THE voluntary work done by members of The Yarra Valley Practitioners Project (YVPP) was recognised in May when the group was announced as a finalist in the prestigious 2010 Premier’s Community Volunteering Awards.
The YVPP was selected over more than 200 entries to secure its place in the finals for the Community Volunteering Leadership Award.
While the recognition was welcome, and the $500 cheque appreciated, it has not furthered the group’s desperate quest for financial help from the government to keep the service operating.
The service, providing complementary and allied health services, was set up to supporting people through the trauma of Black Saturday.
As a not-for-profit organisation, the YVPP urgently requires $450,000 to continue its services to more than 500 bushfire survivors.
“It’s an absolute honour that the work of the YVPP has been acknowledged by the Premier and it means so much to all of our volunteers who have worked tirelessly and passionately to help those bushfire survivors in our community still trying to deal with the trauma sustained by Black Saturday,” YVPP founder Karen Dickson said.
Ms Dickson said at the awards presentation Mr Brumby had directly questioned her about the YVPP and the organisation’s quest to obtain vital funding.
“It was wonderful to see the premier genuinely interested in our campaign and our clients and volunteers are heartened by the knowledge that John Brumby himself is concerned about the future of the YVPP.”
As of last week however YVPP spokesman Matt Mitchell said the service was continuing completely on the goodwill of its volunteer practitioners with no indication that any funds would be forthcoming.
“We are still trying through government and other avenues such as philanthropic groups and corporate donors, but so far without the success we would have hoped for,” he said.
“We really need the State Government to come to the party on this,” he added.
“Without immediate funding from the government and philanthropic sector, it’s going to become increasingly difficult to help those clients who continue to need our help both now and into the future,” Ms Dickson said.
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