Working hard but not for money

People work hard and don’t get paid but the rewards are priceless for thousands of volunteers signed up to the NSW government’s Timebanking system.

Minister for Ageing, Disability Services and Multiculturalism, John Ajaka, was in Orange on Friday to announce $15,000 in funding to set up the time-based, bartering system locally.

Timebanking allows people to receive a credit for each hour of volunteering they give to someone else. They can then exchange that credit for support from someone else.

“Timebanking is a perfect example of the so-called ‘volunteer sharing economy’.

“The more you give, the more you get,” Mr Ajaka said.

“All over the state, timebanking is enriching people’s lives, boosting volunteerism and making our communities stronger.”

Orange Mayor John Davis welcomed the funding and said it would enrich the community’s strong culture of volunteering.

“Everywhere you go in Orange there are people volunteering from Meals on Wheels, to the Migrant Support volunteers, to people at the Orange Botanic Gardens who are there to show people around,” Cr Davis said.

“Time banking is a wonderful idea.

“For example, if I go and mow someone’s lawn for an hour or so, I might bank that hour and get someone else to come and teach me a musical instrument for an hour.”

Volunteer Isvariya Mathi said she thought the system sounded positive for people in the community, who like her, were new to the region.

“I came new to this country from Sri Lanka and I started volunteering so I can learn from people and meet people,” she said.

“You can always learn something from someone so the more people who are in contact with others, the better.”

She said she thought it would be a good system for people who had found it hard to get paid work because they could volunteer their talents and ask for services in return.

For information on how to participate in time banking go to www.timebanking.com.au.

It’s expected to be sometime before the local timebanking scheme is operating in Orange.

VOLUNTEERS: (left) Orange City Council's Migrant Support Officer Anni Gallagher with Orange Mayor John Davis thanks the volunteers who greeted Minister Ajaka last week.