Overview

The Volunteer Involvement Cycle is a tool that aims to equip volunteer managers with the knowledge, skills, and resources to enhance the volunteer experience, from recruitment through the entire volunteer cycle.

Stages of the Volunteer Involvement Cycle

There are four stages to the Volunteer Involvement Cycle - Prepare, Recruit, Support and Evaluate.  Each stage comprises three additional focus areas to guide you through the cycle.

Prepare

This stage involves the planning for volunteer involvement including program and role design, ensuring support and resourcing.

The Prepare stage is comprised of the focus areas of Governance, Design and Resource.

Recruit

This stage involves the promotion of your volunteer roles and opportunities, volunteer selection and screening and volunteer onboarding.

The Recruit stage is comprised of the focus areas of Promote, Select and Onboard.

Support

This stage involves the day to day activities of volunteer management including developing and supporting volunteers, communication, and recognition.

The Support stage is comprised of the focus areas of Develop, Communicate and Recognise.

Evaluate

This stage involves collecting and analysing volunteer feedback, program evaluation and sharing impact.

The Evaluate stage is comprised of the focus areas of Feedback, Review and Share Impact.

Each stage of this cycle may be happening simultaneously, as people who lead and manage volunteers are often juggling many priorities.

Click here to download the Volunteer Involvement Cycle Model.

National Standards for Volunteer Involvement

The National Standards provide guidance for the volunteer sector in Australia. They form  a best practice framework to help organisations engage volunteers.

The Volunteer Involvement Cycle is a tool to better understand the stages of volunteer involvement, and what’s involved.

Each stage of the Volunteer Involvement Cycle aligns with the National Standards.

Volunteer Involvement Cycle Training

Each Volunteering Peak Body runs training sessions on the Volunteer Involvement Cycle.

If you would like support in understanding volunteer management best practice and using the Volunteer Involvement Cycle, please reach out to your local Volunteering Peak Body.

Acknowledgement

The Volunteer Involvement Lifecycle has been developed in consultations with volunteer leaders and volunteers across the sector under the National Volunteer Management Activity project.