As we move into a new year, our focus is on advocating for our 2025-26 Budget Priority Submission.  The Tasmanian community, government and economy benefits immensely from a strong volunteering culture. It is an integral part of the Tasmanian way of life. This is evidenced by volunteering being Tasmania’s largest industry in terms of economic, social and community benefit, driven by the largest cross-sector workforce in the state. 

The volunteering industry is faced with growing challenges such as increased financial and administrative burdens and expanded regulatory requirements and responsibilities.  This has resulted in a decline in formal volunteering which presents a risk to both community wellbeing and the economy.

Further investment is needed to sustain formal volunteering and curb its decline. Read our 2025-26 Budget Priority Submission here. 

We are excited to be involved in the development of Tasmania’s first Volunteering Strategy and Action Plan. This work is being led by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC) and has now commenced.  This Strategy and Action Plan is a critical cross-portfolio piece of policy and will outline strategic actions needed to sustain and strengthen volunteering in Tasmania. It is essential that stakeholders such as volunteer-involving organisations and volunteers engage in consultation opportunities to help inform the Strategy and Action Plan to ensure it is relevant and targeted.  Please see further information below. 

The team at Volunteering Tasmania were deeply saddened recently to hear about the passing of Allana Wilson, after her battle with Motor Neurone Disease.  Allana won all our hearts during the Tasmanian Volunteering Awards 2024 where she humbly accepted the Lifetime Commitment Award and the Premier’s Volunteer of the Year Award.  For thirty years, Allana dedicated thousands of hours to Make-A-Wish Hobart, bringing hope, strength, joy and magic into the lives of children diagnosed with a critical illness. During her time with Make-A-Wish, Allana facilitated over two hundred wishes and was instrumental in fundraising three hundred thousand dollars for the Foundation. We are sure that Allana’s legacy will live on and continue to inspire others. Our thoughts are with her family and fellow volunteers.  
 

Mel Blake
Chief Executive Officer, Volunteering Tasmania

Advocating for the volunteering sector in Tasmania

In December, Volunteering Tasmania submitted our 2025-26 Budget Priority Submission to the Tasmanian Government. Our asks within this submission are:

• Reduce the financial barriers of Volunteering: Remove the cost of Working with Vulnerable People registration for volunteers.
• Industry Leadership and Sustainability: Preliminary activities to progress the Tasmanian Volunteering Strategy and Action Plan. 
• Workforce Growth and Development: Child and Youth Safe Volunteering Education Program.
• Supporting accessible formal volunteering opportunities: Expansion of the Volunteer Connect Service.
• Continue and boost: Emergency Volunteering - Community Response to Extreme Weather (EV CREW).

These asks have been informed by and centred around the needs of the volunteering industry - shaped by our members, partners and stakeholders who continue to share their experiences with us.

We'll be continuing to advocate for these identified needs, leading up to the state budget hand down in May. If you have feedback or comments around these issues or any others, please reach out to us by clicking below.

Work begins on Tasmania’s first Volunteering Strategy 

Following Volunteering Tasmania’s advocacy, the Tasmanian State Government committed funding in the 2024-25 budget to develop the State’s first Volunteering Strategy and Action Plan.  

Development of the Strategy will be informed by an evidence-based approach to understand the changing and complex needs within the volunteering industry and provide realistic and sustainable solutions to strengthen volunteering in Tasmania.  Volunteering Tasmania will play an integral role in representing and supporting the volunteering industry to engage in the development of this Strategy and Action Plan.  There will be a broad range of engagement opportunities for stakeholders as part of the Strategy development. Volunteering Tasmania will provide full details on how, where and when to get involved in the near future. In the meantime, here are some dates to pop in your calendar!

• North West Forum (in person, Ulverstone), Tuesday 25 February, 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Northern Forum (in person, Launceston), Thursday 27 February, 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Southern Forum (in person, Hobart), Tuesday 4 March, 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Online Forum, Thursday 6 March, 1-3pm

Rest assured; we won’t be starting from scratch!  We have a wealth of information to draw on including previous consultation data, research reports and community volunteering strategies developed through our Safeguarding Volunteering Project 2021-2024.  We will also ensure alignment with the National Strategy for Volunteering. 

