Government and the Volunteering Sector – Working together to be a force for good

Volunteering Queensland as our state’s peak body for volunteering offers its support to the incoming government to develop a platform to support, develop and grow Queensland’s largest and arguably most underused workforce and asset – its volunteers.

Volunteering is and has always been a vital contributor to the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of Queensland, conservatively contributing $11.6 billion annually.

As a state we have a strong, proud identity and community spirit, but for many years the volunteer participation rate in Queensland has lagged behind the national average.

It’s time to take action together and be the change that transforms this gap.

As Australia’s second largest and third most populated state this lag needs to be redressed so that the potential of our state’s largest workforce and asset – its volunteers, can be maximised for the well-being of Queensland and all Queenslanders.

It is time for Government and the volunteering sector to come together to re-evaluate and change the way volunteering is supported and developed so that this enormous asset can flourish and be future-proofed.

To continue to grow and contribute, Queensland’s volunteer workforce needs adequate investment and a united effort to approach the challenges and opportunities volunteering offers with renewed commitment and vigour. While the act of volunteering is freely given, volunteering is not free. As with all workforces volunteering requires investment to continue to deliver and increase the more than $4.5 that is returned to our community and state for every $1 currently spent.

This 2017 election provides a perfect opportunity to look at how the incoming Government and indeed all elected parliamentarians can ensure volunteering continues to grow and be a strong and much relied on contributor to the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being ofQueensland and a vital part of our state’s identity.

VOLUNTEERING QUEENSLAND

QUEENSLAND STATE

ELECTION PLATFORM

ROAD MAPFOR ACTION AND INVESTMENT

Establish a Volunteering Community Reference Group to advise the Minister responsible for volunteering on matters relating to volunteering

Invest in Emergency Volunteering CREW (EV CREW) development and enhancements to support Government, communities and volunteers at times of disaster, and build a resilient Queensland across all phases of emergencies and disasters

Why it’s needed:Volunteers are the backbone of resilient communities particularly at times of emergencies and disasters. Volunteering Queensland’s EV CREW system has served Queensland well through myriad emergencies and disasters. From 2011 – 2017 EV CREW was activated to deliver 110 campaigns across Queensland. The current platform has a database of more than 65,000 registered, willing spontaneous volunteers.

Volunteering Queensland’s EV CREW digital platform and spontaneous volunteer matching and management program is 10 years’ old in early 2018. To continue to effectively serve government, the community, and contemporary emergency and disaster spontaneous volunteers, EV CREW is in need of continual development and enhancements.

Managing spontaneous volunteers to help government deliver best outcomes that ensure Queensland’s diverse communities are supported at times of and in the preparedness and post disaster recovery phases of emergencies and disasters requires effective, efficient management. This is what Volunteering Queensland does best through its EV CREW service.

The 2017 election provides a seminal opportunity for the incoming Government and Volunteering Queensland to work together to develop cutting edge technology to best manage spontaneous volunteers. Together we can commit to a comprehensive, cohesive, innovative EV CREW platform and program that puts more volunteers on the ground quickly to ensure the safety of Queenslanders.

Cost:$360,000 for the first year – review, redesign and enhancements $150,000 per annum for subsequent four years

Why it’s needed:As the peak body representing volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations, Volunteering Queensland is ideally placed to provide the Minister responsible for volunteering with advice and support on trends, opportunities, challenges and issues impacting the sector, and to advise on the implementation of the State Volunteering Strategy.

Volunteering Queensland proposes the establishment of a community based Reference Group to the Minister responsible for Volunteering. This would be a unique approach providing a direct mutually beneficial voice from the sector to Government and vice versa.

Volunteering Queensland would facilitate a Reference Group comprising 12 – 14 members to meet with the Minister bi-annually. The group would comprise Volunteering Queensland, volunteer-involving organisations, businesses with an interest in corporate volunteering, researchers with an interest in volunteering, and individual volunteer representation form across Queensland.

Cost:$15,000 per year for two meetingsThis cost is inclusive of all costs including travel and accommodation for regional and remote Reference Group members

Making it easier for people to volunteer

Why it’s needed:Queensland has for many years been disadvantaged by lower than national average volunteer participation rates. Volunteering Queensland would like to work with Government to redress this situation so that our state can benefit from the enormous potential that volunteering offers.

