Let's face it, volunteering is one of the most fulfilling things we can do in our lifetime. It gives us a humbling opportunity to give back, learn new skills and make friends along the way.

However, there's a major looming problem threatening our opportunity to volunteer as the government cuts more than half of its Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) across the country.

Under the current government, a shocking number of volunteer centres have been set to close, leaving thousands of Australians in the lurch.

In an effort to keep a total of 45 centres open, the National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres (NNVR) pleaded for funding of $3.4 million.

However, the group was denied funding by the government.

Charities and other non-profit organisations can find volunteers with the aid of volunteer resource centres. Credit: ABC South East SA: Laura Mayers.

The NNVR's spokesperson, Brad Cooper, said: 'Across Australia, funding would recruit more than 35,000 volunteers.'

'Over 10 years this would be more than 300,000 volunteers.'

'In the midst of flooding across most of the eastern states, we see all the cries from the politicians in recognising the value and contribution of volunteers.'

'It is growing a bit old this lip service. We are getting a bit tired of it.'

According to Mr Cooper, a funding model put in place by the previous government would change some components of it to provide volunteer centres access to some additional funding, but it would only represent about 20% of what was needed.

'We anticipate the bulk of the 27 centres will disappear in terms of providing volunteering support by the end of the financial year,' he said.

'On average, a volunteer resource centre will support at least 1,400 people to volunteer in their region.'

'The flow-on effect of that is there will be some cost-shifting exercises where we will see local councils have to pick up some of those responsibilities.'

Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) encourage volunteers who devote their time and abilities to serving others in their community by offering them vital resources, training, and support. Credit: ABC Gold Coast/Candice Marshall.

A statement from the NNVR confirmed that it had received funding for 61 of its centres.

The group said: 'The National Network appreciates the assistance provided to support services in Centrelink agencies and capital works projects, however, these funds are targeted and do not fully meet the need to continue running an effective, regular volunteering program'

'After exploring a number of options, including scaling back the number of centres operating with volunteers, they have proposed a base funding model to continue offering the services across Australia.'

It was also disclosed that the NNVR would continuously lobby the government for funding.

Aside from reducing the number of centres that are full of volunteers, centres are also considering ‘providing centres with reduced running hours or bases closing their registration and capability to host events, staff and volunteers to continue connecting Australians with local opportunities to be part of their community’.

This move comes as the federal government has been scrutinised for cutting funding to organisations such as community services, refugee aid, and arts centres during the announcement of the latest federal budget.

Key Takeaways

• Volunteer resource centres (VRCs) provide an invaluable service to the community by connecting volunteers with local organisations that need their help.
• Unfortunately, due to a lack of government funding, many VRCs are set to close or reduce their services in the near future.
• This could have a flow-on effect of placing additional burdens on local councils who may need to pick up the slack.
• The National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres is continuing to lobby the government for funding in order to keep these vital services running.

For those of you who are curious why volunteer centres need funding when they run on people who are willing to lend their services free of charge in the first place, the short explanation is that Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) provide valuable resources, training and support for community volunteers. Only some volunteers are knowledgeable about the tasks or the workflow of public offices prior to volunteering.

So, VRCs support volunteers who give their time and skills to help people in their community.

But as VRCs cannot charge for their services due to their charitable status, they will struggle to maintain their services if the government or donors do not fund them.

SDC member @Ezzy also gave an insight into the role of the volunteer centres:

'Not many charities or Senior's Service for example can operate without volunteers. The City of Gosnells in W.A. recently pulled the pin on Meals-on-Wheels more than 12 months ahead of a withdrawal of funds for this service.'

@Ezzy continued: 'Meals were delivered by volunteers from an Over 55's Centre. The result was the sacking of two staff members at the centre including one in the kitchen and volunteers who had given years of service to this service because they loved doing it, for nothing.'

'The biggest losers are the pensioners who needed to find an alternate service for their meals and the pensioners who dined at the centre for lunch daily for a small cost. Most of those people live alone and for them, it was not the meal they came for but the fellowship.'

More information on how volunteer centres support volunteers can be viewed in this video (Note: While this video talks about sending Aussies who want to volunteer overseas, a similar formula is followed for volunteers within Australia):

Credit: YouTube/Australian Volunteers Program​

As pointed out by member @Ezzy, one of the demographics that is going to be impacted the most by the closing of volunteer centres is pensioners. So, we want to hear your thoughts, do you think the federal government should provide assistance to keep these centres afloat? Have you ever relied upon or volunteered at a centre yourself? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

 

[Ezzy]

Let's face it, volunteering is one of the most fulfilling things we can do in our lifetime. It gives us a humbling opportunity to give back, learn new skills and make friends along the way.

