News
12 August, 2025
‘Easier to throw in towel’
SOMERSET and Moreton Bay charity and not-for-profit organisations say they fear for their futures in the face of a dwindling volunteer base.
From Lions Clubs and rural fire brigades to the Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford Show and historic Brisbane Valley Rail Trail – all have joined in over 500 submissions to the State Government’s Parliamentary Inquiry into Volunteering, which held its first public hearings last week.
Perhaps the most vocal criticism from local groups revolves around what they perceive as excessive and often illogical red tape.
Lions District International District 201Q3, which includes areas like Moreton Bay and Somerset, noted the legislative requirements seem “onerous and a deterrent to volunteering”.
The Woodford Agricultural, Pastoral and Industrial Association Inc, responsible for the Woodford Show, expressed fear that “in a couple of years’ time there will no longer be the ‘Woodford Show’ due to the decrease in volunteers”.
They highlighted new local laws from City of Moreton Bay requiring event permits for events held for over 100 years.
“This new law is creating extra workload and time that we already find hard to have,” they wrote in their submission.
The Mount Mee Rural Fire Brigade pulled no punches calling the current volunteers training system “a failure” that “needs fundamental change”.
They reported their “brigade has not been able to assess new members for their Firefighter Minimum Skills (FMS) qualification for over three years since the introduction of the new training system”.
Organisations across the region also highlighted a critical demographic shift, with the Lions Clubs 201Q3 reporting the average age of their members in 2024 was 68 and almost 70 per cent of members being at or above retirement age, and worryingly, only 5.4 per cent of members being in their 20s, 30s or 40s.
“Given the aging membership, we find we are limited in the activities we can undertake,” they stated.
Business Chamber Queensland reinforced those concerns, stating more encouragement needed to be directed at the younger generation to encourage them to volunteer for the future of these organisations and community events.
“We find we are utilising and relying on the same group of people year on year,” they wrote.
The rising cost of volunteering was also noted, with many stating it is no longer a cost-free endeavour, which is a significant deterrent for many.
Woodfordia Inc, known for the Woodford Folk Festival, highlighted how the cost of living directly impacted participation: “Many of our volunteers must cover the cost of private transport, often traveling long distances and incurring expenses such as fuel, accommodation, and time off work”.
Post-festival surveys at Woodfordia even showed that “volunteers... raised the need to be provided with food or discounts to purchase food from our stallholders as one of their top requests, showing the cost of feeding oneself as a barrier to volunteering”.
The financial strain extended to organisations themselves, with the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association citing “the high cost of insurance for sporting events and lack of competition in the marketplace” as their biggest obstacle. This made them feel it “might just be easier to throw in the towel”.
The Queensland State Emergency Service Volunteer Association Inc estimated the average cost of volunteering in Queensland was “well over $1000 per year”, a figure they believe was often higher for SES volunteers who may pay for food and water during long deployments.
Beyond the burdens, there’s a fundamental challenge in connecting willing volunteers with opportunities and providing adequate support.
Get Around Caboolture observed many skilled professionals retire with “decades of experience, steady hands, and sharp minds”, but often don’t know where to start.
“They want to contribute, but the pathways are unclear,” they said.
“No central place to post an opportunity, no simple way to tap into a pool of willing hands, what is missing is the bridge.
“The question is not whether people are willing to help. The question is how you help them find the way”.
The Supporting Our Volunteers Parliamentary Inquiry held a public hearing on the Gold Coast on August 4, as the Government looks to address declining volunteer numbers across the State.
Minister for Volunteers, Ann Leahy, said the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred reaffirmed the vital contribution volunteers had made to the State.
“From the SES volunteers to the JPs in Community Recovery hubs across the State, our volunteers’ selfless work and passion to make a difference is the cornerstone of any effective disaster response and recovery,” she said.
“I know that from engaging with the sector, there are a range of obstacles stopping people from volunteering and our government wants to investigate these so we can address them and reverse the decline in volunteering numbers.”
For more information on the Inquiry visit https://cutt.ly/wrGeIIUZ
