Australia's volunteer recruitment sector is teetering on the brink of collapse, according to a national network of resource centres.
The organisation says 27 of Australia's 45 volunteer resource centres have closed or are likely to close within the financial year.
National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres spokesperson and Volunteering Gold Coast chief executive Brad Cooper said there would be dire consequences for people who relied on charities and non-profit organisations.
"On average a volunteer resource centre will support at least 1,400 people to volunteer in their region," he said.
Mr Cooper blamed a funding model introduced by the previous federal government for the sector's demise.
"The only way people can access volunteering now is through an online pathway with a particular focus for newly arrived migrants, people with a disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders," he said.
"For 70 per cent of the volume of volunteers who are recruited nationally through resource centres there is actually now no formal pathway or supported pathway to invite those people to come into volunteering."
National strategy
Volunteering Australia chief executive Mark Pearce was also concerned about the loss of infrastructure to support the community and volunteers.
"There's been a decline in formal volunteering rates," he said.
"If we think back prior to COVID, around 36 per cent of Australians volunteered their time through organisations and into community, but by April of this year that had dropped to around 26 per cent."
The 2021 census cited a 19 per cent drop in volunteering numbers since 2016. According to 2020 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the decline was most significant amongst the 15-24 age group.
Stakeholders are developing a national volunteering strategy which is due to be published in February 2023.
Mr Pearce said more money was required but a whole of government strategy for the sector was more critical.
"Volunteering is a huge part of the national workforce," Mr Pearce said.
"With 5 million formal volunteers in Australia, we don't see enough resourcing because there is no whole of government strategic approach to volunteering."
Funding needed
The National Network of Volunteer Resource Centres is lobbying the federal government to allocate $3.4 million dollars in the upcoming October budget so they can stay afloat.
Brad Cooper said without the money, services would be reduced or cut.
"A smaller pool of volunteers means volunteers are being asked to do extra activities and sometimes a service or event can't progress," Mr Cooper said.
Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said a number of organisations had raised concerns about the changed funding arrangements.
The Department of Social Services has begun engaging with state peak volunteering organisations.
"It's important we are all pulling in the same direction to find ways to make it easier for everyone to volunteer and secure opportunities that match people's interests and availability," Ms Rishworth said.
"Volunteering is a win for individuals and the broader community."
