Report shows Queensland’s volunteers are worth more than $16 billion a year

Queensland’s army of volunteers have been valued at more than $16 billion annually, according to a new report released today to coincide with International Volunteer Day.

The Minister for Communities Warren Pitt said the report entitled The Economic Value of Volunteering in Queensland only served to reinforce what we already knew – that our volunteers make an enormously valuable contribution.

The report was produced by Associate Professor Dr Duncan Ironmonger from the University of Melbourne and for the first time quantifies the value of formal (organisation) and informal (individual) volunteering contributions to Queensland’s society.

Mr Pitt said the report valued the efforts of volunteering in Queensland in 2004 as more than $16 billion, which equated to an additional 387,000 jobs throughout the state.

“Volunteers make a huge social and economic contribution to Queensland’s economy across all sectors, including sports, health care and the arts,” he said.

“Volunteers enrich this state and assist individuals and community organisations to help build strong, healthy and inclusive communities.

“Calculating the economic value of volunteering highlights the enormous contribution it makes to Queensland communities and encourages more people to become involved.”

Dr Ironmonger is an internationally renowned economist who has successfully undertaken economic analysis of volunteering at a national level for the Victorian and South Australian governments.

“Whether as individuals, groups or companies, a volunteer’s efforts can really make a difference. I want to especially thank each and every volunteer for their contribution to Queensland,” Mr Pitt said.

International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations in 1985 as a day to recognise the efforts of people who freely give their time as volunteers helping others.

Media contact: Joe Begley (for Minister Pitt), (07) 3235 4280 or 0408 701 379

Dr Duncan Ironmonger, (03) 9328 1948 or (03) 8344 2131