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

Staff vs Intern vs Volunteer

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

Welcome

This article helps volunteer organisations understand the definitions of volunteering, internships, and employment to help ensure they manage unpaid work arrangements correctly and continue to benefit from valuable volunteer contributions.

More about the authors

The Centre for Volunteering (The Centre) is a not-for-profit organisation with almost 50 years’ experience providing leadership on volunteering in NSW. This involves playing a key role in advocacy, support services and sector development.

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

Resources

Becoming an Inclusive Volunteer Mentor

This online course equips volunteers to mentor participants with disabilities as part of the Inclusive Volunteering Pathways to Employment Program. It covers inclusion, disability, and mentor responsibilities
1 minute read
Volunteering ACT, The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering Tasmania, The Knowledge Base
Articles & Reports

Youth Leading Youth: A Look at Organisations Led by Young People

The report, based on the 'Youth Leading Youth' research project by Volunteering Qld, highlights the importance of culture, engagement strategies, and leadership in youth-led organisations. It offers practical recommendations for attracting, retaining, and motivating young volunteers.
1 minute read
Volunteering Queensland
Youth or Student, General
Resources

Engaging Volunteers with Disability

These guides, videos and e-learning helps volunteer organisations attract, support, and retain volunteers with disabilities, including those with autism and cerebral palsy. It provides practical tips and tools for creating a more inclusive environment.
1 minute read
The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering ACT, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering WA, The Knowledge Base
Volaby
Tech

Volaby

Volaby is an end-to-end volunteer and people management platform, enabling organisations to do more with less! Built from the collective voice of our volunteer managers using the platform, Volaby helps you automate and simplify the volunteer and manager experience to save time and scale impact.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Event management
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
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

August Volunteer Leadership Network meeting 2026

Hear from 2026 Queensland Excellence in Volunteer Management Award recipient Nicole Ashley on designing positive volunteer journeys, improving retention and building a culture of appreciation.
Volunteering Queensland
Free
scheduled

Cairns Satellite Event - Queensland Volunteering Conference

Volunteering Queensland and FNQ Volunteers Inc invite regional communities to connect with the 2026 Queensland Volunteering Conference. This affordable two-day event ($38) offers local learning, networking and collaboration opportunities.
Volunteering Queensland
A$38.00
scheduled

Bridge to Volunteering - An introduction to volunteering

Learn about volunteering including the benefits of volunteering, rights and responsibilities, and how to get involved in your community.
The Centre for Volunteering
Free