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

Guide to onboarding

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

This guide provides practical advice on onboarding volunteers, covering the early stages of volunteer involvement and the steps organisations can take to help volunteers feel welcomed, informed and prepared for their role. It highlights the importance of clear communication, role clarity and early support.

The resource is designed for volunteer involving organisations and volunteer managers responsible for welcoming and supporting new volunteers.

Benefits for volunteer managers

  • supports positive first experiences for new volunteers
  • helps establish clear expectations and understanding of roles
  • encourages early engagement and confidence
  • contributes to volunteer satisfaction and retention.

How to apply this resource

This guide is most useful when welcoming new volunteers, reviewing onboarding practices, or strengthening induction and early support processes within the organisation.

Downloads and sources

More about the author

VolunteeringACT is the peak body for volunteering and community information in the Canberra Region, as well as being a service provider of programs for people experiencing disadvantage and isolation, people with disability, and people needing support for mental wellness.

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

Examples

Corporate policy statement: work health and safety

An example policy statement outlining workplace health and safety responsibilities, noting some content is specific to Western Australia.
1 minute read
WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction
General
Articles & Reports

Rethinking Recognition

This article explores how to recognise volunteers in a way that truly motivates them. It argues that traditional methods like awards ceremonies are outdated, and that volunteers value a more personal approach.
1 minute read
Engage Journal
General
Better Impact
Tech

Better Impact

Better Impact offers a comprehensive software solution for volunteer program management, to simplify administrative tasks and enhance volunteer engagement across every stage of the volunteer lifecycle.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Social media Donations
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
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
scheduled

Volunteer Management 101 

This interactive workshop provides participants with a sound understanding of best practice volunteer management. Participants will be taken through each stage of the volunteer’s involvement, based on the ‘life cycle’ model of volunteer management.
Volunteering Victoria
Free
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

Introduction to the Volunteer Involvement Cycle

Volunteering is more than just participation–it’s a structured journey requiring thoughtful planning to create meaningful experiences for both volunteers & organisations. Join us for an in-depth training session introducing the Volunteer Involvement cycle
Volunteering Victoria
Free