SOCIAL isolation will worsen among Wyndham’s rising number of migrants and unemployed residents unless the state government helps the region’s only volunteer agency, its leaders have warned.
Volunteer West could be forced to close next year if it fails to secure permanent funding.
The Altona-based organisation provides volunteer training, referrals and advocacy across Wyndham, Melton, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Moonee Valley.
General manager Emma Sharp said the organisation relied on federal funding, but there had been no commitment beyond this financial year.
With a federal election looming and a potential change in government fanning fears that funding could be slashed, Volunteer West has called on the state government to stump up its share and recognise that it relies on the centre for a critical service in the western suburbs where government supports are being outstripped by growth.
“We have among the highest number of jobseekers, particularly refugees and skilled migrants who are trying to find work, and disengaged young people.,’’ Ms Sharp said.
“Volunteering is not just a nice thing that happens in the community, it is actually quite vital, especially for people who are socially isolated.”
Unemployment in Wyndham has increased to 9 per cent, well above the national average of 5.7 per cent, while one in five young people in the western suburbs can’t find a job.
Ms Sharp said volunteering provided pathways to gain employable skills.
She said many migrants wanted to volunteer so they could learn English, while asylum seekers released into the west on bridging visas that prohibit them from working were eager to volunteer to keep their confidence alive and forge community ties.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn has called on his parliamentary colleague, Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge, to meet with Volunteer West with a view to support the organisation.
“Volunteer West has quite an impressive program. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a very impressive resource base,” Mr Finn said.
Ms Sharp said Volunteer West, which refers about 50 people a month, was “right now running a bare-bones operation”. “It’s a challenge because the needs of local residents are so high and the population is growing so fast, we can barely keep up.”
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
Volunteer West refers 641 people each year. Of these:
• 28 per cent are people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• 21 per cent are jobseekers looking to use volunteering as a pathway to employment
• 8 per cent identify as having a disability
• 293 volunteers are provided with training and information through workshops
