Federal Budget

Investment: increase from $10 million to $11 million per annum plus indexation
To help address cost-of-living pressures, the Australian Government should adapt and expand eligibility for the Volunteer Grants program to reach the broader community, better reflecting the true costs of volunteering and the barrier to participation they impose. It is recommended that the next round of Volunteer Grants is expedited, allocating increased funding to directly target the cost-of-living burden felt by volunteers and volunteer involving organisations.

Investment: from $6.6 million per annum to $7.2 million per annum plus indexation
The Australian Government should continue to fund, expand and support the Volunteer Management Activity, with a commitment to a further five-year program.

Investment: $2 million over 3 years to fund coordination and key initiatives over the remainder of the first 3-year action plan and develop the second 3-year action plan
Funding for the coordination and monitoring of the National Strategy for Volunteering lapsed in June 2025. Funding is sought for the continued coordination of the National Strategy for Volunteering, with ceased investment putting momentum, stewardship, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and development of the next action plan at risk just two years into the 10-year journey.

Investment: $250k per annum per key portfolio partner
The Australian Government should invest in national peak body funding for volunteering. This requires broadening the funding base for Volunteering Australia beyond the Department of Social Services, which has Federal responsibility for volunteering, to other portfolios where intense advocacy, stakeholder access, evidence and advice at the national level are required to progress major reforms, sometimes over periods of months and years.

Investment: $1million to support engagement and coordination in the volunteering ecosystem
The Australian Government should fund the development of a national volunteer passport. This platform would aim to increase volunteer mobility in Australia and enable better planning through improved data collection. It should build on current initiatives already underway at the state/territory level, using a scalable approach, ultimately seeking a national solution.

Investment: $1.5 million over three years for the volunteering ecosystem
The Australian Government should invest in the roll-out of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations across the volunteering ecosystem; and list child safe volunteering in its next three-year action plan.