A National Voice For Volunteers

There is currently circulating an invitation ‘from volunteers for volunteers’ to join an incorporated association, recently formed in Adelaide, called ‘The Voice of Australia’s Volunteers’. The aim is to give voice to Australia’s 6.4 million volunteers and 665,00 voluntary community groups.

Voiceless Volunteers – Governments Consult With 5%

Of our community organisations and not-for-profits about 35,000 employ one or more staff. The other 665,000 do not employ staff and rely solely on voluntary resources in serving their communities and generating social capital and belonging.

BUT…

When governments consult with community organisations, they talk to the 5% of organisations with paid staff and service delivery contracts…what about the other 95%?

When governments consider volunteering, it seems they talk to organisations that use volunteers, not to volunteers themselves, so many volunteers and voluntary community organisations are unrepresented and without a voice in the public arena.

Three Categories Of Membership

To belong and have a voice you can join up in one of three categories:
1. Individuals who volunteer, without payment, for the betterment of Australian society – annual membership fee: $5.00

2. Volunteer-driven not-for-profit organizations which contribute to the betterment of Australian society – annual membership fees: $25 (annual revenue < $50,000); $200 (annual revenue $50,000 - $500,000); $500 (annual revenue > $500,000)

3. Circles of any nine volunteers who decide to form a circle and register it with the association – annual membership fee: $18 for each group of 9 members.

You can access more info here and the registration form here.

Informed decisionmaking has to be better..