Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, is encouraging the community to make volunteering part of their life and lend a helping hand in 2010.

The traditional season of goodwill is the perfect time to make a new year’s resolution that can make a very real difference.

“Volunteers are an extremely valuable resource,” Carolyn Male MP said. “They strengthen and add value in our communities, particularly in rural and regional areas where volunteering is often the key to keeping local services going.”

Carolyn Male said Queensland had one of the highest proportions of volunteers but more were needed to fill thousands of positions.

“The modern lifestyle is a busy one but if everyone donated just a few hours over a month, or worked on a short term project they could make a real difference to their communities,” Carolyn Male MP said.

“Volunteers not only enrich the lives of those they help but also their own by learning new skills, meeting people and even improving their employment prospects.”

Volunteering Queensland, the state’s peak body for organisations that have volunteers, has made getting involved in volunteering easy with their one-stop website.

This website helps volunteers look for opportunities, and also has information to assist organisations find volunteers.

People of any age or interest can find volunteering opportunities to suit them on the Volunteering Queensland website. They can also search for training opportunities on the website.

“I urge everyone to consider the benefits and rewards of being a volunteer and make volunteering their number one New Year’s resolution,” Carolyn Male MP said.

To get involved in volunteering visit www.volqld.org.au.