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
Take a quick survey to help us improve your experience.

Research and Reports
1 minute read

Volunteering and psychological contract

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

Introduction

This document delves into the crucial role of managing volunteers within organisations. It introduces the concept of the psychological contract, which represents the unspoken expectations between volunteers and organisations. This concept is key to fostering a positive relationship where both parties' needs are met.

The Importance of Alignment

The text underscores the necessity of aligning volunteers' expectations with the support organisations provide. Recognising and understanding what motivates volunteers, alongside strategic recruitment and the importance of demographic factors, are highlighted as essential for a productive volunteer experience.

Enhancing Volunteer Retention

The document discusses how breaches in the psychological contract can affect volunteers' willingness to continue their efforts and the significance of organisational support in retaining them. It suggests that investing in volunteer management, through careful planning, recruitment, orientation, and tailored recognition, can bolster volunteer retention.

Benefits for Organisations

For volunteer organisations and management practitioners, this document offers valuable insights into improving volunteer engagement and retention. By focusing on the psychological contract and ensuring volunteers' needs and expectations are met, organisations can create a more supportive and effective volunteering environment. This approach not only benefits the volunteers but also enhances the organisation's ability to fulfil its vision and work more efficiently.

Hager, Mark & Renfro, Kathy. (2020). Volunteer Management and the Psychological Contract. 10.4324/9781315181011-22.


Downloads and sources

More about the authors



Contribute to the Gateway


More like this

Articles & Reports

Young People as Volunteers: A guide to moving beyond traditional practices

This report by Volunteering Queensland offers strategies for engaging young volunteers, highlighting the importance of a flexible culture, networking, and partnerships. It includes case studies of successful organisations and emphasises the benefits of youth involvement in community activities.
1 minute read
Volunteering Queensland
Youth or Student, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) +1 more
Resources

Recruit and Retain Volunteers

This eLearning course is designed to equip you with the skills to recruit the perfect volunteer leaders and develop strategies to keep them engaged and motivated.
1 minute read
The Knowledge Base, Volunteering Services Australia, Useability
Resources

Organisation and Management Structures

This guide explains organisational structures, including levels of authority, boards, CEOs, and volunteer leadership.
1 minute read
The Knowledge Base, Volunteering ACT, The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering WA
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
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

The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement and Accreditation

Take the next step in your volunteer involvement by pursuing National Standards accreditation
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

Writing Successful Grant Applications

Whether you are new to grant writing or looking at increasing your knowledge, this information session will enable you to start writing grants with confidence.
Volunteering WA
Free for VWA full members, Others $30
scheduled

Panel Discussion: The Importance of Continuous Improvement

Join us for a panel discussion on Standard 8 of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement
The Centre for Volunteering
Free