Australian volunteers' time worth $12.5 billion annually
By The Centre for Volunteering
One in three Australians volunteers. In 2004 there were more than 6.3 million active volunteers over the age of 18 years, giving a combined 836 million hours of their time (Giving Australia, 2005). The equivalent economic value, estimated at $15 per hour minimum, is in excess of $12.5 billion annually.
The number of people volunteering is increasing every year with statistics showing that volunteering is on the rise. 41% of adult Australians volunteered in 2004 compared with 34% in 2002 and 24% in 1995 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2003).
In NSW alone there are more than 1.3 million volunteers (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2000) contributing their wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to not-for-profit organisations. Volunteer’s jobs range from traditional volunteering roles such as office administration, home visiting and environmental projects through to professional, skilled volunteering jobs for medical practitioners, lawyers, accountants, teachers and nurses.
Ad de Raad, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers program says of the effectiveness and power of volunteering: “Every single country has facets of volunteerism ingrained in its culture and traditions. It is a tremendous way for people to participate and make a difference. That is why many national governments are increasingly building volunteer infrastructures and establishing the appropriate legal frameworks to support volunteerism.”
Premier Iemma and the NSW Government has officially recognised the important role volunteers play in our community and their positive impact on the NSW economy with the recent appointment of Tony Kelly as the NSW Minister for Volunteering.
"Volunteers are the back bone of the community, particularly during times of crisis, and encouraging more people to play their part is one of the ways the [NSW Government's] State Plan sets out to foster greater social harmony," said Mr Kelly. "Encouraging people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to join volunteer groups will increase numbers, raise the profile of volunteer organisations and increase their effectiveness."
The Centre for Volunteering’s Chair, Joy Woodhouse, has praised the Government’s initiative. "The appointment of Local Government and Emergency Services Minister, Tony Kelly to the portfolio places important emphasis on the role of volunteers in the area of emergency services. The current bushfire crisis in NSW reinforces the important role volunteers play in times of urgent need in our community."
"The Centre looks forward to working with the Minister to give him and his staff the benefit of our extensive experience in developing ways to increase the volunteer rate in NSW and to develop a strategy to recognise the activities of all volunteer effort whether it be emergency, welfare, sport, culture or any of the myriad of groups and organisations who rely on volunteers to sustain their valuable community roles," said Ms Woodhouse.
Volunteering is also growing in the private sector, with many companies embracing the benefits of employee volunteering. "Many leading companies in the private sector are sponsoring volunteering to improve their company and their reputation. Why? Because participating in the community builds teams, improves staff morale, and helps attract quality staff; all while enabling companies to show that they care about the communities in which they're working," said Lynne Dalton, CEO, The Centre for Volunteering.
The Centre for Volunteering hopes that International Volunteer Day 2006 will continue to put volunteerism on the state and national agendas and in the minds of many more people worldwide.
About The Centre for Volunteering
The Centre for Volunteering is the peak body for volunteering in NSW and includes Volunteering NSW – our service-delivery arm, and the School of Volunteer Management, a Registered Training Organisation. Our role is to promote and support volunteering and community participation.
We have been in operation for 32 years and run the biggest volunteer referral service in the state. In addition to volunteer referral, our programs include advocacy, corporate volunteering, engaging young people through student community involvement (SCIP), research and policy, accredited and non-accredited training and information and communication.
To find out more or to volunteer visit www.volunteering.com.au
About International Volunteer Day
In 1985, the United Nations General Assembly designated 5 December as an annual celebration of voluntary action by people, communities and governments of the world. International Volunteer Day (IVD) is for volunteers of all walks of life working in communities around the globe. The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) is the designated international focal point for IVD.
For more details, visit the IVD website
The Centre
for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au