However, there's a major looming problem threatening our opportunity to volunteer as the government cuts more than half of its Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) across the country.

Under the current government, a shocking number of volunteer centres have been set to close, leaving thousands of Australians in the lurch.

In an effort to keep a total of 45 centres open, the National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres (NNVR) pleaded for funding of $3.4 million.

However, the group was denied funding by the government.

Charities and other non-profit organisations can find volunteers with the aid of volunteer resource centres. Credit: ABC South East SA: Laura Mayers.

The NNVR's spokesperson, Brad Cooper, said: 'Across Australia, funding would recruit more than 35,000 volunteers.'

'Over 10 years this would be more than 300,000 volunteers.'

'In the midst of flooding across most of the eastern states, we see all the cries from the politicians in recognising the value and contribution of volunteers.'

'It is growing a bit old this lip service. We are getting a bit tired of it.'

According to Mr Cooper, a funding model put in place by the previous government would change some components of it to provide volunteer centres access to some additional funding, but it would only represent about 20% of what was needed.

'We anticipate the bulk of the 27 centres will disappear in terms of providing volunteering support by the end of the financial year,' he said.

'On average, a volunteer resource centre will support at least 1,400 people to volunteer in their region.'

'The flow-on effect of that is there will be some cost-shifting exercises where we will see local councils have to pick up some of those responsibilities.'

Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) encourage volunteers who devote their time and abilities to serving others in their community by offering them vital resources, training, and support. Credit: ABC Gold Coast/Candice Marshall.

A statement from the NNVR confirmed that it had received funding for 61 of its centres.

The group said: 'The National Network appreciates the assistance provided to support services in Centrelink agencies and capital works projects, however, these funds are targeted and do not fully meet the need to continue running an effective, regular volunteering program'

'After exploring a number of options, including scaling back the number of centres operating with volunteers, they have proposed a base funding model to continue offering the services across Australia.'

It was also disclosed that the NNVR would continuously lobby the government for funding.

Aside from reducing the number of centres that are full of volunteers, centres are also considering ‘providing centres with reduced running hours or bases closing their registration and capability to host events, staff and volunteers to continue connecting Australians with local opportunities to be part of their community’.

This move comes as the federal government has been scrutinised for cutting funding to organisations such as community services, refugee aid, and arts centres during the announcement of the latest federal budget.

Key Takeaways

• Volunteer resource centres (VRCs) provide an invaluable service to the community by connecting volunteers with local organisations that need their help.
• Unfortunately, due to a lack of government funding, many VRCs are set to close or reduce their services in the near future.
• This could have a flow-on effect of placing additional burdens on local councils who may need to pick up the slack.
• The National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres is continuing to lobby the government for funding in order to keep these vital services running.

For those of you who are curious why volunteer centres need funding when they run on people who are willing to lend their services free of charge in the first place, the short explanation is that Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) provide valuable resources, training and support for community volunteers. Only some volunteers are knowledgeable about the tasks or the workflow of public offices prior to volunteering.

So, VRCs support volunteers who give their time and skills to help people in their community.

But as VRCs cannot charge for their services due to their charitable status, they will struggle to maintain their services if the government or donors do not fund them.

SDC member @Ezzy also gave an insight into the role of the volunteer centres:

'Not many charities or Senior's Service for example can operate without volunteers. The City of Gosnells in W.A. recently pulled the pin on Meals-on-Wheels more than 12 months ahead of a withdrawal of funds for this service.'

@Ezzy continued: 'Meals were delivered by volunteers from an Over 55's Centre. The result was the sacking of two staff members at the centre including one in the kitchen and volunteers who had given years of service to this service because they loved doing it, for nothing.'

'The biggest losers are the pensioners who needed to find an alternate service for their meals and the pensioners who dined at the centre for lunch daily for a small cost. Most of those people live alone and for them, it was not the meal they came for but the fellowship.'

