Overview

The NSW Youth Volunteering Guidelines were developed following recommendations made by the NSW Volunteering Taskforce and consultations with the sector and young people.

The Youth Volunteering Guidelines are an initiative under the NSW Volunteering Strategy 2020-2030, which aims to support volunteer involving organisations to engage with young people and encourage them into volunteering roles. 

About the Guidelines

The guidelines provide guidance, strategies and ideas around how to remove and reduce barriers to participation experienced by young people and provide suggestions on how to recruit, retain and recognise young volunteers. It will enable organisations to develop a plan that is adaptable and flexible, and best fits the organisation and the young people involved.

The guidelines are shaped by three overarching pillars and underpinned by eight youth engagement principles:

Recruit

Achieve growth in participation by young people from across all parts of the community through the broad promotion of opportunities, including the benefits that volunteering can provide. 

This includes principles: 

• supportive adult relationships
• authentic youth voice
• team building
• reflection.

Retain

Support continued active participation by young people in the volunteering sector by providing a range of suitable, meaningful and diverse roles and experiences that are informed by youth voice. 

This includes principles:

• supportive adult relationships
• authentic youth voice
• youth-led activities – design and implementation
• team building
• knowledge and skill building
• network building.

Recognise

Acknowledge and showcase the contribution that young people make to the volunteering sector through a variety of means.

This includes principles: 

• authentic youth voice
• recognition.

Download the NSW Youth Volunteering Guidelines