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AVI celebrates National Volunteer Week with regional Australia

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22 April 2008

AVI's next volunteer recruitment drive kicks off during National Volunteer Week and AVI will make sure all Australians know how they can get involved in the overseas volunteer program by visiting Coffs Harbour, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Australian Volunteers International's next overseas volunteer recruitment drive kicks off during National Volunteer Week (12 - 18 May) and AVI will make sure residents of  regional areas know how they can get involved in Australia's overseas volunteer program by visiting Coffs Harbour, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Renee Archer, is highlighting National Volunteer Week 2008 as the ideal time to hold regional information sessions and give residents the opportunity to find out how they can live and work with developing communities in Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

"Up to 150 people from the Coffs Harbour, Ballarat and Bendigo regions have volunteered with AVI around the globe," she said. "Among them are vocational trainers, accountants, physiotherapists, veterinarians, civil engineers, environmental lawyers and circus performers.

"Regional Australian residents have played a major role in Australian Volunteers International's volunteer program. Up to 35 per cent of volunteer assignments over the past four years are filled by skilled professionals living in regional Australia.

"These volunteers have been working all over the world from Timor-Leste to Swaziland for over five decades. For instance, the first Ballarat resident to volunteer with AVI was a librarian in Indonesia in 1955, when the program was known as the Volunteer Graduate Scheme."

There are up to 80 opportunities for Australian professionals to be advertised as part of AVI's volunteer recruitment drive running from 10 May to 5 June. All positions will be advertised on AVI's website during this time.

AVI's volunteer assignments are for up to two years. All volunteers receive airfares, visas, insurance, a modest living and accommodation allowance, pre-departure training, in-country and post-assignment support.

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For more information contact:
Christine Crosby
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Australian Volunteers International
Phone: +61 (0)3 9279 1763
Email: ccrosby@australianvolunteers.com