Kerrod Trott 
Volunteering Australia is conducting the largest ever survey on volunteering in Australia’s history and is inviting charities, not-for-profit organisations, and local community groups to have their say.
This important survey forms part of the Volunteering in Australia research project, a study on contemporary volunteering in Australia, which will inform the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering. The survey is open to all organisations and groups that involve volunteers and aims to capture the diversity of roles and activities taking place across the volunteering ecosystem.
“This research is a unique chance to record the current state of volunteering, understand trends, and provide evidence to shape the National Strategy for Volunteering,” said Mark Pearce, CEO, Volunteering Australia. “The more survey responses we receive from a wide variety of volunteer involving organisations the better picture we can paint of how and where volunteering is taking place today,” said Mr Pearce.
“This is an historic opportunity to take part in landmark research, the results of which will provide a robust evidence base to underpin the National Strategy for Volunteering. We’re excited to lead the National Strategy for Volunteering, but we can’t do it alone. We need the entire volunteering ecosystem to come on this journey with us,” said Mr Pearce. “Charities, not-for-profits, and community groups are front of mind when most people think of volunteers, but the volunteering ecosystem has many other contributors.”
“Over the past two years, our communities have relied heavily on the support of volunteers in emergency services, aged care, food relief, and within local communities,” said Mr Pearce. “Volunteers are committed to sustainable futures and their everyday actions are critical to solving the most pressing problems of our time. The contribution of volunteers and the organisations that involve them play a pivotal role in delivering social, cultural, and economic outcomes that governments and businesses could not achieve in isolation.”
Volunteering Australia recently released the first output of the Volunteering in Australia research, Early Insights from the Volunteer Perspective. Preliminary data from volunteers shows rates of volunteering have increased in the past 12-months but are still drastically below pre-COVID levels. The data also suggests the relationship between people’s personal and professional lives has changed and people are seeking more flexible methods of engagement.
The organisation survey will explore the experience of organisations and groups, including how they have adapted to change over the past two years and what challenges they foresee going into the future. Through the research organisations will directly influence the development the first National Strategy for Volunteering in a decade.
If you represent an organisation or group involving volunteers, you are invited to have your say on the future of volunteering. Visit the National Strategy for Volunteering website to complete the survey and share it with your networks.
The Volunteering in Australia research is being undertaken in collaboration with the Australia National University Centre for Social Research and Methods, Curtin University, Griffith University, and the University of Western Australia.
More info: https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/#/
Image by Volunteering Australia.
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