Focus on the future for volunteers in Queensland

The changing face of volunteering across Queensland will be under the spotlight this week as part of celebrations for National Volunteer Week.

Communities Minister Warren Pitt will address a breakfast forum in Brisbane tomorrow to discuss some of the challenges facing volunteer organisations across the state.

“Volunteers of the 21st century have different expectations and requirements to the volunteers of the past who helped to shape this great state,” Mr Pitt said.

“Volunteers in the over-65-years group continue to donate a greater amount of time than their younger counterparts, and we need to enlist support from a new breed of volunteers such as baby boomers and younger people.

“The challenge we face is in changing the way we recruit and recognise the efforts of volunteers, if we are to maintain pace with the demand for volunteer activity.”

Mr Pitt said a report produced recently by Associate Professor Duncan Ironmonger from the University of Melbourne, had quantified the value of volunteering to Queensland.

“The Ironmonger report indicates the total value of volunteering continues to grow, increasing from almost $10 billion in 2000 to more than $16 billion in 2004. This figure represents an additional 11.2 per cent of Queensland’s Gross State Product, or an equivalent of an additional 387,000 paid jobs,” he said.

Mr Pitt said the Queensland Government acknowledged the valuable contribution provided by volunteers and was a strong supporter of Volunteering Queensland, the peak body of volunteer organisations across the state.

“During National Volunteer Week, I urge all Queenslanders to consider the benefits and rewards of being a volunteer. Not only do volunteers find their work enormously rewarding, there are also well-known health and wellbeing benefits.”

National Volunteer Week is being held from 14 - 20 May under the theme, See the change … Volunteering.

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280