WelCom September 2022
Community and charity groups in Australia are dealing with declining rates of volunteering. Reports compiled by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) show the number of volunteers has been falling steadily in recent years. It estimated there were 3.3 million volunteers in 2020, and the census found just over 2.9 million people had done voluntary work in 2021, or about 14 per cent of those who answered.
Charities Minister Andrew Leigh says the problem is broader than volunteerism. Australians are now less likely to be a member of a community organisation, go to religious services, be a union member, play a team sport, give blood, and don’t have as many friends or know as many neighbours as they used to.
Worm juice fundraiser for country school
Last year, Years 5 and 6 students of Room 5 at St Joseph’s School in Taihape began learning all about worms from a visiting expert. In his final lesson the expert brought Tiger worms and containers for the students to create their own portable worm farms to take home.
Hīkoi of learning to Far North traces early Marist’s footsteps
Members of Te Āhi Kā o Mātaruranga – a young Catholic adult community from Palmerston North – went on a hīkoi to the Far North late last year to trace the origins of faith mission in this country, through the work of early Marists.
Students awarded Suzanne Aubert tertiary scholarships
Three students have been awarded the Suzanne Aubert Tertiary Scholarship to help them complete their studies in 2023.