Volunteering WA

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Empowering people and communities to enrich Western Australia.

Since 1988, Volunteering WA has proudly served as the peak body for volunteering in Western Australia. Today, we represent more than 1.5 million volunteers and over 826 member organisations whose contributions enrich communities across the state.

As the leading voice for volunteering, we work in partnership with community groups, businesses, educational institutions and government to advance the sector and promote the vital role of volunteering in society.

VISION | A society in which everyone is inspired to make a difference
PURPOSE | Empowering people and communities through volunteering

Our Focus Areas

Volunteering WA supports volunteer-involving organisations and the volunteering community, so you can focus on making a difference.
  • Drive more public participation
    Inspiring more people across Western Australia to give volunteering a go.
  • Raise awareness of the value, scale and breadth of volunteering
    Highlighting the vital role volunteering plays in our economy and communities.
  • Build sector knowledge, strength and capability
    Ensuring that volunteer programs across the state are sustainable now and into the future.
  • Advocate the needs and interests of the sector
    Representing the collective voice of the sector, championing the volunteers and organisations and ensuring their challenges and priorities are heard.
  • Influence policy and investment
    Working with government, peak bodies and key partners to shape policies that support volunteering across Western Australia.
  • Unearth and respond to emerging trends
    To stay ahead of changes affecting volunteering, using research to adapt, innovate and respond to emerging needs and opportunities.

History

Volunteering WA (the Volunteer Centre of WA) was established in 1988 to connect the volunteer community in WA.

We were formed out of meetings of a group of coordinators of volunteers, some paid and some unpaid, who had been working with community groups organising services within the community.  They found a need to come together and talk about the concerns and issues that arose in the course of their work.

Valuing Volunteers

Since 1988 a Garden Party hosted by the State Premier has been held in the grounds of Government House.

During the 1992 Volunteer Garden Party opening presentations, the then Premier, Richard Court, shares that about 260,000 Western Australians, fifteen years of age and over, are involved as volunteers with groups or organisations.

“I am privileged, on a daily basis, to see the contribution volunteers make to this great State of our.” 

Sepia photograph of people at a garden party in 1992
1992 WA Premier | “Volunteers make a unique contribution to community, health, emergency services.. the list goes on. I say unique because there is something special about the sense of purpose and commitment they foster to help build stronger communities”

How Volunteering WA helps…