We look forward to working with you on this important opportunity to sustain and strengthen volunteering across Tasmania.  

'Volunteer Coordinator' recognised as an official occupation

In case you missed it in our December issue, we’re thrilled to share that 'Volunteer Coordinator' has been included in the first edition of the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), following a review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations.

This change means Volunteer Coordinators are counted in the data used by governments, industry, and businesses to inform our education and training pathways, policy frameworks, and workforce strategies. This can enable better support for Volunteer Coordinators, which means better outcomes for volunteers and communities across Australia.

It is testament to our collective advocacy with the national, state and territory Volunteering Peak Bodies that, for the first time, there has been an occupation included for Volunteer Coordinators, Managers, and Leaders.

Leading and managing volunteers is more than just administration; it requires time, talent, and skill. Recognising the importance of volunteer management is a strategic objective in the National Strategy for Volunteering and being included in OSCA will give better visibility to this critical role.

Let’s Talk Anti-Discrimination and Inclusion  

Wednesday 19th March 2025, 10.30am-12pm (online) 

We'd love you to join us for a conversation about anti-discrimination and inclusion in volunteering during Harmony Week.  This free workshop will be delivered in partnership with the Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner.   

During this session you'll discover information about your rights and responsibilities under Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Law and the Commissioner's role, purpose, and function.  We'll also provide an overview of the work Volunteering Tasmania are doing to support volunteer-involving organisations to be more inclusive and accessible.   

We encourage your questions and active participation as we discuss the challenges facing volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations, as well as ways we can successfully overcome these challenges. 

Top Legal Issues in Managing Volunteers 

Tuesday 8th April 2025, 10am-1pm (online) 

Registrations are now open for this special offering delivered by Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law program and tailored for volunteer-involving organisations. Places are limited, and ticket fees apply (reduced fee for VT members). 

This is an interactive and practical session which will include discussion on: 

• Defining the volunteer relationship 
• Equal opportunity in volunteer recruitment 
• The ‘duty of care’ your organisation owes its volunteers 
• Work, health, and safety duties 
• Child safety requirements 
• Legal responsibility for the actions of volunteers 
• Risk management processes 
• Reviewing or ending the volunteer relationship 

Information session – National Standards for Volunteer Involvement Tool 

Thursday 13 March 2025 10.00-10.30am (online) 

Join us for an introduction to how this new online tool can help your organisation track its progress against the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement. We’ll show you how you can use the tool to: 

• Self-assess your organisation’s performance against individuals Standards, 
• Identify and action areas for improvement, and 
• Access resources to assist you in meeting the standard.  

Once your organisation has been through the self-assessment process, you may decide to continue to formal accreditation against the Standards– we’ll show you how to do this using the tool.     

If you would like further information, click here to watch a short overview of the tool. You can also submit an expression of interest to access it. If approved, you will have complimentary access through to May 2025 and potentially beyond.  

Empower and lead: Continuous Learning for Volunteer Managers

Are you a volunteer manager or coordinator?
It’s time to take your next professional step!

Volunteering Tasmania’s CPD Program for Professional Leaders of Volunteers is designed to enhance your knowledge and to uphold the highest standards of professional practice in volunteer management. By participating, you will gain access to resources, events, and a learning and sharing environment with a supportive community of like-minded practitioners. This is a 12-month program, commencing at registration date.

The CPD program formally recognises the work you are doing to raise the standards of volunteer leadership in your organisation and across our state. On successful completion of the program, you will gain Professional Leaders of Volunteers (PLV) status for 12 months.

This program is exclusive to members of Volunteering Tasmania. Each organisational member of VT receives two placements in the program per financial year. Additional organisational or individual memberships placements can be secured for a $50 (ex GST) fee per person.

Register now to embark on this journey. For any enquiries and to register, please contact team@volunteeringtas.org.au  
 

Naomi is passionate about how volunteering empowers people to step out of their comfort zones, develop new skills, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Naomi strongly believes that volunteers are often under-appreciated and that the sector deserves greater recognition and visibility.  

