Impact of Tasmania’s ageing population revealed

Volunteering Tasmania (VT) today released the State of Volunteering Report Tasmania 2012,
revealing that while volunteer numbers are set to increase over the next 38 years in Tasmania,
volunteers will also age dramatically.

The State of Volunteering Report Tasmania (SOVR 2012) aims to explore the impact that Tasmania’s
ageing population will have on volunteering and offer ways forward for volunteer-involving
organisations (VIOs), business and government.

VT CEO Adrienne Picone said the SOVR 2012 revealed that volunteer numbers were projected to
increase across the State from now until 2050, to sit just below 233,000.

“By 2032, Tasmanian volunteers are projected to age considerably as our Baby Boomer numbers
continue to boom, but Gen Y begins to overtake as a ‘generation’,” Ms Picone said.

“Currently Tasmanians aged 65 and over account for 1 in 5 of the State’s volunteers, but in 20 years
this will increase to 1 in 3 of our volunteers, or one third of Tasmania’s volunteer population.

“Population ageing is an unparalleled global trend in human history and in line with this trend,
Tasmania’s population is ageing at a faster rate than anywhere else in Australia.”

Ms Picone said this unprecedented demographic shift presented both challenges and opportunities
for the volunteer community in Tasmania, and understanding the potential impacts was essential to
respond to, and plan, for the future.

“The SOVR 2012 outlines eight recommendations to future-proof Tasmania’s vital volunteer sector
including the importance of engaging and working with all generations and age groups to ensure a
sustainable and viable volunteer community.

“Volunteer management practices are also key to the report’s recommendation, with a focus on
building an organisation’s capacity to recruit volunteers and provide meaningful roles, as well as
providing professional and effective volunteer management programs.

“The SOVR 2012 is just the beginning of planning ahead for our ageing population volunteerism, with
VT’s focus now turning to the development of a strategy to turn the report’s recommendations into
action.”

For more information and a full copy of the SOVR 2012 visit www.volunteeringtas.org.au.
Volunteering Tasmania