International Volunteer Day – Thursday, 5 December 2013

With Tasmania’s volunteering population set to age dramatically over the next 38 years, the focus of
this year’s International Volunteer Day is firmly placed on the contribution of young volunteers
acting as agents of change in communities.

At just 18 years of age, Sophie Thomson-Webb is a prime example of a committed young volunteer,
contributing her time to many Tasmanian volunteer organisations including the Oaktree Foundation,
Vision Generation and UN Youth Tasmania as well as being a Youth Ambassador for the Inspire
Foundation and a Board member for Volunteering Tasmania.

Volunteering Tasmania (VT) CEO Adrienne Picone said she was inspired by young Tasmanians such as
Sophie, who provides comfort and hope for volunteer youth engagement strategies to future-proof
volunteerism in Tasmania.

“In 2012 we released the State of Volunteering Report Tasmania (SOVR 2012), which explored the
impact that Tasmania’s ageing population will have on volunteering and offered ways forward for
volunteer-involving organisations, business and government,” 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 entire volunteer population.

“The SOVR 2012 outlined eight recommendations to ensure the sustainability of Tasmania’s vital
volunteer sector, including the importance of engaging and working with all generations and age
groups to ensure a viable volunteer community.”

Ms Picone said one year on from the release of the SOVR 2012, VT was now unveiling the SOVR
Annual Report Card to track the progress of the report’s recommendations.

“While the process of creating the SOVR, the research, the conversations with stakeholders, the
recommendations themselves and the subsequent discussions with the community itself have
contributed to change, a range of strategic activities have also been put in place,” she said.

“These include VT’s new workforce development and communities practice group, volunteer
management arrangements with Aged and Community Services Tasmania, a statewide volunteer
management review of Meals on Wheels’ 33 programs, a volunteer management review at Glenview
Nursing Home and a review of VT’s Schools Project.”
VT CEO Adrienne Picone