Parliamentary Secretary’s Foreword
Disadvantage, poverty and exclusion divide communities. Volunteering unites us. Voluntary work provides many pathways for us to participate in the social, cultural, civic and economic life of our nation.
Central to the Government’s Social Inclusion agenda is a commitment to sponsor and support voluntary efforts. Part of this commitment involves improving our understanding of the nature and patterns of voluntary work.
This publication contributes significantly to our understanding of volunteerism as it highlights how volunteering has changed over a decade to include opportunities such as corporate volunteering and sharing professional skills.
We believe that active participation in society underpins community well-being and fosters strong, caring, inclusive communities. Volunteers make major economic and social contributions to our society and research indicates that volunteering is good for your health.
We also recognise that voluntary activities are changing. For example, young people are driving many new volunteering initiatives and virtual volunteering allows people to contribute to organisations from their desktop.
This publication is a useful resource for government and for community organisations. It will assist us to find new ways of encouraging and fostering volunteer activity, which plays a vital role in building sustainable, inclusive communities.
Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens
Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector
Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Prime Minister for Social Inclusion