrider Northern Beaches or Manly or the Pittwater Environment Foundation, or a combination of these, or even a different sort of Change Maker altogether!

The week-long event recognises the vital support that the millions of volunteers in our country provide to their communities and encourages people to consider volunteering. National Volunteer Week 2023 is a celebration of our volunteers' power to drive change and ensure volunteering is inclusive of all members of the Australian community.

The vision is for volunteering to be at the heart of Australian communities as all our volunteers are the Change Makers.

The late great Harvey Rose OAM once said, when Mayor of Pittwater, that this area had the highest incidence of volunteers across the state. He was proud of how this community builds community and so many, young and old, come together to make a difference to the social, cultural and environmental aspects of our community.

In Pittwater the greatest number of volunteers are associated with looking after others through organisations such as Marine Rescue, the NSW RFS and SES, or are involved in bushcare, surf lifesaving, sailing and summer and winter sports.

Ahead of National Volunteers Week Surf Life Saving Australia is calling on communities to give thanks to their local volunteer surf lifesavers who every year help save more than 10,500 lives across our coastline. 

With almost 190,000 members across the country, Surf Life Saving Australia is the largest volunteer movement of its kind in the world, with volunteer surf lifesavers contributing more than 1.3 million patrol hours every year. 

Every year there are more than 500 million beach visitations to Australia’s coastline, with volunteers from all backgrounds, ages and cultures forming part of the red and yellow army that keep watch over the beaches. 

Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir said thanks to the 314 Surf Life Saving Clubs across the country and the network of volunteers, thousands of loved ones return safely to their families every year. 

“On behalf of the millions of people who visited our coastline during this past season, we want to thank our volunteer surf lifesavers who patrolled every weekend and public holiday across our season to ensure people could enjoy our beaches safely. 

“Our Surf Life Saving Clubs are not only important to our 190,000 members, but we have seen them grow to become the heart of local communities across the country and a hub for all those enjoying our beaches,” he said. 

A Deliotte Report commissioned by Surf Life Saving in 2020 showed the significant social and economic value volunteer surf lifesavers and Australian Lifeguard Services lifeguards provide to the Australian community.

“Surf Life Saving Australia’s (SLSA) services to the community and its members are valued at an estimated $6.5 billion per year to the Australian economy.  The Deloitte’s report estimates that the absence of surf life saving services would result in an additional 1,300 coastal deaths and 800 critical injuries every year.

“Over the years, Surf Life Saving services have expanded, now providing education and training to everyday Australians, help to keep people physically active, encourage and promote volunteerism as well as delivering social value to local communities.

“So this National Volunteers Week, please thank those who keep our beaches safe,” he said. 

The Surf Life Saving Foundation has been established to help support Surf Life Saving Australia services across the country, that relies on the support of corporates and individuals. To support our volunteers, donate via slsfoundation.com.au. 

These Profiles give you an overview of just some of what's available locally; there is much much more  - the Bushcare roster for Pittwater runs underneath these:

Bushcare In Pittwater 

Friends Of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Activities

Bush Regeneration - Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment  

This is a wonderful way to become connected to nature and contribute to the health of the environment.  Over the weeks and months you can see positive changes as you give native species a better chance to thrive.  Wildlife appreciate the improvement in their habitat.

Belrose area - Thursday mornings 

Belrose area - Weekend mornings by arrangement

Contact: Phone or text Conny Harris on 0432 643 295

Wheeler Creek - Wednesday mornings 9-11am

Contact: Phone or text Judith Bennett on 0402 974 105

Or email: Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment : email@narrabeenlagoon.org.au

Gardens And Environment Groups And Organisations In Pittwater