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

Creating positive volunteer inductions

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

This guide provides practical advice on how to create and deliver effective volunteer inductions. It highlights the importance of induction in welcoming volunteers, introducing them to the organisation and ensuring they have the information needed for a positive experience.

The resource supports organisations to design flexible and engaging induction processes, tailored to volunteer roles, organisational context and individual needs.

Benefits for volunteer managers

  • conduct structured and consistent induction approaches
  • help volunteers to feel welcomed and part of the organisation
  • clarfiy volunteer roles, expectations and policies
  • improve volunteer engagement and retention.

How to apply this resource

This guide is most useful when developing or improving volunteer induction processes, onboarding new volunteers, or strengthening early engagement and support practices.

Downloads and sources

More about the author

National organisation supporting volunteering and volunteer-involving organisations across Ireland.

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

Information

Finding the perfect volunteering role

A guide to help people consider their interests, skills and circumstances when choosing a volunteering role.
1 minute read
Volunteering Australia
General
Research and Reports

Evidence insights: volunteering and mental health

A summary of research insights on the effects of volunteering on mental health, drawing on Australian and international studies.
1 minute read
Volunteering Australia
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Resources

Snapshot of Volunteering in Australia

Commissioned by all State and Territory Volunteering Peak Bodies, this 2023 report offers a national snapshot of volunteering in Australia, highlighting its social and economic value and the unique characteristics of the volunteer landscape.
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
GoodCompany
Tech

GoodCompany

GoodCompany is a Workplace Giving Platform based in Australia and NZ. It's designed to enable companies and their people to come together to donate, volunteer, fundraise, and match donations for the charities closest to their hearts.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management Donations
INVOLVE
Tech

INVOLVE

Volunteer management a headache? INVOLVE simplifies everything! Automate tasks, gain instant insights, schedule visually, track hours effortlessly, and collaborate seamlessly. Built in Australia, your data's safe. Focus on your purpose, not admin.
Volunteer database Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting 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
scheduled

Use Communication to Build Relationships (CHCCOM002) for Volunteer Leaders

Explore communication techniques, responding to difficult conversations and communication barriers. Use Communication to Build Relationships (CHCCOM002) can be taken as a professional development workshop or a nationally recognised unit of competency.
The Centre for Volunteering
Check Listing for Details
scheduled

Panel Discussion: The Value of a Diverse Volunteer Workforce

Develop a deeper understanding of diversity and how it relates to inclusion.
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

Not-for-profit Risk: Current Legal Issues for the Board Agenda - Sep 2026

Stay up to date on key legal risks affecting not-for-profits. This webinar covers psychosocial hazards, privacy, cyber security and AI, with practical guidance on risk management, director liability and governance.
Justice Connect's Not-for-profit Law Training
A$49.00