Skye Kakoschke-Moore (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) volunteering is a core part of our community,

  (ii) 5.8 million Australians over the age of 15 formally volunteered in 2014 with many more people volunteering informally,

  (iii) according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there has been a decline in formal volunteering activities over the past five years – this decline comes at a cost to community wellbeing,

  (iv) in South Australia, the state government, Business SA, the Local Government Association of South Australia and the peak body Volunteering SA&NT collaborated to develop a state-wide strategy which is providing a coordinated approach to addressing the diverse needs of volunteers and their communities, and

  (v) given the tremendous benefits of volunteering, a national, sector-driven volunteering strategy would help increase participation, create new opportunities and ensure volunteering remains vibrant and strong; and

(b) calls on the Government to follow South Australia's lead and partner with the volunteering sector to develop a national volunteering strategy.

Question agreed to.