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A more sustainable volunteer workforce
Better health, wellbeing, effectiveness and sustainability volunteers.
Our work supported the health, wellbeing, effectiveness and sustainability of Australia’s vital volunteer workforce.
Blueprint and framework for strengthened volunteer workforce
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Evidence supporting recruitment/ retention of 26,000 WA volunteers
There is nothing more important for the future of Australia’s disaster resilience than supporting sustainable, rewarding and impactful volunteering that is valued right across our society.
Evidence for how to attract and retain volunteers into the future
The emergency management sector could not function without Australia’s 235,000 volunteers – they are the workforce that sustains disaster risk reduction and emergency response in this country.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, these volunteers are taking on an increased burden of helping to prepare for fires, floods and cyclones, and helping to repair damage afterwards.
Yet the volunteer workforce is declining in numbers, at the same time as there is more need than ever for communities to be involved in resilience. Without national coordination, we can’t be sure this workforce will be sustained into the future.
As the nature of volunteering changes, we fund research that helps agencies to better plan for the future and sustain a volunteer workforce.
The Centre’s research aims to make it easier for people to volunteer, find ways to retain them in the system, inform their training, health and safety, and find innovative new ways of using technology to undertake some tasks.
Research outputs
- A strategic framework for emergency management sustainable volunteering
- Resource kit for emergency service volunteer leaders.
Research in action
Helping leaders to attract and retain volunteers
Evidence on what engages and motivates volunteers has been translated into impactful resources used by leaders to support their workforce.
A best practice blueprint for a thriving volunteer sector
This research has been used in developing a national approach for a more sustainable volunteer workforce.