A major push has been launched to build a state-wide volunteer database to help with the coronavirus crisis, to boost numbers and allocate volunteers to areas in most need.
Volunteer groups are appealing to the public to join a new register to provide emergency support to people in need during the virus shutdown.
The aim is to match people with spare time and capacity with parts of the community hardest hit by the disease outbreak and resulting community shutdown.
People can sign up at a new website set up by Volunteering WA, the peak body for volunteering groups in the state.
The push follows a growing demand for volunteers to help out in the community, delivering food and medication, and performing welfare checks.
"We're getting people wanting volunteers to deliver essential services for the community as they always have, but we're also finding there is a need for volunteers to do different kinds of roles in this emergency," Volunteering WA chief executive Tina Williams said.
"The call out for emergency volunteers is a really, really important one, and a crucial one."
Push for younger volunteers
Currently many volunteering roles are filled by older people, but many of them are now self-isolating, as they are high risk for COVID-19.
The loss of regular volunteers combined with the increased demand for help has created a shortfall, particularly in the aged care and mental health sectors.
"[Older volunteers] have been told to stay at home. That leaves a massive gap to deliver just general essential services," Ms Williams said.
"The website has been designed to capture as many volunteers on there as we can, and to allocate them to different organisations who are delivering those essential services."
Ms Williams said she hoped younger West Australians who now had time would consider volunteering.
"We're really looking for younger people to get on board and support these agencies, and basically help the community. It's really needed right now," she said.
"There is a lot of people out there, in the hospitality sector who have obviously lost their jobs, and it would be wonderful if they were able to come forward."
Op shops close doors
St Vincent de Paul today announced it was closing all its 54 Vinnies stores from 5:00pm today, with some to be converted into welfare centres.
Just under half of the charity's funds, which it uses to deliver youth homelessness and mental health services, come from the stores, which have been in operation for 61 years.
St Vincent de Paul chief executive Susan Mooney said the government's coronavirus shutdown measures made it impossible to keep the stores open, but it wasn't an easy decision.
"Essentially it is about safety. Most of our volunteers are over 70," she said
"We know we provide a service to community.
"We have people who come to us, who have nobody else to speak too, and will come in every day to talk to people."
The charity will attempt to convert some shops into welfare centres, but would need younger volunteers to staff them.