More information on how volunteer centres support volunteers can be viewed in this video (Note: While this video talks about sending Aussies who want to volunteer overseas, a similar formula is followed for volunteers within Australia):

Credit: YouTube/Australian Volunteers Program​

As pointed out by member @Ezzy, one of the demographics that is going to be impacted the most by the closing of volunteer centres is pensioners. So, we want to hear your thoughts, do you think the federal government should provide assistance to keep these centres afloat? Have you ever relied upon or volunteered at a centre yourself? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

I volunteered at the said Over 55's Centre for nearly 5 years doing such tasks as setting out chairs etc for the singing group which meets weekly, making props for special lunches, building Table Tennis tables for that group & numerous other miscellaneous tasks. A withdrawal of funds for meals on wheels has seen an otherwise lively centre dull almost to a hush. Efforts to get new groups going via "Expressions of Interest" haven't bought a big response.

Up to approx. 3 years ago the City of Gosnells allowed pensioners within the City to use their Free Travel Voucher to go on a trip of 5 days duration to one of 3 country towns via a ballot system. Participants only needed to pay for meals & accommodation. 2 Staff Members from the centre were needed to accompany the group at all times & the same people applied each year, was the reason given for their cessation. These were started to allow pensioners to use their Travel Vouchers, which they would possibly not otherwise do. Volunteers could have been used to accompany & assist staff but were not.
These holidays included activities & sightseeing & were always enjoyable. I even left hospital 12 hours early after treatment for Ecoli so l could join a tour I'd paid for.

The State &/ or Federal Government need to make more funds available to volunteer groups & even more funds to Pensioner groups to allow these people an opportunity to do what they enjoy doing. For several years l volunteered for a Salvo Telephone Care Line Service in Perth & loved this. No person ever claimed a train fare to the centre they were entitled to but no because we enjoyed giving back to the community.

Covid has had such an aweful impact on Volunteer & Pensioner Groups. Many pensioners have isolated themselves at home for so long they are giving up when they get ill. Many times l have heard stories of the elderly saying, "I've had enough, just let me die". Loneliness has caused much of this. What is needed are volunteers from a group who will regularly visit these folk, occasionally take them out & break their monotony. Those volunteer groups need funds to accomplish this & the Government should be making these funds available.

It is o.k. for the Federal Government to say we need to send millions of $'s overseas to assist different needy groups but,
l BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE GETTING THEIR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST!!!!!

 

[Ricci]

Unfortunately the size of the pot is limited. The only way to achieve more output is to first get more input and that means higher taxes. So many worthy causes, not to mention the unemployed and seniors have their hands out for more (and I don't blame them) but where is this extra to come from? The gap between the haves and the have nots is getting wider and the have nots will soon have nothing if nothing is done, Hospitals, Nurses, Teachers etc. etc. the list goes on and on. They could start with shelving the stage three tax cuts, that might help, but really it's a drop in the ocean. Australia needs a massive injection of capital.

 

[Luckyus]

Let's face it, volunteering is one of the most fulfilling things we can do in our lifetime. It gives us a humbling opportunity to give back, learn new skills and make friends along the way.

However, there's a major looming problem threatening our opportunity to volunteer as the government cuts more than half of its Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) across the country.

Under the current government, a shocking number of volunteer centres have been set to close, leaving thousands of Australians in the lurch.

In an effort to keep a total of 45 centres open, the National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres (NNVR) pleaded for funding of $3.4 million.

However, the group was denied funding by the government.

Charities and other non-profit organisations can find volunteers with the aid of volunteer resource centres. Credit: ABC South East SA: Laura Mayers.

The NNVR's spokesperson, Brad Cooper, said: 'Across Australia, funding would recruit more than 35,000 volunteers.'

'Over 10 years this would be more than 300,000 volunteers.'

'In the midst of flooding across most of the eastern states, we see all the cries from the politicians in recognising the value and contribution of volunteers.'

'It is growing a bit old this lip service. We are getting a bit tired of it.'

According to Mr Cooper, a funding model put in place by the previous government would change some components of it to provide volunteer centres access to some additional funding, but it would only represent about 20% of what was needed.

'We anticipate the bulk of the 27 centres will disappear in terms of providing volunteering support by the end of the financial year,' he said.

'On average, a volunteer resource centre will support at least 1,400 people to volunteer in their region.'

'The flow-on effect of that is there will be some cost-shifting exercises where we will see local councils have to pick up some of those responsibilities.'

Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) encourage volunteers who devote their time and abilities to serving others in their community by offering them vital resources, training, and support. Credit: ABC Gold Coast/Candice Marshall.

