Leigh said 30 per cent of workers had access to workplace giving programs,where employers deduct charitable donations from before-tax pay,but fewer than 2 per cent of employees used them.
The government would like more workers to take up these schemes.
“It really is an issue of awareness,since many firms have the systems in place,ready to go for employees who want to use them,” Leigh said.
St Vincent de Paul Society Australia national president Mark Gaetani welcomed the government’s plan to boost philanthropy,but said getting the balance right was critical and charitable giving should not replace government funding.
“During the current cost-of-living crisis,demand for our services continues to increase while people’s capacity to donate is stretched,regardless of the current concessions in play,” he said.
In NSW over the past year,St Vincent de Paul supported 18 per cent more people and provided $13.7 million in financial and material assistance,up 63 per cent on the year before.
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In Victoria,requests for food assistance were 20.8 per cent higher over the 12 months to May,while referrals from other agencies rose 44 per cent – a sign,St Vincent de Paul said,that other charities were reaching capacity.
Both St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army have noticed a significant increase in people seeking help for the first time,including those who are otherwise secure such as households on double incomes.
Hill said half the people currently reaching out to the Salvation Army were doing so for the first time,and many had previously been donors. In the lead-up to Christmas,the charity was yet to hit its goal of raising $25 million in itsChristmas appeal.
“The cost of running a charity,the cost of putting food on the table for a person in need,is ever-increasing,” he said.
“I’d love for Australians to give when they can and as they can … anything you can give,we’d appreciate it.
“I can assure you that we’ll do our very best to make sure that people who are struggling on the margins,[we’ll] give them hope and joy this Christmas.”
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