Volunteering WA’s 2027/28 State Budget Submission calls on the WA Government to make targeted, practical investments that remove barriers to volunteering, and strengthen the organisations and services that support volunteers.
These are practical and achievable measures that can reduce avoidable barriers to volunteering, support essential community services and strengthen the contribution volunteers make across Western Australia.
Volunteering WA welcomes the opportunity to work with the WA Government to strengthen volunteering and ensure Western Australians can continue to contribute to their communities as volunteers.
1. Fix the volunteer screening system
Volunteers should be able to complete required screening checks through a system that is safe, timely, affordable and easy to navigate.
We are calling on the WA Government to:
- Remove fees for volunteer screening checks.
- Prioritise the completion and launch of a dedicated online screening portal for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations, bringing together NDIS, Working With Children and National Police Clearance checks.
- Fund accessible screening processes and in-person assistance for volunteers who are digitally excluded.
2. Review volunteer insurance arrangements
Volunteer-involving organisations require multiple types of insurance, and face information gaps and increasing costs when trying to source appropriate insurance cover.
There is no requirement to provide personal accident insurance to volunteers, no consistent minimum standard for volunteer personal accident insurance products and no de-identified published data on volunteer personal accident claims.
This adversely impacts both volunteers and the risk management undertaken by volunteer involving organisations.
We are calling for the establishment of a Working Group to review the insurance arrangements applying to volunteers in Western Australia, in partnership with Volunteering WA.
The review would identify key gaps and explore practical, cost-effective options for suitable and equitable insurance coverage for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.
3. Support volunteering during the fuel crisis
Increasing fuel costs are placing additional pressure on volunteers and organisations, particularly those delivering essential services and relying on volunteer drivers.
We are calling on the WA Government to:
- Provide temporary, targeted grants to volunteer-involving organisations to reimburse volunteer fuel costs, prioritising services that rely on volunteer drivers.
- Ensure that any fuel rationing measures recognise volunteers as a priority group.
4. Support Volunteering Development Services
Volunteering Development Services play a vital role in connecting Western Australians with meaningful volunteering opportunities and supporting organisations to recruit and engage volunteers.
We are calling on the WA Government to increase or at least maintain, and index, current funding for Volunteering Development Services over the forward estimates.
Sustained investment will help ensure these services can continue to support volunteer recruitment, matching and inclusion across metropolitan, regional and remote Western Australia.
