Queensland’s 27th Governor supports volunteering by becoming Volunteering Queensland’s Patron

Volunteering Queensland welcomes and gives thanks to Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young PSM, Governor of Queensland for supporting volunteering by becoming Patron.

We farewell The Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, who was Patron of Volunteering Queensland from 2015 – 2021 and who was the first Governor to be Patron in the organisation’s 39-year history.

Dr Young will be championing the valuable work and contribution of Volunteering Queensland, Queensland’s many thousands of volunteer organisations and its more than three million extraordinary volunteers, whose collective endeavours help build strong, connected communities through volunteering.

Volunteering Queensland CEO Mara Basanovic, welcomed the patronage of her Excellency and looks forward to support the Governor to inspire Queenslanders to make a difference through social participation and civic engagement.

“It’s an honour to have Her Excellency as our Patron and dedicated ambassador of our work promoting, celebrating and strengthening the development of volunteering across our great state,” Ms Basanovic said.

“Her Excellency has extensive experience supporting Queenslanders through her exemplary work and accomplishments in medicine and public health, and most recently as Chief Health Officer during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were all most grateful for Dr Young’s Leadership and commitment to keeping Queenslanders safe during that time.”

“We believe Dr Young’s patronage and support will help us to encourage even more Queenslanders to get involved in bringing about positive change.”

Volunteering Queensland is the state peak body for volunteering. We work to advance volunteering through advocacy, research, and programs. All are designed to strengthen the capacity and outcomes of volunteer-involving organisations and support volunteers to be able to make the difference they aspire to make through rewarding, well-managed volunteering experiences. Dr Young’s patronage inspires us to fulfil our mission to enhance Queensland’s economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing through volunteering.

In 2020, over three million adult Queenslanders volunteered in both formal and informal settings, providing essential services to communities, individuals and the environment. Their contribution demonstrates the kind and giving nature of Queenslanders. More than 900 million hours were contributed, with almost $84 billion in value provided to the state through volunteering activity. (The State of Volunteering in Queensland Report 2021).

We look forward with great excitement and pride to working with and supporting Her Excellency over the coming years to ensure volunteering is accessible, productive and meaningful to all those who participate.