Volunteering Queensland’s Submission to the 2024 – 2025 State Budget
In the 2024 – 2025 Queensland State Budget, Volunteering Queensland is calling for targeted government investment in and more explicit recognition of the essential role that volunteering plays in maintaining and strengthening the social fabric of our state.
We are encouraging government to actively explore opportunities across all departments and portfolios to better leverage the far-reaching benefits that volunteering brings to Queensland’s economy, communities and lifestyle. Our aim is to ensure maximum social and economic value is gained from small amounts of extra, well-targeted investments that support, encourage, and expand volunteering.
Recommendations
- The creation of a Minister for Volunteering as a discrete ministerial portfolio, with resources dedicated to the implementation of the government’s Queensland Volunteering Strategy.
- Recognition of the need to energise and strengthen youth volunteering, including funding a dedicated Youth Volunteering Engagement Officer position.
- Measures to address findings identified in the upcoming State of Volunteering in Queensland 2024 Report.
- Provide a cost-of-volunteering reimbursement fund for volunteers.
- Strengthen the positive community outcomes delivered by the Emergency Volunteering Community Response to Extreme Weather (EV CREW) and the Care Army programs, which play a crucial role in assisting people cope with and recover from a time of crisis.