National Volunteer Week: First-of-its-kind report reveals true value of volunteering in SA
A first-of-its-kind report showing the impact of volunteering in South Australia was officially launched at the 2024 SA State Volunteering Conference held during National Volunteer Week (20 to 26 May 2024).
The inaugural State of Volunteering South Australia 2023 report, coordinated by Volunteering SA&NT, and supported by the Department of Human Services, captures the true impact, value, diversity and the sheer scale of volunteering across SA. It also reveals the challenges facing the sector and shows how South Australia compares alongside national data.
More than 950,000 South Australians volunteering annually
The report shows there are more than 950,000 South Australians volunteering annually, either formally or informally. Their collective effort amounts to an astounding 3.8 million hours per week, totalling 223 million hours in 2023 alone.
Volunteer sector faces challenges
An ageing cohort, time constraints, confidence, health concerns and knowing how to get involved are some of the barriers to volunteering cited in the report, which will provide an evidence-based resource for informed decision-making across the volunteering ecosystem into the future.