National survey finds costs a growing issue for volunteers

Volunteering Australia has found that over 80% of volunteers believe that increasing out-of-pocket expenses are making it more difficult for people to volunteer; and one in four volunteers are planning to reduce or stop their volunteer work.

The preliminary findings of the Costs of Volunteering Survey, released to coincide with the 20th International Volunteer Day celebrations on 5 December, revealed that over 76% of volunteers had some out-of-pocket costs due to their volunteer work in the past 12 months; including car and public transport costs, uniforms, compulsory safety equipment, telephone, accommodation and travel, computer and general stationery costs.

While most individuals had out-of-pocket expenses under $200 a year, some respondents were facing costs of over $3000 that were not reimbursed.

Over half of all respondents to this year’s survey believed governments should be responsible for covering volunteer out-of-pocket expenses; and nearly 77% of volunteers said they would not claim any expenses from their not-for-profit organisation given the financial pressure many organisations are under.

The survey was launched in mid-October 2006 and included 1245 responses from volunteers, not-for-profit organisations and businesses with employee volunteering programs, together representing several hundred thousand volunteers, as part of the Cost of Volunteering Taskforce’s research phase.

The Taskforce was established to consider the impact of increasing costs on volunteers and provide advice following Senator Guy Barnett’s submission to Government on volunteering earlier this year.

The Taskforce’s recommendations will be made available in early 2007.

The Costs of Volunteering Survey results support similar research conducted during last year’s fuel price crisis that found over 50% of volunteers were considering reducing or stopping volunteer work due to out-of-pocket costs.