Overview

The value of volunteering is immense and irreplaceable.  

One of the best ways to demonstrate the importance of volunteering to the Australian community is to ensure volunteers’ contributions are recognised, valued and accounted for.

Valuing the time and efforts of volunteers is crucial to retain them. Recognising and Rewarding volunteers is an essential part of best practise for volunteer management.

There are many ways that managers of volunteers, staff and other volunteers within the organisation can show that they appreciate and value the efforts of all the members of the volunteer team. The National Standards for volunteer involvement in part focuses on organisational practices which serve to ensure your volunteers’ efforts are recognised appropriately.

Celebrating Volunteers

National Volunteer Week provides a national focus for organisations wanting to recruit volunteers and to promote the value of volunteering to the community. 

Each year, Volunteering Australia adopts a different theme that is launched during a week in May and used for the following 12 months.

Any organisation involving volunteers is welcome to participate in the week and use the themes to promote volunteering in their local area.

International Volunteer Manager Day is celebrated annually on November 5th.

This annual event recognises the efforts of the dedicated group of volunteer resources managers who are responsible for the coordination, support, training, administration, leadership and recruitment of the world's volunteers.

These are skilled individuals who are adept at taking a singular passion and turning it into effective action.

International Volunteer Day was declared to be December 5th by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. 

In Australia, International Volunteer Day has been designated as a day for the recognition of volunteer involvement. This is a special day on which Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) can thank their volunteer staff for their contributions. 

National Student Volunteer Week has been coordinated and delivered nationally by Volunteering Queensland since 2013 and is supported by Volunteering Australia and all State and Territory Peak Volunteering bodies. National Student Volunteer Week acknowledges and celebrates student volunteers and promotes volunteering to students and young people across Australia.

All education providers, VIOs and students across the country are invited to participate in National Student Volunteer Week

Other ways to recognise volunteers

Recognising volunteers doesn’t have to involve spending a lot of money. There are many ways you can show them your appreciation without having to spend a cent! Start by saying 'thank you' during National Volunteer Week and on International Volunteer Day, and keep showing your gratitude all year round. It's also important to encourage the staff who supervise the volunteers to do the same. A smile and a sincere thank you go a long way to making volunteers feel valued and appreciated.

Some ideas include:

• Provide a warm welcome for each new volunteer
• Provide free tea and coffee during breaks
• Provide training, support and guidance in their role
• Offer opportunities for professional development
• Make personal follow-up/check-in phone calls to volunteers from time to time
• Use social media to thank and recognise volunteers publicly
• Celebrate birthdays and service anniversaries
• Ask volunteers for their opinions when developing new policies and strategies
• Involve volunteers in morning teas, coffee breaks and team catch ups
  

More suggestions for recognising volunteers

Acknowledgement

This downloadable resource has been developed under the National Volunteer Management Activity project.