Costs a growing issue for volunteers: National survey finds
[5 December 2006 | Volunteering Australia]
Coinciding with the 20th International Volunteer Day celebrations Volunteering Australia has found that over 80% of volunteers believe that increasing out-of-pocket expenses are making it more difficult for people to volunteer; and one in four volunteers are planning to reduce or stop their volunteer work.
The preliminary findings of the Costs of Volunteering Survey, released today, revealed that over 76% of volunteers had some out-of-pocket costs due to their volunteer work in the last 12 months; including car and public transport costs, uniforms, compulsory safety equipment, telephone, accommodation and travel, computer and general stationery costs.
While most individuals had out-of-pocket expenses under $200 a year, some respondents were facing costs of over $3000 that were not reimbursed.
"Today, on the annual day celebrating volunteers, we must recognise that while 6.3 million Australians give 836 million hours of their time each year; volunteering costs people money as well as time and deserves tangible recognition," said Kylee Bates, Acting CEO of Volunteering Australia.
"While these initial findings reveal that Australians are still some of the most dedicated volunteers in the world — three out of four respondents volunteered at least once a week — we can't expect their goodwill to continue considering the rising costs many face."
"We all want volunteering to increase in Australia for both the community and personal benefits of being involved; but if we're to encourage more people, including young people and the growing number of retirees, to give their time, then we must lower any cost barriers," Ms Bates added.
Over half of all respondents to this year's survey believed governments should be responsible for covering volunteer out-of-pocket expenses; and nearly 77% of volunteers said they would not claim any expenses from their not-for-profit organisation given the financial pressure many organisations are under.
The survey was launched in mid-October 2006 and included 1245 responses from volunteers, not-for-profit organisations and businesses with employee volunteering programs, together representing several hundred thousand volunteers, as part of the Cost of Volunteering Taskforce's research phase.
The Taskforce was established to consider the impact of increasing costs on volunteers and provide advice following Senator Guy Barnett's submission to Government on volunteering earlier this year.
The Taskforce's recommendations will be made available in early 2007.
Taskforce member and Scouts Australia Chairman, Mr Ian Langford-Brown, said that while some not-for-profit organisations were able to provide volunteers with partial reimbursement, the volunteers often still carry other significant costs including training and orientation.
In 2005, as part of an organisational review, Scouts Australia, which has 20,000 adult volunteers, found that out-of-pocket costs were a key reason behind volunteers leaving Scouts.
"There needs to be a fair system where volunteers can claim their out-of-pocket costs without feeling they are hurting their organisation," he said.
The Costs of Volunteering Survey results support similar research conducted during last year's fuel price crisis that found that over 50% of volunteers were considering reducing or stopping volunteer work due to out-of-pocket costs.
Costs of Volunteering Survey: Results in brief
- 1245 surveyed (volunteers & managers) representing up to 400,000 volunteers
- 76% of volunteers reported some out-of-pocket expenses stemming from their volunteer work
- 77% of volunteers would not claim any expenses back from their organisation
- 54% of respondents believe government should be responsible for volunteers’ out-of-pocket expenses.
- 74% of respondents volunteer at least once a week.
- 88% of volunteers use their own car at least some of the time for their volunteering.
- 50.5% of organisations claim to have a reimbursement policy.
- 20% of volunteers surveyed believe their organisation has a reimbursement policy.
- 79% of respondents believe out-of-pocket expenses are a barrier to volunteering
- 27% of organisations report an increase in reimbursement requests in the last 12 months
- 25% of volunteers said they were reconsidering their commitment due to costs
Volunteering Fast Facts: Size of not-for-profit sector
- There are as many as 700,000 nonprofit organisations in Australia, most of which are small and entirely dependent on the voluntary commitment of members.
- Around 35,000 nonprofit organisations employ staff (about 5%).
Volunteering
- 6.3 million Australians give a total of 836 million hours a year in volunteering (132 hours p/w on average)
- 41% of Australians volunteered in 2005 compared with 31% in 2000 and 24% in 1995.
- 47% of all people aged 35-44 volunteer – the most active group.
- 46% of women and 36% of men volunteer.
- Over 30% of young people (18-24 year-olds) volunteer.
- 70% of volunteers are also in paid employment.
- Researchers estimate the monetary contribution of volunteering to be in the tens of billions annually or 1.4% of GDP (in 2002).
- Reasons for volunteering include: 'being of service to the community' (47%) and 'personal satisfaction' (43%).