Skip to main content
Create an account for suggestions personalised to you and your organisation
Factsheets
1 minute read

Engaging Volunteers Factsheet

Meeting National Standards and Strategy Seal Meeting National Standards and Strategy What's this?

Introduction

Each year, millions of Australians contribute their time, energy and expertise to volunteering. Without their contributions, much of the work that charities do would not be possible. To support their contribution, this factsheet offers some things to keep in mind when engaging volunteers.

People placing hands on top of one another

Summary

This guide helps you find and support volunteers who are a great fit for your organisation.

The resources cover a range of essential topics, including:

  • Planning Your Roles

  • Recruitment

  • Onboarding and Support

  • Background Checks

  • Welcome and Induction

  • Training

  • Safety

Benefits for Volunteer Organisations & Managers

This guide helps you find and support passionate volunteers who contribute to your charity's success. This information empowers you as a volunteer management practitioner to build a strong volunteer team, ensuring your charity has the support it needs to thrive.

Downloads and sources

More about the author

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is the national regulator of charities.

Contribute to the Gateway

Leave feedback

Was this resource useful?

Make a Suggestion

If you find a great resource that isn't in the directory or want to provide feedback on the Volunteering Gateway, drop us a line!

More like this

Tools or Toolkits

Volunteer Value and Cost Calculators

The Volunteer Value and Cost Calculators estimate the financial cost of hiring paid staff to replace volunteer work. Simply enter the number of volunteer hours by age group, and the calculator provides a dollar value based on average local wages and employer costs.
1 minute read
The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering WA
General
Resources

Actions for Volunteer Linking Organisations to Support Online Accessibility for Volunteer Involving Organisations

The VIO Online Accessibility Survey highlights digital gaps in volunteering. It offers strategies, tools, and grants to boost digital capacity, especially for rural and small VIOs, promoting inclusive access and engagement across Australia.
1 minute read
The Knowledge Base, Volunteering ACT, The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering WA, National Volunteer Management Activity Project
Guides

National Standards for Volunteer Involvement

The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement are a best practice framework to guide volunteer involvement in Australia. They are an essential resource for Volunteer Managers.
1 minute read
Volunteering Australia
General
MyPass
Tech

MyPass

MyPass is volunteer onboarding and compliance management software centred around a digital Skills Passport, designed to help volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) reduce their risk and cost of operations.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Resource management Event management
Be Collective
Tech

Be Collective

A volunteer management & community engagement platform. Be Collective is all about empowering volunteering and the organisations supporting volunteering to build stronger, more sustainable networks for doing good.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management Donations
SEEK Volunteer
Tech

SEEK Volunteer

SEEK Volunteer helps connect people to volunteering opportunities that enrich their communities, lives and careers.
Recruitment
scheduled

Privacy Laws for Not-for-profits: Protecting Personal Information - Aug 2026

Stay up to date on privacy laws for not-for-profits in this practical webinar. Learn key obligations, recent reforms, data breach trends and OAIC priorities, plus how to manage personal information and respond to breaches.
Justice Connect's Not-for-profit Law Training
A$49.00
scheduled

Volunteering Rights and Responsibilities

This workshop is designed to build an understanding of volunteer and organisational rights, responsibilities and expected practice.
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

Board Inductions for Not-for-profits - July 2026

This webinar explores effective board induction processes for not‑for‑profits. Learn how to prepare, onboard and support board members, clarify roles and responsibilities, and implement induction practices that strengthen governance.
Justice Connect's Not-for-profit Law Training
A$49.00