Refreshing the Volunteering Strategy for SA 2021 - 2027

We are seeking stakeholder feedback to inform the refresh of the Volunteering Strategy for South Australia 2021-2027.

What's being decided?

We are leading the refresh of the Volunteering Strategy for South Australia 2021-2027 (the SA Strategy) and are asking for feedback from those who have been working within it over the past three years.

The overarching objectives of the refresh are to:

• Ensure close alignment between the SA Strategy and new National Strategy.
• Ensure the SA Strategy reflects a contemporary, evidence-based understanding of the needs and preferences of the South Australian volunteer sector and volunteers, including those from vulnerable cohorts.
• Ensure the SA Strategy actively contributes to Closing the Gap priorities and outcomes.
• Ensure the SA Strategy governance arrangement are effective and reflect current government policy.

Background

The first Volunteering Strategy for South Australia 2014-2020 was formed from a cross-sector partnership between:

• the Government of South Australia,
• Volunteering SA&NT,
• Business SA and
• the Local Government Association of SA.

The current Volunteering Strategy for South Australia 2021-2027 (the SA Strategy) is governed by a Partnership Board comprised of representatives from each of the original partner organisations. The strategy has four Focus Areas that aim to improve participation rates in volunteering, provide better support to volunteers and ensure the long-term viability of volunteers and the organisations that support them.

In February 2023, Volunteering Australia launched the National Strategy for Volunteering 2023-2033 (the National Strategy), which provides a blueprint and strategic framework for the next ten years to achieve a better future for volunteering across Australia.

Later in 2023 the SA Strategy Partnership Board determined that the launch of the new National Strategy along with the expiration of SA’s initial two-year Action Plan presented a timely opportunity to review progress and ensure the SA Strategy aligns with the new national objectives. The Partnership Board is also keen to review whether the current priorities are meeting the needs of volunteers and volunteer organisations in the post-pandemic climate and incorporate findings from the latest research.

Additionally, feedback received from members of the Partnership Board and several stakeholders indicated there is scope to improve the effectiveness of both the current governance structure and secretariat support, along with clarifying responsibilities around communication and public engagement related to the SA Strategy.

The Partnership Board members agreed that the SA Strategy does not require an in-depth overhaul at this point in time, but rather a light-touch review and refresh which maintains the original Strategy’s broad purpose and intent.

A discussion paper was subsequently developed by DHS and released to key sector stakeholders in February 2024 outlining the rationale, proposed refresh approach and key questions for stakeholder consideration and feedback. This survey forms part of the consultation and feedback process for stakeholders who have been engaged in the Strategy Working Groups between 2021 and 2023.

Get involved

Find out more:

• read the discussion paper

Have your say by:

• taking our survey
• emailing a submission to ofv@sa.gov.au

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback to finalise the draft refreshed SA Strategy, which will be shared with you in April 2024.