Volunteers

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Human Services about how the government is supporting our valuable volunteers. Can the minister please provide an update to the council about how the Marshall Liberal government has lowered costs for volunteers through free screening checks?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:32): I thank the honourable member for her question and acknowledge her interest and her good work, particularly amongst multicultural communities, where there are many volunteers who provide fantastic services to people in our community.

We know that South Australia has a strong heritage of volunteering. We have some 900,000 South Australians volunteering every year, which equates to 66 per cent of the population. The statistics are particularly high in regional South Australia, being some 56 per cent. Also, 45 per cent of respondents to the 2018 survey of volunteering volunteered formally with a local community organisation or group and 46 per cent volunteered on an informal basis; for example, child minding or helping a non-relative with yard or home maintenance.

Formal volunteering is very common particularly in the 35 to 54 age group, which I think is somewhat surprising. I think a lot of people assume that it's often recent retirees. We have a strategy in terms of young people as well and are very keen to ensure that young people are part of the volunteering strength of South Australia. It provides benefits for them in terms of gaining new skills, connections in the community and assisting them when they are formally applying for work.

So far, since the government has made screenings free for volunteers, which formerly was $59.40, which was the highest cost in the country, we have saved volunteers in the community some $3.4 million, and that has assisted individuals to put that funding towards other uses or take-up screening. Certainly, when the Premier and I met with some community groups at Little Athletics, we were advised that the free screening had allowed parents to become volunteers in other services as well. We have emergency services and charities and a whole range of organisations which are doing invaluable work.

In addition, for those clubs which formerly had to pay for those screenings, they are able to use that funding now towards purchasing equipment. It's provided some relief for them in terms of assisting them with their day-to-day operations. We are very grateful that the parliament did pass the legislation last year, which has enshrined free screening checks for volunteers in perpetuity, and long may that continue. Once again, I would like to acknowledge the honourable member for her very important work in this area.