CHANGES TO THE VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Minister for Social Inclusion, Mark Butler today announced that proposed changes to funding arrangements for the Volunteer Management Program (VMP) will be deferred.
The decision to defer these changes follows continued consultation with the volunteering sector.
Since announcing the changes, the Government has convened a range of sessions to seek feedback from the sector. These sessions have brought to light a range of concerns.
The Government has heard these concerns and will keep working with volunteering organisations to further consider the impact of the proposed changes. In the meantime, existing Commonwealth funding to volunteer organisations will continue.
The Volunteer Management Program (VMP), through which we support volunteering associations and resource centres across Australia, has been in place since 1992. Since then, there have been significant social, economic and technological changes which have impacted on how and where Australians volunteer.
The Government wants to see a bright future for Australian volunteers and the organisations that support them.
It’s important that funding is targeted and used effectively. We will keep working with the volunteering sector on the details and implementation of a new funding model for the Volunteer Management Program to ensure we get the right outcome to support volunteering in Australia.
