Newly launched Shire of Narrogin online volunteer hub makes community engagement easy

Volunteering in Narrogin is set to become easier thanks to the Shire of Narrogin’s new online volunteer hub, available via the Shire of Narrogin website. Volunteer fever has swept through the Wheatbelt South in recent months. On February 22, Narrogin marked the inaugural Thank a Volunteer Event and Expo, and community development officers Anna Prysiazhna and Regina Razumovskaya are keen to see the groundswell roll on. “This is something that the shire came up with recently,” Ms Prysiazhna said. “We decided it was a good opportunity for us to have everything in one place so if you are new to town or if you’ve been here for a long time you can go to the site and see what’s there for you. “It helps people understand how easy is it to become a volunteer.” From volunteering for SES to helping with artefact cataloguing and preservation at the Old Courthouse Museum, there is a diverse range of roles available. “Sometimes organisations may think that everyone is aware of them but that isn’t always true,” Ms Razumovskaya said. “You have to keep spreading information about your organisation and what volunteers you are looking for. “It’s not magic, it doesn’t work like that — it’s a management process.” The shire-specific hub is also a useful reference tool for local community groups in pursuit of members. “This approach can be taken by anyone,” Ms Razumovskaya said. Ms Prysiazhna said visibility is key to engagement. “Something we hear from people that would like to volunteer but don’t is that nobody asked them,” she said. “They would like to volunteer but they think there’s no need; raising awareness is really important.” Shire of Narrogin chief executive Dale Stewart said the aim is to nurture a culture of community engagement “We believe that by promoting volunteering not just for Shire roles but for the community in general, we can create a more vibrant and engaged Narrogin,” he said. “It goes beyond just giving back — it’s an enriching experience that enhances personal well-being and fosters community development.” Community groups interested in learning more about how they can adapt similar processes are encouraged to get in touch with the Shire of Narrogin community development team on 9890 0923