15 May 2023 - A message from Deputy Chelepy

Celebration of Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is upon us. The week offers us an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a volunteer in Queensland and how fortunate we are to have so many Queenslanders willing to help each other out in times of crisis.

Data from Volunteering Australia indicates that 26.5% of Queenslanders volunteer formally through an organisation, which is the perfect example of the Queensland spirit in action.

Our volunteers are a crucial part of our disaster response here in Queensland, which is why I’m so proud that we’ll soon be welcoming our SES and marine rescue volunteers to QPS as part of the Disaster and Emergency Management Reforms.

To mark ‘Wear Orange Wednesday’ and celebrate our friends at SES, the RIT team got dressed up in their best orange looks and gathered to chat and reflect on what it means to be a volunteer in our great state.

I would like to say a big thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who help to protect Queenslanders in our waters, our regional areas and during disaster events. We greatly appreciate everything you do.