FaHCSIA helps to support volunteers, by providing programs and services, and grants and funding for volunteer-based organisations.
The Department is supporting the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens, in the work they are leading on the development of a National Volunteering Strategy. The Strategy will guide Australia’s vision for volunteering.
To ensure that the needs and views of the volunteering community are reflected in the National Volunteering Strategy, the Department recently released a Consultation Paper outlining the proposed direction of the Strategy and raising key issues and questions.
Interested community members were invited to respond to the Paper by 30 June 2010 and participate in an online survey, which closed on 25 July 2010. A total of 725 responses were received, reflecting diverse community opinion and providing a valuable resource for the Department in the development of the National Volunteering Strategy.