Future snapshot highlights need for volunteering action plan

Research showing a future snapshot of the State’s volunteering population
will dominate discussion at today’s launch of National Volunteer Week 2012.

With the 2010 inaugural State of Volunteering Report highlighting a lack of
awareness as the main obstacle in preventing volunteering rates from
increasing, Volunteering Tasmania CEO Adrienne Picone said that
communication was vital to putting volunteering back on the agenda.

“Volunteering is the lifeblood of our communities,” Ms Picone said.

“Our research shows that many people just simply don’t know how or where
to volunteer their time.

“We think we can increase these rates significantly, by better communicating
the need for volunteers.”

Ms Picone admitted that the increasingly time-poor nature of many people
meant that finding time to volunteer had become more difficult, however, she
urged Tasmanians to donate whatever time they could.

“Everyone has the capacity to volunteer at some stage of their lives and we
currently have a number of positions available for volunteers statewide on our
website,” Ms Picone said.

“Volunteering doesn’t have to be a once a week commitment, there are many
flexible options open to people who want to donate their time to a worthy and
emotionally rewarding cause.

“We strongly encourage anyone out there who may be thinking of
volunteering to get in touch with an organisation in their area and make a
contribution to their local community.”

Recent research conducted by leading demographer Professor Natalie
Jackson has found that by 2032:

• Tasmania’s volunteer numbers are predicted to increase dramatically,
as the population rises
• Tasmania’s rate of volunteering will drop slightly
• Our volunteers will be ageing, as our Baby Boomers incease in
numbers, particularly in the State’s North-West
• Gen Ys will overtake Baby Boomers as the dominant volunteering
generation, particularly in Tasmania’s greater Hobart and southern
region
• Tasmania’s north will see the highest percentage of Gen Xs
volunteering.

National Volunteer Week (NVW), which runs from the 14-20 of May, is the
largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia, providing an
opportunity to highlight the role of volunteers in our communities and to say
thank you to the more than six million Australians who currently volunteer their
time.
Vounteering Tasmania