Overview

Leaders of volunteers engage with volunteers to meet the goals and objectives of your organisation’s programs or projects.

Volunteer engagement includes a range of activities that support the development and sustainability of a skilled and engaged volunteer workforce. In larger not for profit organisations it is usually handled by a dedicated role often called a Volunteer Coordinator or Volunteer Manager. In smaller organisations the work may be carried out by a volunteer, or group of volunteers who may or may not identify with a specific role of leader of volunteers.

Leaders of Volunteers are Leaders

Volunteer engagement and management requires strong leadership abilities.

Leading volunteers can require more expertise than managing paid staff. If you have found yourself in such a role, you are someone who possesses the leadership skills and qualities to bring the volunteer team together to work towards the organisation’s mission.

As an aspiring, new or existing leader of volunteers it is important to continually develop and sharpen your leadership skills to ensure success.

Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, newly arrived migrants and volunteers with a disability, present their own unique challenges and barriers. As a Volunteer Leader, it is important to understand these challenges and how to address them. 

Refer to the articles below for further information on each subject.

Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Engaging Newly Arrived Migrants

Engaging Volunteers with Disability

Additional Resources

The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement Refer to National Standard 1 - Volunteering is embedded in leadership, governance and culture

Understanding Volunteer Leadership and Engagement in Multicultural Settings - This discussion paper, written by Henrietta Podgorska of Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services Inc, captures the essence of shared experiences to overcome the unique challenges volunteer leaders face in diverse settings. More information is available on the Engaging Newly Arrived Migrants article.

Volunteer Management Handbook

Acknowledgement

The 2023 refresh of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement was funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services under the Volunteer Management Activity. Intellectual Property for the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement belongs to Volunteering Australia.