Today Adrienne Picone, CEO of Peak body Volunteering Tasmania, will present pioneering research to the National Volunteering Conference 2016 in Canberra.
Across 2014 and 2015, two volunteering peak bodies (Volunteering Tasmania and Volunteering Western Australia) conducted ground breaking research; exploring for the first time what the true value of volunteering is.
Volunteering Tasmania paved the way in 2014 with their State of Volunteering Report. The research model in this report utilised a cost benefit analysis (considered best practice by Governments across Australia), to finally arrive at a cost that reflects its social, economic and cultural value.
To better support the volunteering industry, Volunteering Tasmania and Volunteering Western Australia partnered with local researcher Paul Muller of the Institute of Project Management to produce a unique online calculator so that any Volunteer Involving Organisation can estimate the financial impact their volunteer program has on the community.
The results of the value of volunteering research have been astounding – capturing higher than expected levels of volunteering, and measuring a significant economic impact.
Examples include:
4 in 5 individuals in WA and Tasmania volunteer
Volunteering in both jurisdictions is the largest industry by employment
Volunteering is estimated to bring $5 billion dollars to the Tasmanian economy and $39 billion dollars to the Western Australian economy; and
For every dollar invested in volunteering over $4 in benefits are returned to the community
The calculator can be found at www.volunteeeringtas.org.au and is a great resource for both individuals and organisations.
The 16th National Volunteering Conference (6 – 8 April 2016, National Convention Centre Canberra) is the principal Australian forum for not for profit leaders, volunteer managers and policy contributors to come together and build knowledge, innovation, networks and leadership to advance volunteering.
Ms Picone will be presenting in the prestigious company of; Kylee Bates, the World President of the International Association for Volunteer Effort; Lifeline Chair John Brogden OAM; and keynote speakers Tobi Johnson, Robyn Moore, Brendan Nelson, Thomas Nielsen, Jeremy Thorpe, and Volunteering Australia CEO Brett Williamson.
Bonnie Tuttle
