International Volunteer Day is a time for us to reflect on the immense contribution volunteers make to our society and thank them for all that they do.

Red Cross is an organisation built on voluntary service, made up of 17 million volunteers worldwide.

Volunteers help us save lives, build resilient communities, support people in disaster, and prevent and alleviate human suffering in times of war and conflict.

Every day throughout the year our 35,000 members and volunteers in Australia improve the wellbeing of those who are experiencing extreme vulnerability.

I can’t thank them enough for their time, energy and commitment, and I feel privileged to work alongside them.

Voluntary service not only helps the recipients, but also the volunteers whose lives are enriched by the act of giving.

We aim to build an inclusive, diverse and active humanitarian movement based on voluntary service.

I strongly urge you to join our humanitarian movement and help your community by visiting redcross.org.au/volunteering. 

Penny Harrison

Director, Volunteering

Australian Red Cross

The Senate Reference Committee report released this week should make all Australians shake their heads in dismay.

Their report on the Indefinite Detention of People with Cognitive and Psychiatric Impairment in Australia outlines a long-standing situation where people with a disability or mental illness can be detained indefinitely, without a conviction or treatment.

It should be of great concern to all that this is a special legal situation reserved for people with intellectual disability or mental illness.

What people with a disability require is carefully managed therapy which will improve their personal capacity and ultimately reduce risk to the broader community.

I welcome the recommendations contained in the Senate Committee’s report.

In particular I note that all jurisdictions would improve outcomes by adopting the Victorian Government’s best practice model.

They would also be improved by using screening tools to identify when people with intellectual disability or mental illness come into contact with the justice system.

Effective early intervention is a vital key to reducing and preventing indefinite detention over the long term.

While it has been difficult to know how to address these issues in the past, the Senate Committee has laid out a clear path for changes that would make a genuine difference to people with an intellectual disability who come into contact with the justice system.

What remains now is for Australian governments, working together, to address this serious situation.

Andrew Donne

Chief Executive Officer

Endeavour Foundation

There was mixed reaction to the news of support for infrastructure projects in the North West.

Akos Schneider Awesome news..... Let's hope they contract these funds to local contracting businesses and not contracting businesses from Brisbane.... would be great to keep that money local too..

Denise Eldridge Lets hope it's given to the locals

Jo N Frank Unger how about footpaths that go the whole street, not just around certain council members properties

Karen Walton Note it doesn't mention what projects will be done just "fast tracked" doesn't create any extra long term jobs all talk