Volunteering Queensland attended a Building Community town hall hosted by Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Charities. This event saw dozens of volunteer involving organisations coming together to hear from the Assistant Minister and speak about the challenges they experience. With fewer people reporting that they volunteer through organisations, this was a great opportunity to raise concerns and ask questions on behalf of Queensland’s volunteer sector.
The Australian Government have discussed adding measurements of wellbeing to the federal budget. Volunteering Queensland took the opportunity to speak with Dr Leigh to advocate for volunteering to be included as a measurement of community wellbeing. Volunteering makes for stronger, more resilient, more vibrant communities and it is a powerful indicator of local connections. Also, this measurement would highlight the benefits for the volunteer in their mental and physical health.
Volunteering Queensland continue to work with Volunteering Australia and other peak bodies to have the wellbeing benefits of volunteering recognised in the budget.