Governments should thoroughly review the current levels of support for volunteering because the multi-billion contribution the sector makes to Australia’s economic and social life cannot be taken for granted, according to the chief executive of Volunteering SA-NT, Evelyn O’Loughlin.

In the wake of celebrating National Volunteers Week, O’Loughlin said a 75 per cent cut in federal funding this year has created gaps in the volunteering infrastructure in South Australia that is compromising the ability for potential new volunteers to become involved.

O’Loughlin said there was also questioning in Canberra of whether the Federal Government – which has historically funded the sector – or state governments, are primary responsible for supporting volunteering.

“So in the meantime the volunteering infrastructure just limps along without adequate review and investment,” O’Loughlin told Business Insight.

“There are parts of South Australia that are not supported at all to grow volunteering, to support the volunteers that already exist and the not-for-profits that rely on volunteers,” she said.

“We really should urgently review what is needed to keep this great asset which makes Australia the great place that it is – that sense of mateship, that camaraderie and giving that we have.

“We can’t take it for granted.”

O’Loughlin said the unpaid work of volunteers, and the products and services provided by the sector, represented a $5 billion contribution annually to the State’s economy and a $290 billion injection nationwide.

Volunteering SA-NT’s annual funding from Canberra was cut from $250,000 to $64,000 earlier this year.

“As we stand at the moment Volunteering SA-NT has lost 75 per cent of its funding for Adelaide which makes a huge difference not just for our organisation,” O’Loughlin said.

“When it translates into reality, it means there are about 40 suburbs in Adelaide that aren’t covered by any volunteering support at all, which hampers those organisations that are looking for volunteers and hampering those people who want to offer their time and services,” she said.

“So the Federal Government has a lot to do to restore faith in South Australia about its commitment to funding volunteering infrastructure.”

O’Loughlin reflected on the current state of volunteering as the Volunteering Strategy for South Australia 2014-2020 passed its first annual milestone.

A collaboration of Volunteering SA-NT, State Government, Local Government Association and Business SA, the strategy’s objective is to “provide a practical blueprint for action over the next six years which will result in real and lasting improvements to the volunteer experience for South Australians”.

The strategy has four pillars which aim to:

• Ensure volunteers are welcomed and valued by society and given the opportunity to develop
• Raise the profile of volunteering in South Australia
• Support an active infrastructure that is essential to inclusive and sustained volunteer involvement, and
• Ensure the impact of volunteering, organisations and communities is measured consistently with the aim of continuous improvement and advocacy.

Outcomes and results after the first year included:

• a survey of 330 associations to establish how volunteering is supported in the not-for-profit sector,
• development of a communications strategy to raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering,
• publication of a discussion paper dealing with criminal history checks, and
• development of a pilot scheme for a time exchange program.

Business SA director of policy and Volunteering Strategy board member Rick Cairney said the strategy was an opportunity for Business SA to play a role in ensuring that small businesses and the organisations that they support achieve the most effective outcomes.

“The business sector already makes a major contribution to the community through staff volunteering and in-kind contributions,” Cairney said.

“However, it is important to closely align the aspirations of employees wanting to volunteer with the needs of community organisations and the practical implications for the small businesses that allow their staff to take time off,” he said.

“This very positive collaboration of all stakeholders in the sector through the volunteering strategy will mean that we will get the best possible results for all concerned.”

O’Loughlin said the collaboration with Business SA was “the best in Australia and, I would venture to say, anywhere in the world”.

“To have an opportunity to understand the motivations of business, to get business to gain a better understanding of what volunteering entails, and to bridge some of those communication and practical gaps, I think is priceless,” O’Loughlin said.