Australian volunteering over 20 years: A timeline

11 June 2020 at 8:00 am
Luke Michael

Volunteering in Australia has shifted immensely over the past two decades. We take a look back through the Pro Bono News archives to re-examine some of the major moments that have defined the sector.

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Cardboard boxes being filled with food donations. Helpful team of social workers.

Luke Michael | 11 June 2020 at 8:00 am

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Volunteering in Australia has shifted immensely over the past two decades. We take a look back through the Pro Bono News archives to re-examine some of the major moments that have defined the sector.

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Volunteering Australia launches Go Volunteer, to help people find online volunteering opportunities.

Jun,2000

The UN declares 2001 the “International Year of Volunteers”.

Jul,2000

An ABS Survey of Volunteer Work uncovers major growth in Australia’s volunteering rates.

Jul,2001

It finds that the number of Australian adults volunteering grew from 3.1 million in 1995 to 4.4 million in 2000.

Victorian premier Steve Bracks says the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne offers a “springboard” opportunity for volunteering.

Feb,2005

His comments come at the launch of the volunteer recruitment drive for the Commonwealth Games, where up to 15,000 volunteers will be needed.

The Giving Australia report is released.

Oct,2005

It finds the number of hours donated by volunteers has risen 16 per cent since 2000, with 41 per cent of adult Australians volunteering 836 million hours.

Findings from the Costs of Volunteering Survey are released.

Dec,2006

This Volunteering Australia report finds that more than 80 per cent of volunteers believe that increasing out-of-pocket expenses, in particular the cost of petrol, are making it more difficult for people to volunteer.

Volunteering Australia loses its most senior executives.

May,2007

On the eve of National Volunteer Week, long-time CEO Sha Cordingley and deputy CEO Kylee Bates resign. The timing of the separate resignations is described as “unfortunately coincidental”.

The Rudd government predicts a “golden age” of volunteering in Australia by 2020.

Apr,2008

Senator Ursula Stephens says this not only requires the political will to make it happen, but also depends on organisations contributing to an inclusive and sustainable Australia.

Volunteers rush to register in bushfire crisis.

Mar,2009

More than 17,000 people rush to register as volunteers to help in the recovery process after the Victorian bushfire crisis.

Volunteering placed at the centre of the Gillard government policy agenda.

Oct,2010

Senator Ursula Stephens tells National Volunteering Australia Conference attendees that volunteering has now been placed within the social policy framework of government.

A Volunteer Advisory Group is announced as part of the Gillard government’s plan to release a National Volunteering Strategy.

Dec,2010

More than 62,000 volunteers register with Volunteering Queensland to help with the state’s floods crisis.

Jan,2011

International Year of Volunteers Plus 10 launches.

Feb,2011

The UN declares 2011 the International Year of Volunteers Plus 10 (IYV+10), reprising the original International Year of Volunteers celebrated in 2001.

Volunteering Australia announces it is relocating its office to Canberra.

May,2012

Volunteering Australia kicks off a national review to update the definition of volunteering.

May,2014

New National Standards for Volunteer Involvement are launched.

May,2015

Volunteering Australia unveils a new national definition of volunteering.

Jul,2015

The new definition states that: “volunteering is time willingly given for the common good without financial gain”.

Research shows volunteers are more generous with their dollars as well as with their time.

Dec,2016

The Giving Australia 2016 project reveals that people who volunteered in the 12 months prior to September 2016 gave nearly double the amount of money that non-volunteers donated.

2016 census data reveals that the proportion of Australians volunteering has risen 1.2 per cent since 2011.

Jun,2017

ABS looks to broaden volunteering census data to include statistics on informal volunteering.

Mar,2018

A survey reveals Australian volunteers feel unprotected at work because of gaps in the law that leave them vulnerable to sexual harassment.

Mar,2019

A report warns that the time corporates spend volunteering has not seen significant growth over the past decade.

Jul,2019

Experts say that the coronavirus pandemic may reshape volunteering in Australia.

Apr,2020

Sector leaders believe charities are really starting to understand the value of virtual volunteering as social distancing measures take hold.

For a deeper look at these key changes, you can check out our article examining how far the volunteering sector has come since 2000 here.