Canberra’s peak bodies for volunteers and the community sector are angry about plans for a new fee which will impact volunteers. Photo: Woden Community Service.
A decision to introduce a fee for vital Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) checks will turn away potential volunteers at a time when not for profits need all the help they can get, community groups say.
For more than a decade, volunteers registering for WWVP checks have not had to pay a fee. However, in last week’s ACT Budget, the government announced it will introduce an $11 levy from 1 September, a move which has angered the city’s leading volunteering body.
VolunteeringACT fears that a new barrier will turn away potential volunteers at a time when Canberra’s not-for-profits are struggling with numbers.
CEO Jean Giese said the fee would be another financial barrier to volunteering.
“The ACT Government should be making it easier, not harder, for people to contribute to their communities,” she said.
“Volunteers already give their time, their energy and their money. Research shows they spend $12.76 out of their own pocket for every hour they volunteer and nearly two-thirds of all volunteering costs are absorbed by the volunteers themselves.”
Greens MLA Laura Nuttal is sponsoring a petition which calls on the government to scrap the fee.
The petition, which is open until 14 September, outlines the negative impacts the fee will have on volunteers and community groups.
“Volunteering rates are far too low in Canberra and only declining,” it says.
“Deficit reduction is important, but it’s also important to raise revenue in a way that doesn’t hurt the poorest in society, who generously give their time as volunteers or receive help from volunteer groups.”
Ms Nuttall said volunteers played a vital role in the community.
“We have serious concerns about what could be a financial disincentive from the government. These cards are of course absolutely essential for volunteers who work with children or other vulnerable people,” she said.
“Not all volunteers need this check and if the government is struggling with an increased demand from those who don’t require it, they should look into how they can better advise volunteers when and when not to apply.”
The ACT’s community sector peak body ACTCOSS is also against the fee.
CEO Dr Devin Bowles said cuts to the community sector could have negative impacts.
“The decision to levy a charge on people who need a Working with Vulnerable People Card to volunteer is deeply regrettable,” he said.
“Government should not tax activities that it wants to promote and many volunteers are students or retired and on fixed incomes. The last thing our community needs is a disincentive to volunteer.”
Dr Bowles also highlighted the benefits of volunteers and charities and said they were invaluable in keeping people out of the overtaxed health system.
“Investment in the community sector provides a strong return on investment for the Government,” he said.
“Much of our work focuses on preventative mechanisms which save money as less people require costly crisis support downstream.
“Investment in the community sector is not just economically savvy, it reflects a society that values the well-being of all people.”
Ms Nuttall agreed and said for the good of the community and the economy, the city could not afford to lose volunteers.
“If volunteer work in the Territory was paid work instead, it would set us back $3.3 billion annually,” she said.
While $11 may not seem like a large amount to pay, Ms Giese said charities already struggling to attract people to donate their time could be impacted.
“This isn’t just a small administrative change,” she said.
“It’s a policy decision that sends a dangerous message and will likely result in fewer people stepping up to volunteer, especially young people, people on low incomes, retirees and others already feeling the pressure of rising living costs.”
