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National Volunteer Incentive Scheme (Climate Army) - Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee - May 2025
In May 2025, The Salvation Army provided this submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee (the Committee) in relation to the National Volunteer Incentive Scheme (Climate Army).
In this submission, we highlight our experience providing disaster response and recovery through Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) and the important and impactful contribution of volunteers. The Salvation Army recommends further and ongoing consultation, through the design and implementation of the Climate Army, to ensure established volunteering pathways are enhanced and preserved in tandem with engaging and incentivising new volunteers.
This submission covers:
- Barriers to volunteering. Rates of volunteering have been on a steady decline over the last few decades, and after the pandemic, many regular volunteers did not return. Both young people and the general population are experiencing time and financial barriers that inhibit volunteering.
- Limitations to onboarding volunteers during a disaster. During and in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, many people feel motivated and volunteer to assist in the clean-up and recovery effort. Unfortunately, due to essential safety requirements including training and criminal history checks, it is not feasible to engage new volunteers during this time.
- Skill acquisition for young people. Young people often view volunteering through a different lens and see it as an opportunity to assist their community whilst acquiring and exercising skills that may benefit their employment prospects as this early stage of their working life. Embracing these motivations and offering relevant and transferable skills and qualifications to young people may encourage greater volunteerism.
- The importance of skilled volunteers. During disaster response and recovery, specialised skills and qualifications such as food handling, heavy vehicle operation and case management are essential in addition to minimum safety checks and training. Acquisition of these skills and qualifications benefits both the volunteer and the community they are assisting.
- Keeping volunteers safe. The physical and mental safety of volunteers, especially young people, must be a priority. It is essential that organisations facilitating volunteering opportunities for young people provide safe and supportive environments, and that volunteers are adequately informed of and prepared for the inherently distressing nature of disaster response and recovery.
The Committee will present the report by 22 September 2025.