The Advancing the Community Together Partnership represents a public commitment by the South Australian Government and the Volunteer Sector to open, transparent, consistent and collaborative ways of working together.

A Fact Sheet on the Partnership can be found here.

In May 2003, following a 12 month consultation process, the Premier and 29 representatives from Volunteer Sector organisations signed onto the document Advancing the Community Together: A Partnership between the Volunteer Sector and the South Australian Government (ACT Partnership).

This partnership was designed to:

• Acknowledge the value of volunteering in our community
• Develop a vision for the future of volunteering in South Australia
• Establish a framework for an ongoing partnership, and
• Promote and facilitate volunteering in a manner that benefits the community.

As partners, the South Australian Government and the Volunteer Sector committed themselves to work together to ensure there would be an effective relationship that realised the commitments made in the document.

It was anticipated that amongst the many benefits delivered from a strong and ongoing partnership between the Volunteer Sector and the Government, the following direct outcomes would result:

• Advancement of volunteering: ensuring the ongoing promotion and recognition of volunteering whilst raising awareness of its value
• Redressing of issues that impede volunteering: actively identifying and responding to issues that impede volunteering
• Establishment of communication protocols: developing and improving communication and information processes between the Volunteer Sector and public sector agencies
• Development of appropriate policies and practices: ensuring future Government policy decisions take into account any potential effects on the Volunteer Community.

Achievements of the Partnership are tabled in Parliament each year.

Download complete ACT document here.
Download Text only ACT document here.

The ACT document has been translated into a range of languages. A listing of translations can be accessed here.

The Partnership In Operation

The ACT Partnership saw the establishment of the Volunteer Ministerial Advisory Group and the Volunteer Partnership Action Committee who are responsible for ensuring that commitments made in the document are met:

Volunteer Ministerial Advisory Group (VMAG)

VMAG gives volunteer organisations a direct voice into government. It has been reformed following the biennial review of the Act Partnership and currently consists of 19 representatives of the various interests that make up the Volunteer Sector i.e representing Youth; Conservation; Service Clubs; Health; Seniors etc.

Each of these people are required to consult with their respective 'groups' and bring concerns and ideas back for consideration.

• View the current membership of VMAG
• Read the terms of reference

Volunteer Partnership Action Committee (VPAC)

VPAC is a public sector, cross-agency committee that has the role of ensuring that impact on the volunteer sector is considered when formulating policy or legislative changes and that, subsequently, there is a coordinated response.

Staff from the Office for Volunteers act as Executive Officers for these groups and are responsible for advising the Minister for Volunteers of any initiatives and implementation plans.

The Partnership Reviewed

The ACT Partnership has undergone a biennial review. The review process, undertaken over a period of 6 months consisted of regional consultations and requests for feedback. Further information about the Review can be found here.