Volunteering Tasmania is calling on political parties to tear down the barriers that are making it harder than ever to recruit volunteers, despite more Tasmanians wanting to give back.
The organisation says more than 330,000 Tasmanians volunteer each year, making up the state’s “largest workforce” and contributing an estimated $3.6 billion in economic value.
But while interest in volunteering remains strong, formal participation has dropped by over 11% between 2019 and 2023.
Volunteering Tasmania CEO Mel Blake says their members are finding it increasingly difficult to attract new volunteers.
“The actions of volunteers create significant economic benefits, bring social advantages that ensures many important services can be delivered to communities and those in need,” she said.
“Think referees at weekend soccer matches, museum guides giving tours, ticket takers at music festivals, literacy tutors in libraries and those who provide comfort and company to elderly or isolated people.”
The organisation has launched its “Remove Barriers to Volunteering” campaign ahead of the state election, warning that political uncertainty and tight budgets are putting extra pressure on groups that rely on volunteers.
“The Tasmanian community, government and economy benefits enormously from volunteering and although it is the provision of free labour, it doesn’t happen for free or by chance,” Blake said.
“It requires investment in the systems and structures to enable best-practice volunteer involvement.”
Volunteering Tasmania’s budget submission outlines five key measures, including scrapping the cost of Working with Vulnerable People registration for volunteers and funding a statewide volunteering strategy and action plan.
Other priorities include expanding youth volunteering programs, growing the volunteer connect service and boosting funding for emergency volunteer responses to extreme weather events.
“We have an opportunity to positively encourage all parties and candidates to invest in a sustainable Tasmanian volunteering industry, recognising the significant economic and social value contributed through volunteering every day,” Blake said.
