SYDNEYSIDERS BEGIN THE QUEST TO VOLUNTEER 20,000 HOURS

Volunteers roll up their sleeves at the first Optus RockCorps Project

Less than a week since launching its social volunteering initiative, Optus RockCorps today kicked off the first volunteer project with over 45 volunteers transforming the iconic Bradleys Head at Sydney Harbour National Park. This volunteer event marks the first of more than 50 projects across Sydney giving back 20,000 hours of volunteering in the lead up to the exclusive concert.

Optus RockCorps volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help revitalise the national park with tasks including landscaping and painting, while DJ Animal House’s upbeat tunes created a fun outdoor experience that kept the volunteers energised throughout their busy day. The volunteers gave up four hours of their time in return for one of 5,000 tickets to an exclusive music event featuring The Script, Labrinth and Guy Sebastian at the Hordern Pavillion on April 11, 2013.

Victor Dominello, NSW Minister for Citizenship and Communities, with responsibility for volunteering, urged more young people to become involved in volunteering. “Whether it is helping in an emergency, working to preserve the environment or simply finding friendship and camaraderie in everyday life, volunteering is a way to bring us all closer together,” Mr Dominello said.

“The NSW Government aims to make it easier for more people to volunteer with the launch, last year, of the state’s first NSW Volunteering Strategy, backed by $4.5 million in funding to promote, recognise and celebrate volunteering.”

Mr Dominello said that more than two million volunteers in NSW contribute about 240 million hours of voluntary work each year, estimated to be worth $5 billion.

The global RockCorps initiative has seen more than 130,000 volunteers attend over 40 live concert events across the world including the USA, UK and Europe. Stephen Greene, RockCorps CEO said, “We are thrilled to be in Australia with Optus RockCorps. The spirit of giving in this country is massive, as seen recently around the floods and fires, and Aussie’s love of music is second to none. We look forward to having a great time and helping the community along the way.”

Nathan Rosenberg, Head of Brand and Services, Optus said, “It’s really exciting to see firsthand how in just four hours our volunteers transformed Bradleys Head into the picturesque landmark it deserves to be. Optus is really proud to be part of this global volunteering phenomenon with RockCorps and see so many enthusiastic people make good things happen in the community. This is exactly what Optus RockCorps is about – making a real difference to Sydney communities through the power of social good.”

Optus RockCorps aims to promote the change people can make in their local communities at a variety of upcoming locations and projects including:

• Conservation Volunteers Australia, Centennial Park
• Oz Harvest, Alexandria
• Assistance Dogs Australia, Waterfall
• Project 107, Redfern
• Conservation Volunteers Australia, Parramatta Park
• Asylum Seekers Centre, Newtown

People can sign up for upcoming volunteering event at www.optusrockcorps.com.au or by calling 1 800 ROCK 800. You must be at least 16 years old to register.

Media contact:
Dianne Edwards
Optus Corporate Affairs
(02) 8082 7850

About RockCorps

RockCorps was dreamed up by a group of young American friends in Los Angeles, California, who saw it as a way of getting people to know each other, build neighbourhoods and have fun while doing it. By channeling the power of music and celebrity, RockCorps’ mission is to make volunteering as much a part of youth lifestyle as sports, music, fashion and gaming. Entertainers and politicians have sung the praises of RockCorps alike. It was recently given an award by the UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron. To date volunteers have given over 500,000 hours to local communities across the world including the US, UK, France, Israel, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. RockCorps’ first concert took place in New York in 2005. Since then RockCorps has produced spectacular celebration concerts around the world. Artists such as Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, Rihanna, David Guetta, Diddy, Akon, Kelly Rowland, and Kanye West, have all joined the RockCorps movement.