A statement from the NNVR confirmed that it had received funding for 61 of its centres.

The group said: 'The National Network appreciates the assistance provided to support services in Centrelink agencies and capital works projects, however, these funds are targeted and do not fully meet the need to continue running an effective, regular volunteering program'

'After exploring a number of options, including scaling back the number of centres operating with volunteers, they have proposed a base funding model to continue offering the services across Australia.'

It was also disclosed that the NNVR would continuously lobby the government for funding.

Aside from reducing the number of centres that are full of volunteers, centres are also considering ‘providing centres with reduced running hours or bases closing their registration and capability to host events, staff and volunteers to continue connecting Australians with local opportunities to be part of their community’.

This move comes as the federal government has been scrutinised for cutting funding to organisations such as community services, refugee aid, and arts centres during the announcement of the latest federal budget.

Key Takeaways

• Volunteer resource centres (VRCs) provide an invaluable service to the community by connecting volunteers with local organisations that need their help.
• Unfortunately, due to a lack of government funding, many VRCs are set to close or reduce their services in the near future.
• This could have a flow-on effect of placing additional burdens on local councils who may need to pick up the slack.
• The National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres is continuing to lobby the government for funding in order to keep these vital services running.

For those of you who are curious why volunteer centres need funding when they run on people who are willing to lend their services free of charge in the first place, the short explanation is that Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) provide valuable resources, training and support for community volunteers. Only some volunteers are knowledgeable about the tasks or the workflow of public offices prior to volunteering.

So, VRCs support volunteers who give their time and skills to help people in their community.

But as VRCs cannot charge for their services due to their charitable status, they will struggle to maintain their services if the government or donors do not fund them.

SDC member @Ezzy also gave an insight into the role of the volunteer centres:

'Not many charities or Senior's Service for example can operate without volunteers. The City of Gosnells in W.A. recently pulled the pin on Meals-on-Wheels more than 12 months ahead of a withdrawal of funds for this service.'

@Ezzy continued: 'Meals were delivered by volunteers from an Over 55's Centre. The result was the sacking of two staff members at the centre including one in the kitchen and volunteers who had given years of service to this service because they loved doing it, for nothing.'

'The biggest losers are the pensioners who needed to find an alternate service for their meals and the pensioners who dined at the centre for lunch daily for a small cost. Most of those people live alone and for them, it was not the meal they came for but the fellowship.'

More information on how volunteer centres support volunteers can be viewed in this video (Note: While this video talks about sending Aussies who want to volunteer overseas, a similar formula is followed for volunteers within Australia):

Credit: YouTube/Australian Volunteers Program​

As pointed out by member @Ezzy, one of the demographics that is going to be impacted the most by the closing of volunteer centres is pensioners. So, we want to hear your thoughts, do you think the federal government should provide assistance to keep these centres afloat? Have you ever relied upon or volunteered at a centre yourself? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

These arsehole political parties forget that the average person doesn't have the resources they the politicians have. Although the then Labour party bought in the superannuation scheme most of the current pensioners didn't have the length of time ti build decent nest eggs to offset the measly pension. They also forget that in less than three years hence there will be a Federal election and . we grey haired warriors have long memories. hey lost all credibility when they dropped the U from their party,

 

[Ezzy]

Unfortunately the size of the pot is limited. The only way to achieve more output is to first get more input and that means higher taxes. So many worthy causes, not to mention the unemployed and seniors have their hands out for more (and I don't blame them) but where is this extra to come from? The gap between the haves and the have nots is getting wider and the have nots will soon have nothing if nothing is done, Hospitals, Nurses, Teachers etc. etc. the list goes on and on. They could start with shelving the stage three tax cuts, that might help, but really it's a drop in the ocean. Australia needs a massive injection of capital.

I concur with what you have stated Ricci. Our necessary services do need an injection to operate properly & unless retirees were able to tuck a bundle away when they were working, they would have to be amongst the have nots, as we have regularly witnessed on this site.

Sad to say but the Federal Government could start by limiting the millions of Taxpayer's dollars sent overseas in the name of humanitarian aid. Why is it, it seems, most financial aid comes from Australia & in such large amounts. Growing up, the words which kept ringing in my ears were, "Charity begins at home". These are hard times for the world. Which other country donates to these causes at any time & in such large amounts? One country which come to mind is the USA.