Volunteering Strategy

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (14:44): My question—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter, order! I will get the Hon. Dr Centofanti to start again and members on my right will remain silent as well.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding volunteering. Can the minister please update the council on the Marshall Liberal government's vision for the future of volunteering in South Australia?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for her question and for her interest in this area. Indeed, we have launched a refreshed volunteering strategy for South Australia, following the first volunteering strategy, which was in 2014-20. This is a strong partnership between the government, Business SA, the Local Government Association and the peak volunteering advocacy body, Volunteering SA&NT. This strategy was completed in December 2020.

We had the privilege of launching this second volunteering strategy last week to coincide with National Volunteer Week and the parade that took place in Victoria Square. The partnership board comprises of representatives of each partner, with an independent chair to oversee and monitor the implementation of the second volunteering strategy.

The achievements of the first strategy matched each of the strategy's focus areas and targets and builds on the achievements of the first volunteering strategy. This one will be in place for six years and ensures the partnership's sustained focus on and commitment to the volunteering sector. It was developed in several stages, obviously including various rounds of consultation, and it includes focus areas and a road map for the way forward.

We do have a very professional volunteering sector and approach in South Australia, quite mature in the sense that we have a number of formal arrangements. Particularly going forward, we want to ensure that we maintain the status and profile of volunteers in South Australia and that we continue to encourage young people to volunteer and increase the flexibility available to volunteers.

Obviously, last year we saw a significant dip. Some volunteers have not returned and a number of organisations have found ways to deliver things more flexibly, so we are having to pivot many things now that we are in this pandemic. We want to continue to ensure that there are vibrant opportunities for people to volunteer in South Australia. I say thank you on behalf of the South Australian government to the many people who volunteer in such a diverse range of areas in this state.