As a true reflection of the Tasmanian community spirit, more than 2,100 Tasmanians have registered with EVCREW (emergency volunteers crew) following the Government’s $130,000 investment to Volunteering Tasmania as part of our Economic and Support Package.
This is a 75 per cent increase on pre-COVID-19 numbers, with a large majority deployed in the north west during the additional travel restrictions.
These extra volunteers join the more than 1,200 emergency volunteers who have already registered to respond to natural disasters, though we need more.
As the response to COVID-19 continues, I urge Tasmanians to register to volunteer and join this coordinated response to COVID-19 to help deliver a range of essential services.
Volunteers can be tasked with delivering a range of essential services such as community transport, meal delivery, social connection, and shopping. They may also help with food packaging, shopping, dropping off food and medical supplies.
With many of Tasmania’s volunteers over 65 years old and much more vulnerable to the virus, many younger volunteers are registering to provide their time, which means the next generation of volunteers are now gaining an insight into the selfless and rewarding work that volunteering presents.
It is in part thanks to these volunteers that nearly 11000 ready to eat meals have been produced since the 24th of April for Tasmanians in need, a 330 per cent increase from pre COVID-19, with volunteers among more than 200 people working to co-ordinate the production and delivery of these meals for Tasmanians across the state.
We are committed to helping all Tasmanians get through this time of uncertainty, and we will continue to work with our community organisations to ensure we support those in greatest need.
I would like to express my gratitude for the rapid response and hard work that many community sector organisations and their volunteers have delivered to support our entire community, especially those who would have found this situation far tougher without it.
For more information visit https://www.volunteeringtas.org.au/for-volunteers/emergency-volunteering/
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