Our Advocacy

We engage constructively and proactively with all levels of Government to advocate for volunteering – seeking tangible support through funding, legislation, policy and administrative settings.

The State Election 2021 saw the release of our Election Platform.  This led to engagement with all major parties on our priorities:

The State Government committed to funding improvements to our Emergency Volunteering platform further to this advocacy. There has also been extensive engagement with Government on the need for adequate funding for Volunteer Resource Centres across WA.

Volunteering WA extends our thanks to the Hon Mick Murray MLA who retired prior to the 2021 election and a warm welcome to the Hon Reece Whitby MLA as the Minister for Volunteering. We have been very fortunate to have such dedicated Ministers, passionate about volunteering and the contribution volunteers make to the fabric of our community.

At a national level we partner with national, state and territory peak bodies to develop position statements and make formal submissions. This year the major issues related to Royal Commissions and other Inquiries into Aged Care, Disability and Mental Health.

There continues to be extensive representation into COVID-19 impacts on the sector. As a result, volunteers are increasingly referenced in formal announcements, such as the extension of the Commonwealth Government vaccine roll out program priorities to include volunteers in aged care settings.

Advocacy Success: Volunteering WA advocacy results in legislative change

New legislation in 2020 initially required some volunteer Passenger Transport Drivers (PTD) to undertake additional, time consuming and costly volunteer screening. A large number of organisations and volunteers were adversely impacted by these changes and were considering ceasing community transport programs or volunteering as a result.

Volunteering WA led advocacy efforts with the State Government which led to legislative changes. Volunteers driving for a community transport service in WA no longer require a PTD authorisation.

This experience has heightened awareness of the need to consult with the sector well in advance of legislation and policy settings that may impact volunteering. Read about the win here.

Our Reconciliation journey

Volunteering WA advocates for an inclusive sector, which includes recognition of Aboriginal peoples across WA as the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we operate. We have continued this journey working with Aboriginal people, providing cultural awareness training for all staff and volunteers, an internal working group with the development of our first draft Reconciliation Action Plan.