Media Release
Wednesday 6 April 2016
Barriers need to be removed, Volunteering Australia report shows
New Volunteering Australia data released today confirms that volunteering rates in NSW and across Australia are under
pressure, and that organisations need to better align volunteering opportunities with the interests of prospective
volunteers.
In line with the recent ABS data signifying a 5% decline in volunteering over the past 5 years, the State of Volunteering
in Australia report indicates that volunteers are feeling the pressure, that they are time poor and those barriers to
volunteering need to be removed.
The Volunteering Australia State of Volunteering in Australia 2016 report, compiled with the assistance of PwC,
analyses the findings from a national survey of approximately 3,000 volunteers, volunteer involving organisations and,
for the first time, corporations.
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said volunteering was a crucial factor in building healthy communities
so any barrier to community participation was concerning.
“Australians are still keen volunteers with 5.8 million Australians (or 31%) volunteering in the past 12 months,” Ms
Rygate said
“Alarmingly though, the report shows that Australians are facing greater barriers to volunteering than in the past.”
Current volunteers are loyal to the cause, with 99% of volunteers surveyed likely to continue volunteering in the future
and, in NSW in particular, 48% of those surveyed have been involved for 5 years or more.
33% of volunteers surveyed in NSW are aged 65+ and only 15% were aged less than 34 suggesting potential issues for
recruitment into the future.
“This raises questions about whether our social capital is being eroded, and what can be done given volunteers
contribute $16billion to our economy each year.”
Ms Rygate said it’s important to highlight that modern volunteering need not be time-consuming, including online and
one-off volunteering.
“It’s about finding the right fit for your life and volunteer matching organisations like The Centre for Volunteering
provide that service,” she said.
The report provides perspectives from both volunteers and volunteer involving organisations about the barriers to
entry, notably that:
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there is a disconnect between the volunteering roles that people are interested in and the roles that
organisations are offering
volunteers are deterred from volunteering because of lack of flexibility, personal expenses incurred, lack of
reimbursement for out of pocket expenses, and burdensome administrative requirements
volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) generally lack resources, both human and financial, inhibiting their
ability to engage volunteers with barriers (e.g. people with a disability, people with language barriers). Lack of
resources may also reduce an organisation's capability for reward and recognition of their existing volunteer
base.
For more information on volunteering and volunteer opportunities, go to: www.volunteering.com.au
…Summary of findings over page
Summary of findings
The State of Volunteering in Australia report details the trends, demographics, challenges and successes in the
volunteering sector in Australia.
Key Findings:
1. Responses suggest there is a disconnect between the volunteering roles that people are interested in and the roles
that organisations are offering.
2. There is misalignment between the sectors volunteers are interested in and the sectors with the most positions
advertised.
3. There is support for the creation of an informal volunteering platform.
4. Volunteers are deterred from volunteering because of lack of flexibility, personal expenses incurred, lack of
reimbursement for out of pocket expenses, and burdensome administrative requirements.
5. Volunteer involving organisations generally lack resources, both human and financial, and this can inhibit their ability
to engage volunteers with barriers (e.g. people with a disability, people with language barriers). Lack of resources may
also reduce an organisation's ability to recognise their existing volunteer base, and engage with corporates through
Employee Volunteering Programs.
6. Volunteers are not getting responses from volunteer involving organisations about opportunities fast enough.
7. Online methods of recruitment and volunteering could complement the needs of future volunteers.
Key Statistics:
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92% of volunteers feel that the organisations they volunteer for provide them with the right opportunities to
match their interests and needs
93% of volunteers saw positive changes as a result of their volunteering
99% of volunteers will continue to volunteer into the future
67% of volunteer involving organisation say that volunteers bring new insights
60% of people improve of their patience skills through volunteering
44% of volunteers have engaged in virtual volunteering in the last 12 months, a trend we expect to increase
In a volunteer involving organisation 57% of the workforce are volunteers
While 86% of volunteer involving organisations say they need more volunteers, they face the following
obstacles:
30% say they were not able to engage the optimal amount because there were not enough suitable candidates
or there was no means of locating them
Internal barriers such as time constraints (12%)
Limitations stemming from an inadequate funding base (12%)
51% of organisations do not have the resources to recruit or engage volunteers with barriers
The biggest barrier to people volunteering into the future is work commitments and out-of-pocket expenses
incurred through volunteering
The most important forms of support for volunteer involving organisations into the future is information and
training around volunteer management, networking with other organisations and the ability to connect with
volunteer management experts
To encourage more informal volunteering opportunities respondents suggest the development of a
technological platform to help people connect
Media Contact: Gemma Rygate, The Centre for Volunteering, 02 9261 3600