Launch of Youth Volunteer Army

Media release – Volunteering Tasmania, 12 August 2022

Launch of Youth Volunteer Army in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government has provided funding to build a Youth Volunteer Army program in Tasmania ($300,000 over three years). Thanks to this funding, Volunteering Tasmania has partnered with Student Volunteer Army New Zealand (SVA) to trial a youth-based volunteering program to address the declining volunteer rates in Tasmania by celebrating and recognising the volunteering already done by young people and creating a culture of volunteering in the next generation.

The program will be officially launched during National Student Volunteer Week (8-15 August), which acknowledges and celebrates student volunteers. The theme this year is Passion. Opportunity. Change, which explores how students can realise their dreams and effect change across the world…and it all starts with the act of giving their time to a cause they believe in.

The Youth Volunteer Army is designed to recognise the volunteer efforts of young people in Tasmania. The program is available for public school students and young people registered through jobs hubs across the state.

It will recognise and link youth volunteering to skills and experiences that support them to get jobs, build networks and increase civic participation.

“Our youth are incredible volunteers and contributors to our community, and this deserves to be recognised to secure the future of volunteering in Tasmania,” said Volunteering Tasmania chief executive officer Dr Lisa Schimanski.

“We want to recognise this and support even greater involvement and decision-making by young Tasmanians. Through the Youth Volunteer Army, we will support a new generation of volunteers through school-based, community-led volunteering initiatives and recognition of youth volunteering efforts,” she said.

As part of the Youth Volunteer Army program, youth will be able to access the service award app and log their volunteer hours. The app will track their hours and achievements through a CV of volunteering (summary of service) which they can use when applying for scholarships, apprenticeships, and employment.

By volunteering and logging their hours, they add essential skills to their CV, while also building confidence and helping others.

Rosny College is one of the four schools who have signed up to the program, and teacher Mel Sanderson says they their partnership with Volunteering Tasmania has been rewarding.

“Participation in the Youth Volunteer Army has given our students a greater sense of purpose and value in community engagement.

“Students are developing valuable skills through volunteering that can be transferred to the workplace and employment. The whole process has been easy, fun and engaging,” Ms Sanderson said.

Media release – Nic Street, Minister for Disability Services and Community Development, 12 August 2022

Tasmania’s next army of volunteers

Today’s launch of the Youth Volunteer Army program at Rosny College appropriately recognises the vital role volunteers play in our communities.

We join with every Tasmanian in appreciating them and the great work they do as without them, many events, services and supports across the state would not be possible.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is providing $300,000 towards Volunteering Tasmania to establish a Youth Volunteer Army.

This builds on a successful program run in New Zealand and aims to encourage young people to take up volunteering.

Volunteering helps individuals by giving them a sense of achievement, community, and connection.

For young people, volunteer work experience can help them get their first job and people who volunteer when they are young are more likely to volunteer later in life.

Volunteers are an essential part of our community. Around 69 per cent of Tasmanians are volunteers, and the contribution to the state is around $4 billion.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government and Volunteering Tasmania are working together to ensure that volunteers are supported and encouraged.

The Youth Volunteer Project is one way to make that happen as we know that young people aged 15-17 are the most likely of any age group to volunteer.

The Youth Army is a fun way for young people to record volunteer hours and enables young people’s volunteering contributions to be recognised.

The program will run for three years in 30 public schools across Tasmania and three regional employment hubs will be involved in the program.