Australia’s largest ever survey on volunteering

The Volunteering in Australia organisation survey is an historic opportunity to capture the current state of volunteering, map trends, and consider how volunteering may evolve into the future.

If you are a Manager or Coordinator of Volunteers, Program Leader, CEO, or otherwise represent an organisation or group involving volunteers, you were invited to have your say on the future of volunteering. By participating in the survey, you helped build the most comprehensive understanding of volunteering in Australia’s history.

We have partnered with Curtin University, Griffith University, and the University of Western Australia to undertake this landmark research. The findings of this research will inform the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering, which will provide a blueprint for a reimagined future for volunteering in Australia.

Volunteering in Australia research – The Volunteer Perspective

As part of the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering, Volunteering Australia is leading the Volunteering in Australia research project. The research project will produce a series of four reports that will serve as a core evidence base on contemporary volunteering in Australia, which will inform the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering.

The four reports will be based on:

1. A representative survey of the general Australian population
2. A survey of and a series of focus groups with volunteer involving organisations
3. An analysis of supply and demand for volunteers among organisations across Australia
4. A review of methods of valuing the contributions of volunteering in Australia

The population survey was undertaken in April 2022 and we have produced an Early Insights Report that summarises the key findings.

Volunteering Research Papers Initiative

As part of the Discovery Phase for the National Strategy for Volunteering project we are undertaking a comprehensive evidence review. To ensure the National Strategy is underpinned by a robust evidence-base we sought input from academics, researchers, and other experts in volunteering.

The Research Working Group was pleased to accept Expressions of Interest for its Volunteering Research Papers Initiative. Subject matter experts were invited to propose a paper that covers a topic relevant to volunteering for inclusion in the National Strategy for Volunteering project.

Expressions of Interest for the Volunteering Research Papers Initiative have closed. Thank you to all of the subject matter experts who submitted their ideas.

Final Working Groups Announced

We received an overwhelming number of Expressions of Interest for our final two Working Groups. We’d like to thank everyone who put their hand up to be involved. Working Group members were selected based on diversity of expertise, discipline, experience, and geography. Meet the members of our latest Working Groups.

Volunteering in Australia Survey Opening Soon

One of the most impactful ways you can help us build a robust evidence base for the National Strategy is by completing our survey. The survey will be for volunteer involving organisations and aims to capture a breadth of information on how you engage volunteers, the challenges you’re facing, and the opportunities you see for volunteering. We’re in the final stages of designing the survey with our research partners and then we’ll need your help getting as many responses as possible.

Announcing our Discovery Phase

We want to learn from you what you think of the current state of volunteering in Australia, what is going well and what needs to change. This stage is all about building the foundations on which the National Strategy for Volunteering will be built. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to have your say over the coming months, including more open consultation sessions, which are yet to be scheduled, and different types of workshops to develop the various parts of the National Strategy. Learn more about the co-design process.

National Strategy for Volunteering Website and Brand Launched

We are delighted to announce that the National Strategy for Volunteering website is live! The website will be our virtual meeting place over the next eight months as we co-design Australia’s first National Strategy for Volunteering in ten years. On the website you’ll find everything you need to know about how you can lend your voice to this historic opportunity to reimagine volunteering in Australia. You’ll be able to read project updates, get to know some of the faces lending their expertise to our Working Groups, and register for consultations, focus groups, and share your volunteering stories.

The National Strategy brand uses warm and bright colours to foster a sense of inclusion and invite people from all walks of life to have their say. The map of Australia represents our plan to be in every state and territory to hear first-hand about people’s experiences of volunteering and their vision for the future. Finally, the use of the stylised ‘V’ which is the international symbol for volunteering is at the brand’s centre and represents the rich history of volunteering in Australia. The change from red to white symbolises our journey to reimagine an effective, inclusive, and sustainable future for volunteering in Australia.

Volunteering in Australia Research Partners Announced

We are delighted to announce we have selected research partners for the Volunteering in Australia research. The research will be undertaken by a consortium of academics from the Australian National University Centre for Social Research and Methods, Curtin University, Griffith University and the University of Western Australia. More information on how you can participate in this landmark research on volunteering demographics and trends will be available in the coming months.

Volunteer Management and Corporate Volunteering Working Groups

Expressions of Interest for the Volunteer Management and Corporate Volunteering Working Groups are currently under consideration. These Working Groups will play a pivotal role in ensuring the National Strategy for Volunteering is underpinned by an understanding of best-practice volunteer involvement.

These Working Groups will comprise of volunteering professionals and representatives from Australian companies/businesses with employee volunteering programs. Working Group Members will be appointed in March and will meet for the duration of the project.

Volunteering in Australia Research Brief

The aim of the Volunteering in Australia research is to build a robust evidence-base to inform the National Strategy for Volunteering. This will require research into the state of contemporary volunteering and analysis of trends in volunteering.

The Volunteering in Australia research is a similar exercise to existing State of Volunteering research, providing a baseline of information on volunteering and how it is changing over time. It is envisaged the research will be a combination of analysis of existing data and new data collection and could provide a framework for an annual research report.