Skip to main content

What are you looking for?

Enter keywords to search across resources, guides, training, tools, and more.

Create an account for suggestions personalised to you and your organisation

Guides
1 minute read

National Standards for Volunteer Involvement

Meeting National Standards and Strategy What's this?

Building Strong Volunteer Programs

The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement (National Standards) are a best practice framework to guide volunteer involvement in Australia. They are an essential resource for Volunteer Managers.

The National Standards can be used flexibly, recognising that volunteering takes place in highly diverse settings and ways.

Content accessed through this site aims to meet these standards, or help Volunteer Managers reflect or achieve them in their programs. Content that aligns with the National Standards is indicated with a National Standards badge.

Content can also be filtered by each National Standard if there are specific resources you are looking for.

Why are the National Standards Important?

The National Standards provide Volunteer Managers with a foundation for best practice program design and implementation. They are supported by a suite of resources and tools to help you apply them in your role. Adoption of the National Standards has direct benefits to both your volunteers and your organisation, they:

  • help improve the volunteer experience, ensure the wellbeing of volunteers and that their contributions are valued.

  • provide best practice guidance and benchmarks to help you and your organisation attract, manage and retain volunteers.

  • Support effective risk and safety practices.

  • Showcase your commitment to responsible and ethical volunteer management.

There are eight standards:

  1. Volunteering is embedded in leadership, governance and culture

  2. Volunteer participation is championed and modelled

  3. Volunteer roles are meaningful and tailored

  4. Recruitment is equitable and diversity is valued

  5. Volunteers are supported and developed

  6. Volunteer safety and wellbeing is protected

  7. Volunteers are recognised

  8. Policies and practices are continuously improved

How Does Volunteer Gateway Support the National Standards?

The resources and information available on Volunteer Gateway are designed to be aligned with the National Standards. You'll see the National Standards badge displayed throughout the website to identify content that directly addresses specific standards.

Filtering by National Standards:

Looking for resources that target a particular aspect of volunteer management? Our search function allows you to filter content by the National Standard it addresses. This streamlines your search and ensures you find the most relevant resources to meet your specific needs.

Explore the Standards:

We encourage you to delve deeper into the National Standards and their supporting resources and tools via the Downloads and Sources below.


Downloads and sources

Download resource
National Standards for Volunteering Involvement Poster (PNG • 51.32 KB)

More about the author

Volunteering Australia is the national peak body for volunteering, working to advance volunteering in the Australian community. Their vision is to promote strong, connected communities through volunteering, and their mission is to lead, strengthen, promote and celebrate volunteering in Australia.

Contribute to the Gateway


More like this

Weblinks

ARCHIVED: Which Country am I on?

This article helps identify the traditional owners of the land you're on in Australia. It emphasises respect and reconciliation, with links to AIATSIS maps and resources and Aboriginal Land Councils
1 minute read
The Knowledge Base, The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
First Nations, General
e-learning

Breaking Down the Barriers to Youth Volunteering

This e-learning course equips youth volunteer managers with strategies to attract, retain and engage young volunteers through project redesign and practical activities
1 minute read
The Knowledge Base, The Centre for Volunteering, Soulgen
Youth or Student, General
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
Rosterfy
Tech

Rosterfy

Rosterfy is an end-to-end volunteer management software solution, that helps organisations streamline their volunteer management and engagement. Rosterfy offers automated solutions to manage volunteers efficiently.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management
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
Emergency Support Volunteering website
Tech

Emergency Support Volunteering website

The Emergency Support Volunteering website allows volunteers in Western Australia to register to help in emergencies, organisations needing support can also register to contact volunteers for assistance.
Volunteer database Recruitment Reporting
scheduled

Panel Discussion: Providing a Safe and Healthy Volunteering Experience

Join us for a panel discussion on Standard 6 of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

NSW Youth Volunteering Guidelines

Join us for a deep dive into the NSW Youth Volunteering Guidelines with our Director: Sector Development and Enagagement, Clint Bertenshaw.
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

Panel Discussion: Reward and Recognition for Retention

Join us for a panel discussion on Standard 7 of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement
The Centre for Volunteering
Free