News flash: women struggle to be heard in the nation’s newsrooms
Posted on 23 Oct 2024
Gender bias persists in Australian newsrooms, despite gender equality's vital role in strengthening…
Posted on 02 Jul 2024
By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia
Volunteering has been added to the areas measured by the federal government’s revamped national wellbeing framework.
Launched last year by federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the Measuring What Matters framework assesses 50 indicators designed to take the pulse of the nation.
It looks beyond traditional economic metrics such as GDP, income and employment statistics and instead focuses on areas ranging from life expectancy to air quality, mental health and job satisfaction.
Canberra revealed that a revamped framework will now include volunteering, after announcing that the Australian Bureau of Statistics will take over responsibility for the annual General Social Survey on Australian wellbeing.
Volunteering Australia CEO Mark Pearce welcomed the inclusion of volunteering as a key indicator of the state of the nation.
“The General Social Survey is a crucial source of official data on volunteering in Australia, and participation in volunteering, both formal and informal, is a key indicator of the wellbeing of our communities.”
Mr Pearce said Volunteering Australia had joined with its state-based counterparts to advocate for volunteering to be included in the Measuring What Matters framework.
“We are delighted that the federal government have recognised the importance of volunteering to social cohesion,” said Mr Pearce.
“Regular, high-quality data on volunteering is essential to the implementation of the National Strategy for Volunteering. It will help guide the design and implementation of important national initiatives to make volunteering the heart of Australian communities.”
“The General Social Survey is a crucial source of official data on volunteering in Australia, and participation in volunteering, both formal and informal, is a key indicator of the wellbeing of our communities.”
Several other topics were also added to the revamped wellbeing survey, including:
The government revealed it had provided a $14.8 million funding boost for the ABS to enable it to deliver more frequent data and assume responsibility for the Measuring What Matters dashboard as part of the next annual update, which is expected in August.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Charities Minister Andrew Leigh said in a joint statement that the ABS would deliver an enhanced and expanded annual survey on the wellbeing of Australians, helping to inform a more comprehensive statement that the government will publish every three years.
They said the cash injection would allow for the ABS to paint a bigger, more detailed and vibrant picture of Australians’ wellbeing.
“The survey will be conducted annually to deliver more timely data, the sample size will be increased to ensure that the survey provides insights into sub‑groups of the population, and it will be expanded to include new questions.”
Canberra plans to release an updated Measuring What Matters statement every three years with the insights used to inform budgets and government decision‑making.
Posted on 23 Oct 2024
Gender bias persists in Australian newsrooms, despite gender equality's vital role in strengthening…
Posted on 22 Oct 2024
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has admitted it is on track to fall massively short of its target…
Posted on 22 Oct 2024
Ordinary Australians who go above and beyond to help others in the community and the organisations…
Posted on 21 Oct 2024
Government and the not-for-profit sector must work together to break the cycle of digital…
Posted on 21 Oct 2024
Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) commissioner Sue Woodward will head to…
Posted on 21 Oct 2024
Australians hit hard by the cost-of-living want action on everything from rising utility and…
Posted on 17 Oct 2024
Not-for-profit’s have swamped the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) with…
Posted on 15 Oct 2024
The Australian Tax Office new reporting requirements for not-for-profits are causing a great deal…
Posted on 15 Oct 2024
The Antipoverty Centre’s Kristin O’Connell has first-hand experience of living in economic…
Posted on 15 Oct 2024
Socially conscious international music stars touring Australia are increasingly determined to do…
Posted on 14 Oct 2024
On the anniversary of the failed campaign to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, an…
Posted on 14 Oct 2024
Anti-Poverty Week (October 13 to 19) has been held every year for the past two decades.