Ballarat residents are encouraged to share their experiences and ideas about community life and volunteering in the region, to help develop Victoria’s new Volunteer Strategy.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, is inviting everyone in Ballarat to participate by taking a survey that will help inform the strategy, and better support the state’s fast-changing and growing volunteering sector.

The strategy will also be informed by workshops, roundtables, and meetings in regional areas right through to May 2020.

The Andrews Government has invested $500,000 to support volunteering initiatives over two years in the 2018-19 Victorian Budget, including digital literacy and leadership training programs.

This year, the Premier’s Volunteer Champions Awards received a record number of 245 nominations for awards that recognise the hard work and dedication of volunteers in communities across the state.

Ms Addison said many thousands of Ballarat residents participate in formal volunteering activities each year, with many others contributing through informal volunteering.

“Volunteering is a vital part of community life in Ballarat, and our collective voices will play an important part in informing the Volunteer Strategy,” she said.

“I encourage all Ballarat residents to share their experiences and ideas on how to shape volunteering in our community, and urge your friends, families and colleagues to do the same,” Ms Addison said.

Volunteers, their managers and the wider community are all encouraged to complete the online survey.

For more information about development of Victoria’s new Volunteer Strategy, or to complete a survey, visit: https://www.volunteer.vic.gov.au/strategy