Federal Member for Forde, Bert van Manen MP has partnered with DoSomething! charity to launch a website making it easier for people to volunteer locally.
By typing in their postcode at http://www.dosomethingnearyou.com.au/bert-van-manen people will be able to find community groups and events that they can lend a hand to in their local community.
Volunteers can then sign up for their local SES or local volunteer fire service, help out at their local charity op shop, volunteer for their local Meals on Wheels, join their local Rotary or Lions Club or help out with a myriad of other community programs.
People can also find out how to get involved in events such as Clean Up Australia, Daffodil Day, National Tree Day, the Red Shield Appeal and much more.
DoSomethingNearYou is an online rollcall of community groups and community events in 16,000 suburbs around Australia. The concept is the brainchild of not-for-profit charity DoSomething!, whose creators include Planet Ark founders Jon Dee and Pat Cash and former National Trust NSW head Tina Jackson.
Mr van Manen said research showed volunteers enjoyed an increased sense of community belonging and often a lift in their physical and mental health.
“By giving back and volunteering, we can make our communities stronger and safer places to live,” said Bert.
“I am excited to be working with DoSomething! in helping our local community groups and events in this way.”
Bert said that community groups and not-for-profit events who were not yet on the DoSomethingNearYou site, could do so at no cost to their organisation. This has been made possible thanks to sponsorship from ALDI Australia.
“If your community organisation or not-for-profit event is not yet listed on the DoSomethingNearYou.com.au site, you can register your listing on the site at no cost.” He said.
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