There are many complex changes occurring in volunteer engagement and retention in Queensland. These create barriers to participation by people who want to give their time, talent and skill for the betterment of our state and people. These include: - Financial constraints and the cost of volunteering - Time and life-style pressures - Increased red tape and compliance requirements - Inclusion and equality of opportunity issues

Volunteering Queensland supports Government to make it easier for Queenslanders to volunteer by addressing and providing achievable solutions to barriers to volunteering. These include off-setting financial barriers, reducing inequality, promoting inclusion, and exploring issues of portability, out of pocket expenses and insurance.

Cost:$150,000 per annum for three years to reduce barriers and inequality$90,000 for a feasibility study and business case for a State Government covered or subsidised volunteer insurance scheme for registered volunteer-involving organisations or for individual volunteers

Provide five year service agreements to Queensland’s Volunteer Resource Centres and Hubs and address service delivery gaps in central and western Queensland

Why it’s needed:As front line providers of vital volunteer support services, local place-based volunteer service and development organisations support Government deliver on its priorities and commitments at a time of ever-increasing community expectation and need.

This funding will enable greater volunteering participation rates by Queenslanders, support individual volunteers, and strengthen the capacity and capability of volunteer-involving organisations with recruitment, management, retention, resources and training delivery.

A strong long-term partnership approach between Government, Volunteering Queensland, place-based Volunteer Resource Centres and Hubs, and community organisations is based on mutual respect and understanding of the role each plays in support of volunteering. A State Government investment in volunteer support services, facilitated and supported by Volunteering Queensland will deliver a stronger, more vibrant volunteering sector.

The fiscal value of volunteering delivered to our state’s economy and the benefits volunteering brings to Queensland’s social cohesion are well documented but not often broadly recognised or supported. Volunteers are crucial to the delivery of essential services in both metropolitan and regional areas of the state. Financial support to local Volunteer Resource Centres and Hubs is essential to the sustainability and growth of these services and to enabling government to achieve its vision and priorities. As the needs of vulnerable groups rise and local infrastructure changes, the need for more volunteers to fill the gap of service delivery increases. Volunteering Queensland can support Government to ensure volunteer resources are directed where they are needed.

Service agreements with State Government will enable organisations to plan strategically for their local area and provide certainty of support for local needs.

Cost:$60,000 per annum each for five years for 14 Volunteer Resource Centre and Hubs $840,000 per year

This includes adoption of the best practice around volunteer engagement and management as outlined in the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement. Better trained, informed and supported volunteer-involving organisations can respond more positively and flexibly to the fast rate of change that is currently occurring in the nature and motivation of volunteers and the needs and expectations of Government and communities.

Through the provision of initiatives that build stronger and more effective volunteer management, Government can be better supported by the volunteering sector to deliver positive outcomes to the community and state.

Cost:$90,000 per annum for three years

Why it’s needed:Evidence shows and it is broadly recognised that ‘good volunteer managers make good volunteers’ and this premise is supported by research. For effective volunteering to take place, organisations need adequate infrastructure and good volunteer management practice in place.

Support for more effective volunteer mangement

CALL TO ACTION The vital role volunteers play in strengthening and connecting our communities is hard to ignore. The efforts of this powerful workforce must be invested in and celebrated.

Volunteering Queensland and the network of Volunteer Centres and volunteer-involving organisations call on the incoming government and all elected members of the Queensland parliament to work, listen and act with us to enable a shared vision for a strong, connected Queensland through volunteering.

As the state peak body for volunteering, Volunteering Queensland is best placed to represent, advocate for and lead this significant and relied on sector. Volunteering Queensland is the ‘go to’ place for all matters volunteering, forging collaborative partnerships and providing comprehensive, quality services, information, advice and resources.

CONCLUSIONTogether through the power of association and as a united network comprising Volunteering Queensland, Queensland Volunteer Resource Centres and Volunteering Hubs, and volunteer-involving organisations we are committed to developing, promoting and advancing volunteering across the state.

We ask that the incoming Government work with and support us to strengthen and future-proof Queensland’s for many years’ under-invested, under-valued and under-supported volunteering workforce and sector, so that its contribution can be maximised for the benefit of all Queenslanders.

This State election provides an opportune time for the incoming Government and indeed all elected parliamentarians to come together with renewed vigour to be a force for good to support and develop Queensland’s largest and most generous and willing workforce – our volunteers.

CONTACT VOLUNTEERING QUEENSLAND

Mara Basanovic | CEO(07) 3002 7602 | 0413 310 320 mara@volunteeringqld.org.au

Level 12, 127 Creek St, Brisbane Qld 4000GPO Box 623, Brisbane Qld 4001volunteeringqld.org.au