“I love seeing volunteers grow in their role and in turn grow in confidence. I have had many opportunities to learn new skills through volunteering in my life and want to reciprocate the opportunity to others.” 

For Naomi, the most valuable part of the CPD program was sharing experiences with other participants. Learning from colleagues and engaging in open sessions for collaboration proved invaluable, providing insights and ideas that enriched understanding and the approach to volunteer management.  

“The times where we came together was sometimes hard to carve out from my day, but so very valuable. There is nothing quite like learning from people walking in your same shoes.” 

Naomi’s key takeaway from the program reinforced the importance of volunteers in strengthening our communities.  

“Though the challenges are real, the rewards of seeing volunteers thrive and make meaningful contributions make this work profoundly fulfilling.” 

National Volunteer Week Resources

National Volunteer Week 2025 celebrates the power of volunteering to bring people together with the theme ‘Connecting Communities’. Let’s acknowledge the spirit of connection and the incredible impact volunteers have in building inclusive and flourishing communities. 

We encourage all volunteer involving organisations, governments, researchers, corporates, and other enabling organisations, to proudly promote the upcoming celebrations and use the resources widely to help increase the awareness of the vital role volunteers play in our lives. 

National Volunteer Week 2025 resources will include logos, certificates, invitations, posters, social media images, email and web banners, and printable selfie frames. Resources will be added in the coming months, in the lead up to National Volunteer Week.

Sign up to the Volunteering Australia newsletter for updates on National Volunteer Week. 

If you're a member of Volunteering Tasmania and you'd like to share an event or feature on this monthly Community Noticeboard, please contact us at team@volunteeringtas.org.au.

2025 Lunar New Year Festival (Sunday, 2 February 2025, Hobart) 

Celebrate the Year of the Snake! (Free Entry) 

Join Tasmania’s largest Lunar New Year celebration at Parliament House Lawns, 1 Salamanca Place, Hobart! This vibrant festival will feature a variety of family-friendly activities, including Asian food, cultural performances, lion dances, three-meter-long firecrackers, and entertainment for all ages. Celebrate together and immerse yourself in the rich traditions of Asia's most significant holiday. 

Australian Wooden Boat Festival (7–10 February 2025, Hobart) 

Volunteers Needed!  

Join the crew at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival! Whether you’re into boat wrangling, decorating, entertainment, construction, or assisting with special events, there’s a role for everyone. Opportunities range from safety marshals to exhibition managers, kid’s activity coordinators, front-of-house staff, and more. No prior experience? No problem! Whether you're a wooden boat enthusiast or simply excited to join something special, we’d love to have you onboard. 

For any questions, please reach out to Stephanie at volunteersmanager@awbf.org.au  

Digital Mentor Program

Want to help more people feel digitally confident in your community?
This program could be for you!

A digital mentor is someone who guides other in learning digital skills, empowering them to perform essential tasks like connecting with loved ones, banking online, and staying safe from scams. Digital mentors don't need to be tech-experts - they just need to be friendly, supportive, and motivated to help others become more confident online. 

The Multicultural Council of Tasmania will be hosting a series of Digital Mentor programs at library locations during February or March: Hobart, Kingston, Rosny, Glenorchy, Launceston, Burnie, Devenport, Queenstown.

• Neighbours Every Day and Healthy Tasmania – Community Grants 

  Neighbours Every Day have partnered with Healthy Tasmania to support and encourage people to connect with their neighbours to increase belonging and minimise loneliness. 
  Local Tasmanian community members, groups and organisations are invited to apply for grants up to $1,500 that can be used to host neighbourly activities in your community. 
  Grants are now open and submissions close at 4:00PM 7 February 2025 (AEDT). 

• The Community Support Fund Small and Large Grants Programs 

  The Community Support Fund Small and Large Grants Programs for gambling support are now open for applications until 2pm Friday 14 February 2025. 
  Small grants of up to $20,000 per organisation are available: projects must support preventing or reducing gambling harm, including projects that address the potential drivers and impacts of gambling harm. 
  Large grants of up to $125,000 per organisation are available: projects must prevent or reduce gambling harm, including projects that address the potential drivers and impacts of gambling harm. 
  Please note that sports and recreation clubs are not eligible for CSF grants.