Volunteering

Valuing volunteering

Volunteering is a way of life in Tasmania.

Every day, Tasmanian volunteers generously share their time, knowledge and skills with their local communities. We rely on the tireless efforts of our volunteer workforce to be there wherever and whenever help is needed.

Volunteering provides connection, friendship and a sense of purpose and belonging for both volunteers and those they serve and support.

We support the volunteer industry and recognise the vital contribution volunteers make to our community, environment and economy.

Tasmanian strategy and action plan

The Tasmanian Government’s vision is Tasmanian volunteers are safe, valued and enabled.

Valuing Our Volunteers: Tasmania’s Volunteering Strategy 2025-2030 (PDF 2.7MB) is a strategic framework that will guide the work of the Tasmanian Government in collaboration with the volunteer industry over the next five years.

The strategy draws on the expertise of the peak body, Volunteering Tasmania, and was developed in consultation with volunteers, community service providers, volunteering organisations and businesses that engage volunteers and the Tasmanian community.

The strategy acknowledges the vital contribution volunteers make to Tasmania’s economic, environmental and social wellbeing.

The volunteer industry faces structural, operational, resource and technological challenges that require a coordinated response with contemporary, practical measures to ensure it remains sustainable.

The Tasmanian Government will develop an action plan in collaboration with the volunteer industry to deliver the objectives and outcomes set out in the strategy.

The strategy will be monitored and evaluated with an interim progress report.

Valuing Our Volunteers: Tasmania’s Volunteering Strategy 2025-2030 – Community Summary (PDF 269.5KB) provides a two-page, easy-to-read summary of the strategy.

For more information about the strategy and action plan, contact volunteering@dpac.tas.gov.au.

Who are volunteers?

Tasmanian volunteers come from all walks of life with a range of backgrounds, abilities, genders and age groups. The main reasons why people volunteer are to help others, for enjoyment and for social and community connections. Volunteering Tasmania’s State of Volunteering Report showed in 2023:

• almost 70 per cent of Tasmanians over the age of 15 volunteered
• young Tasmanians volunteer more than any other age group
• Tasmanians volunteered 89.4 million hours
• each volunteer gave an average of 22.4 hours per month
• volunteers contributed a total economic value to Tasmania’s economy of approximately $12.1 billion.

Volunteers support a wide range of industries, places and worthy causes, including disability support, hospitals, men’s sheds, youth camps, sporting and musical events, disaster relief, religious communities, agricultural shows, art galleries, surf lifesaving, wildlife rescue and many others.

How to volunteer

There are a huge range of volunteering opportunities in Tasmania. There are also volunteering roles with the Tasmanian Government, such as volunteer firefighters, adult literacy tutors and hospital visitors.

To find a volunteer role, visit Volunteer Connect on the Volunteering Tasmania website.