Policies, programs, and supporting structures

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is committed to supporting the sport sector to enable more people to volunteer in sport and to enhance the sport volunteering experience.

• Sport Volunteer Coalition (launched December 2021). Formed to provide expert advice and guidance in the development of a four-year action plan.
• Sport Volunteer Coalition Action Plan, (launched September 2022). Through the Action Plan, the ASC and Sport Volunteer Coalition will showcase the benefits of volunteering in sport for individuals and communities. The ASC invites organisations from across the sport sector to read and digest the Action Plan and reach out regarding opportunities to work together to continue to enhance the volunteer experience and encourage new volunteers to join their sport.
• Sport Volunteering National Plan (2021). The National Sport Volunteering Plan outlines the ASC’s role in leading and supporting sport to navigate the evolving volunteer landscape. The impact of the national plan will be assessed annually over an initial four-year period.
• The Future of Sport Volunteering Insights Report - 2021, (April 2021). This document provides a series of actionable insights and tools that can bring about immediate, and long-term change across the sector. The tools are designed with both a short- and long-term view. In the short term, you have a range of actions that can be implemented immediately. In the long term, you can use the tools to stretch your thinking and discover new ideas.

Other research and resources

• Volunteer Resource Hub, (launched August 2023). A one-stop-shop, designed to bring together useful resources, tools and practical tips and tricks in one place. These resources will assist you to attract, retain and celebrate volunteers at the heart of your club and community sport more broadly.
• Volunteer stories, (accessed 17 August 2023). Video stories from various volunteers in different roles and sports across the sector.
• Game Plan, (accessed 12 September 2023). Volunteers are the heart of every club. Game Plan is a free online platform that makes it easy for club leaders to assess and analyse information about holistic club operations, to make good immediate decisions whilst developing clear plans for the club’s future.
• Market Segmentation Study for Volunteers, opens in a new tab, (2014). This research identified segments of the Australian community with the greatest potential for recruitment as sports volunteers and assesses the best practices and strategies for recruiting and retaining current volunteers. The study also provides key insights for the sport sector to better understand their volunteer workforce and how they might need to manage them into the future.
• The economic contribution of sport to Australia - 2009, Frontier Economics report to the Australian Sports Commission, (2010). There are three main ways in which sport delivers economic benefits to society: (1) promoting physical activity for public health benefit delivers an estimated saving of $12 billion in health care costs; (2) labour input of volunteers is valued at around $4 billion; and (3) the international success of elite Australian sportspeople is one of the most significant, measurable positive impacts on social well-being; with a value that is likely to exceed the current annual budget for elite sports.

Volunteering Australia, opens in a new tab is the national peak body working to advance volunteering in the Australian community. Its role is to represent the diverse views and needs of the volunteering sector while promoting the activity of volunteering as one of enduring social, cultural, and economic value.

• National Strategy for Volunteering 2023-2033, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia, (2023). The National Strategy for Volunteering sets out the desired outcomes for volunteering in Australia over the next ten years. It provides a clear and compelling case, underpinned by robust data and evidence, for targeted and sufficient investment in volunteering and celebration of the role it plays in creating thriving communities.
  • The most common types of organisations volunteered for are sport and recreation (25%), community services, welfare, and homelessness (22%), and religious, faith-based, and spiritual (20%).
  • Examining the data by sector, organisations from the Emergency Services / Disaster Relief and Sport / Recreation sectors were more likely to report rising community expectations as a driver of change.
• Volunteering Research Papers Initiative, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia, (2022-2023). The Volunteering Research Papers aimed to capture evidence on a wide range of topics related to volunteering and outline key insights for policy and practice. The 21 Volunteering Research Papers are peer reviewed, and insights will directly inform the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering.
• Volunteering in Australia 2022: The Volunteer Perspective, opens in a new tab, Biddle, N., Boyer, C., Gray, M., et al., Volunteering Australia, (2022). As part of the Volunteering in Australia research, this report provides an important contribution to the evidence base informing the National Strategy for Volunteering. The focus of this report is the organisational perspective. We explore the characteristics of volunteer involving organisations and the challenges they are facing. The research draws on a literature review and several data sources. New data collection was undertaken through a survey and focus groups during May-June 2022.
• Volunteering in Australia 2022: The Organisation Perspective, opens in a new tab, Holmes, K., Dunlop, P. D., Lockstone-Binney, L., et al., Volunteering Australia, (2022). As part of the Volunteering in Australia research, this report provides an important contribution to the evidence base informing the National Strategy for Volunteering. The focus of this report is the organisational perspective. We explore the characteristics of volunteer involving organisations and the challenges they are facing. The research draws on a literature review and several data sources. New data collection was undertaken through a survey and focus groups during May-June 2022.
• Fact Sheets about Volunteering in Australia, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia, (accessed 23 August 2023). Volunteering Australia has a number of different information sheets outlining key facts, statistics, policy stances or common language used in the volunteering sector.
• Research, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia, (accessed 23 August 2023). Volunteering Australia’s priorities, decisions, policies, and activities are informed by evidence and research, and we actively seek to support the research that is needed to advance volunteering policy and practice.
• State of Volunteering in Australia report, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia/PWC, (April 2016). Volunteering Australia and PwC conducted a survey to analyse the current state of volunteering in Australia, and to identify opportunities to maximise the potential of the volunteer workforce.
• The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia, (May 2015). The new Standards incorporate significant changes to the original standards in order to reflect best practice in volunteer management in Australia’s current work environment. The Standards provide a sound framework for supporting the volunteer sector in Australia. The Standards adaptable to different organisation types and different forms of volunteering which reflect the diversity of this growing sector.

Go Volunteer, opens in a new tab is an initiative of Volunteering Australia. It provides a national database that aims to match people who are interested in volunteering with appropriate opportunities. Volunteering Australia also provides volunteer resources and maintains State Volunteer Centres.