The University of Notre Dame Australia has received an $18,400 grant from Volunteering WA, allowing it to expand on its work with local sporting clubs and recreation groups.
Funding will be used by the Notre Dame Volunteer Network on the university’s Fremantle campus to take part in the ‘Volunteers in Sport Project’, an initiative of the Department for Sport and Recreation in partnership with all five WA universities.
The aim of the project is to assist sport and active recreation clubs in metropolitan and regional areas to engage university students in volunteering to support one-off events and ongoing projects.
Notre Dame’s main role will be to encourage its students to participate in various volunteer positions, in either short or long-term based roles within the community; increase its Network membership; and further its already growing volunteer organisation base.
“Volunteering often results in great personal development as students experience the joy of giving to others,” volunteering in sports project officer at Notre Dame Peter Martin said.
“This alternative pathway to the usual volunteering opportunities already available will be a great way to engage students who love sport.”
Volunteering and service learning officer Donna Tempra said the Notre Dame Volunteer Network had an increasing list of volunteer organisations, including the Mary MacKillop Foundation and the Australian Red Cross, for its 400 members to assist.
“People volunteer for different reasons and there are so many ways their lives are enhanced, in addition to those of the people they assist,” Ms Tempra said.
“I encourage the Notre Dame community to utilise the gifts they possess and share them for the greater good with those people and organisations in our community which need them the most.”