Volunteer Network harnesses spirit of giving at Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA) underlined its commitment to community service with the launch of a Volunteer Network at its Fremantle Campus during the Mary MacKillop Foundation’s Green and Gold Day. The Volunteer Network was developed after an overwhelming response by staff and students at Notre Dame who participated in the 2010 Mary MacKillop Festival to celebrate the canonisation of Saint Mary of the Cross. The Network provides staff and students with an opportunity to offer their services to agencies and organisations which work with some of Western Australia’s most needy people. This embodies the Objects of the University in building community and using Catholic social teaching as a foundation of service to others. The St Vincent de Paul Society, Conservation Volunteers Australia, the Australian Red Cross, St Patrick’s Care Centre and the Mary MacKillop Foundation are just some of the organisations that could receive assistance from the Notre Dame community through the Volunteer Network. Executive Director of Admissions and Student Services in Fremantle and Broome, Rommie Masarei, said the Volunteer Network would honour and further the great work already undertaken in community service at Notre Dame. “Through the Volunteer Network, we as a Catholic organisation can provide service opportunities to staff and students to not only grow the mission of the church but also to grow as people,” Mrs Masarei said. First Year Medicine student and one of the orchestrators of last year’s Mary MacKillop Festival, Amy Rosario, said she was delighted the Volunteer Network would be able to further promote volunteerism at Notre Dame. “Hopefully this will provide an opportunity for students to practically live out the ideals of being taught through the University’s Objects,” Miss Rosario said. “We had such an overwhelming number of volunteers at the Mary MacKillop Festival so it’s great for Notre Dame to harness that enthusiasm and develop a Network which reflects the mission of St Mary.” MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle Ebbs, Tel (08) 9433 0569, Mob 0408 959 138 Leigh Dawson, Tel (08) 9433 0569, Mob 0405 441 09