Media release
Thursday 18 December 2025
A 10-year volunteering plan to embed and grow critical volunteering infrastructure sits at the heart of the Queensland Government’s response to the Inquiry into Volunteering Report, tabled today.
Volunteering Queensland welcomes the Government’s long-term commitment to a state-wide response, including exploring a regional hub model and the establishment of a Ministerial Sector Advisory Panel and whole-of-government Volunteering Working Group. These measures set a strategic vision to support volunteering beyond the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and into the next generation.
“This plan will ensure that our sector has what it needs in place for the next 10-20 years and that we are strengthening the volunteering spirit in our DNA,” says Volunteering Queensland CEO Jane Hedger.
The depth of the response, including 18 practical initiatives, offers reassurance and recognises just how critical volunteers are to keeping Queensland communities functioning and connected. The response also provides some temporary funding support to four regional volunteer resource organisations whilst a broader regional hubs model is explored.
“These initiatives will help us to work through the existing barriers to volunteering and find new ways of responding to changing community needs. They also help to ensure that everyone has a say in shaping the future of volunteering in our state.”
Ms Hedger also welcomed the stronger focus on volunteering across government, highlighting the opportunities it presents to achieve better outcomes, improve reporting, and create more consistent volunteer experiences.
“We recognise the many volunteers who volunteer within the government and the valuable work they do. The initiatives here have the potential to improve the coordination and resourcing of these groups.”
The commitment outlined in the response provides a foundation to build volunteering infrastructure across Queensland, ensuring every community can be reached and supported as the sector evolves.
“The world is changing, volunteer availability is changing, and organisations need to change to keep up,” Ms Hedger says.
However, Ms Hedger notes that once the 10 year plan has been developed, the challenge for the Government and the sector, will be securing sustainable funding to make the plan happen.
“Volunteering needs better systems and supports if it is to survive. Governments, communities and businesses will need to work together to ensure volunteering continues,” Ms Hedger says.
Volunteering Queensland looks forward to working with Minister Leahy, the Government and the broader sector to ensure the infrastructure and investment needed to support, grow and sustain volunteering over the long term is delivered.
“We thank the Minister for her vision and dedication in making the Inquiry and this response happen.”