Volunteering Australia Federal Election Platform 2022
All political parties and candidates should commit to a positive agenda on volunteering, including the implementation of a National Strategy for Volunteering.
Calling on candidates to commit to a positive agenda on volunteering
This Federal Election, we are asking the nation to ‘Vote for Volunteers’ and call upon all candidates to recognise and support the vital role of volunteers, volunteer involving organisations and volunteering support services in their electorates.
Volunteering Australia encourages everyone to take an active role this Federal Election and engage with your local candidates. Show you ‘Vote for Volunteers’ by asking your candidates to commit to a positive agenda on volunteering, including the implementation of a sector-led and whole of government National Strategy for Volunteering.
Call to action
During the election campaign, show you ‘Vote for Volunteers’ by either contacting your local candidates or publicly showing your support for volunteers, or do both!
Contact your local candidates
To find your local candidates, go to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website.
This ABC website also has candidate information and useful background on each electorate.
Send an email or letter to your local candidates asking whether they will support volunteers if they are elected. Let your local candidates know that volunteering matters to your community.
Below is some text that you can adapt into an email or letter.
| Sample text I am writing to ask how you would support the work of volunteers in your electorate if you are elected. Did you know volunteers are the often-invisible workforce that supports the nation every day and through challenging times? Volunteers work across the community – in schools, aged and disability care, community sports, arts programs, and the environment. [Suggestion: Edit this to make sure your volunteering interests are represented.] Volunteers are often on the frontline when crises hit – fighting bushfires, supporting recovery from floods, and providing support to those at risk in our communities. [Suggestion: Add to this if your community has been hit by recent disasters or crises.] But volunteering does not just happen. It requires investment in recruitment, training, ongoing support and recognition. [Suggestion: Insert your volunteering story – say why you or your organisation cares about volunteering and how important volunteers are to community wellbeing.] If you are successful at the upcoming Federal Election, will you recognise and support the vital role of volunteers, volunteer involving organisations and volunteer support services in your electorate? |
Show you support volunteers this election
Use these social media tiles to show you support volunteers.
| For candidates | For organisations | For individuals |
| I value and support volunteers in my electorate | We call on all candidates to support volunteers | I call on all candidates to support volunteers |
| Download tiles for candidates | Download tiles for organisations | Download tiles for individuals |
Delivering a National Strategy for Volunteering
This Federal Election we have one request for an incoming Federal Government: to commit to the ongoing design and delivery of a sector-led and whole of government National Strategy for Volunteering.
Volunteers are integral to achieving many national priorities.
- Volunteers play vital roles in the key national workforces – in aged, disability and palliative care and in mental health and community services. Volunteers are central to emergency response, recovery and resilience-building. Volunteers are the backbone of community sport. Yet repeated governments have failed to recognise and invest in these key volunteer workforces.
- Volunteering has recognised mental health and wellbeing benefits for those who volunteer. Communities with active volunteers have strong social capital and are more resilient when crises hit. If we care about the nation’s mental health and the resilience of communities, we need to care about sustaining volunteering.
