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

Volunteering and boundaries

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

This guide explains what professional boundaries are, why they matter, and how boundary issues can arise within volunteering programs, roles and relationships.

Benefits for volunteer managers

  • set professional boundaries in volunteering
  • maintain safe and appropriate relationship and volunteering environments.

How to apply this resource

Use this guide to inform policies, training and supervision practices related to volunteer conduct and safety.

Downloads and sources

Visit source (opens in new tab)

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.
hello@volunteeringaustralia.org 02 6189 4921
Visit website (opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)

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

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
Resources

Volunteer Involving Organisations Online Accessibility Survey

This report and executive summary references a survey on Online Accessibility for Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs)
1 minute read
The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering ACT, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering WA, The Knowledge Base
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
VIKTOR Lite
Tech

VIKTOR Lite

VIKTOR Lite enables volunteer involving organisations to recruit volunteers via a range of websites run by local governments, state peaks, local volunteer resource centres, Volunteering Australia and SEEK Volunteer.
Volunteer database Recruitment Onboarding / training Reporting
FreddyMatch
Tech

FreddyMatch

FreddyMatch is a web-based platform that facilitates and optimises the process of volunteering. We help match organisations and volunteers based on their unique interests, skill sets, location and availability using the “FreddyMatch” algorithm.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management
scheduled

Managing Member Disputes and Board Conflict - Dec 2026

Learn how to prevent, manage and resolve disputes in not-for-profits. This practical webinar explores common conflicts, legal requirements, dispute resolution processes and governance tools, with expert guidance, resources, recording and slides included.
Justice Connect's Not-for-profit Law Training
–
Free
scheduled

Becoming an Inclusive Volunteer Involving Organisation

This free inclusion workshop explores how to build inclusive volunteering opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Learn to identify and reduce barriers, support young people, and create inclusive teams and workplaces.
The Centre for Volunteering
–
Free
scheduled

3Rs: Recruitment, Retention & Recognition

Participants will use the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement to develop or improve an existing volunteer program so that they can successfully recruit, retain and recognise the important contribution volunteers make.
Volunteering Victoria
–
Free