Volunteering Strategy for South Australia

Mr GEE (Napier) (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Volunteers. Can the minister update the house on the implementation of the Volunteering Strategy for South Australia and in particular on the government's election commitment to develop a new volunteering recognition scheme?

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I'm sorry, did I miss something up there?

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Did the member for Morphett want to say something? The Minister for Volunteers.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for the question. As members of the house are aware, last week across Australia we celebrated National Volunteers Week. The theme of the week was 'Celebrate the power of volunteering'. What that points to is the two-way outcome of volunteering: volunteers giving back to the community and also what volunteers feel as they are part of being included in the community as well.

I had the pleasure of joining various community groups across our state at functions and events, and I was delighted to be joined on the march on the Monday by the member for Morphett and the member for Adelaide, as well. We had a very diverse group of volunteers who were there to show their commitment to volunteering.

We estimate that more than 900,000 people volunteer in South Australia who contribute so much to supporting our communities. Perhaps even more importantly, South Australian volunteers are estimated to contribute more than $5 billion to our economy each year. That is why I am pleased that in February this year the South Australian government endorsed the Volunteering Strategy for South Australia 2014-2020, along with three other partners: Volunteering SA & NT, Business SA and the Local Government Association of South Australia.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the former minister for volunteers for his leadership in developing the strategy. The strategy will act as a blueprint for volunteering into the future and help guide our work to promote and support volunteering across South Australia. The implementation of this strategy has been facilitated in a cross-sector partnership through a volunteering partnership board, comprising senior representatives from each of the four partner organisations, plus an independent chairperson. Four working groups, all with high-profile, independent chairs, have been created and are charged with implementing the strategy through a three-year operational plan.

I was pleased to attend the first plenary meeting of all board and working group members last Friday to mark the formal commencement of implementing the strategy. The level of energy and enthusiasm in the room was infectious, and it was wonderful to see each group map out their work over the next 12 months. Importantly, the volunteering strategy will undertake work to recognise and promote volunteering as a pathway to both employment and retirement. Volunteering delivers many benefits to people, including personal wellbeing, learning and developing new skills, employment, motivation, and a sense of achievement.

Once again, I emphasise that the theme was 'Celebrate the power of volunteering'. Through volunteering, people of all ages can diversify and develop their skills, leading to better employment outcomes. In recognition of the significant benefits volunteers contribute to our state, both in building stronger communities and in economic output, our government committed at the last election to implementing two initiatives that will recognise the contribution volunteers make through a volunteer recognition scheme and a time exchange scheme.

The time exchange scheme, also known as 'time banking', is a volunteering scheme based on the principle of reciprocity, whereby participants essentially earn and then trade credits of time with other registered members of a time bank. Time banks are set up by local organisations that allow people to use their skills to help others by exchanging hours instead of money. The volunteer recognition scheme will recognise the contribution of volunteers in a number of ways, such as through discounts, free tickets or promotional offers from participating businesses and organisations.

I look forward to continuing to work with the partners of the volunteering strategy, and on behalf of the government of South Australia I thank each and every volunteer for all the work they do in making South Australia the great place it is.