Further resources and reading

Dive deeper into the research on what supports and limits volunteering in sport.
Dive deeper into the research on what supports and limits volunteering in sport.
How can we bolster Australia’s depleted army of volunteers to match the soaring demand for their services?, opens in a new tab Amanda Davies, The Conversation, (17 May 2023). The COVID-19 pandemic hit volunteering very hard. By June 2021, volunteer numbers in Australia had fallen by 37% from the start of the pandemic. To try to rebuild the ranks of volunteers, Volunteering Australia recently released a government-funded national strategy. It outlines 11 strategic objectives for the next ten years to secure the future of volunteering in Australian communities.
National Sport Participation Strategy: Brief results, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 9 November 2023). More than 6,600 Australians, including 2760 who currently volunteer in community sport, responded to the survey providing valuable insights into the sporting landscape. The figures below provide a breakdown of some of the survey respondent demographics and most commonly identified motivators and barriers to participating in sport. When it comes to volunteering in sport you told us that the biggest barrier was not knowing how you could contribute (61%), and that volunteering takes up too much time (54%).
Other barriers were lack of confidence (44%), injury/poor health (17%), lack of interest (17%), inflexible timetables (14%), not inclusive enough (13%), inflexible roles (10%).
Only 3% of respondents said there were no barriers to volunteering.
Volunteer groups tap into 'elixir of youth' in WA after rebranding on social media, opens in a new tab, Kate Leaver, ABC Radio Perth, (16 February 2022). Keen to attract people aged in their 20s and better understand their hesitancy, Volunteering WA took the unusual step of employing a marketing agency to kickstart the sector's makeover. To kickstart the campaign, the agency enlisted the support of two Perth-based youth organisations, Oli Clothing and sunrise swimming and mental health group Cold Nips to tap into their networks of thousands on social media.
Sport Volunteering, opens in a new tab, Russell Hoye, Graham Cuskelly, Chris Auld, et.al., Routledge, (2019). The book focuses on the psychology of the voluntary experience, the challenges inherent in managing a volunteer workforce for not-for-profit and other groups, and the development of volunteers. It provides a perspective on the roles of volunteers in the development and delivery of sport in a range of contexts – events, clubs, associations and other non-profit groups – and explores important contemporary issues such as sustainability, diversity and the management of risk.
Sports Volunteers Around the Globe: Meaning and Understanding of Volunteering and its Societal Impact, opens in a new tab, Kristin Hallmann, Sheranne Fairley (eds.), Springer, (2018). Includes 25 studies providing a comprehensive overview of volunteering in different countries (including Australia), such as motivations of volunteers, satisfaction of volunteers, their perceived cost and benefits, and many other areas.
Non-playing roles and volunteering, opens in a new tab, data visualisation report, Australian Sports Commission, (updated April and October annually). The AusPlay volunteering module collects information about involvement in non-playing roles by adults (aged 15+) in sport and physical activity, and whether payment or other compensation was received for undertaking these roles. All results (except when year on year comparisons are displayed) are based on aggregated data collected from the start of the AusPlay volunteering module in July 2019, including data up to the latest AusPlay release.
Sport Volunteering in Europe: Realities, opportunities and challenges, opens in a new tab, V4V: Skills acquired through volunteering in sport project, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (October 2023). This report is the first intellectual output from V4V, a major three-year collaborative partnership project, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ sport programme, consisting of 12 partners (national and international federations, universities and education bodies, sport and research institutes, and national, European and global umbrella organisations) all of whom have a deep interest in the promotion and development of sport volunteering. V4V was led and coordinated by the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). Key findings include: Facilitators - Most of all, volunteers want to be involved in a sport they feel passionate about. They like to feel needed by others, and they enjoy working as part of a team. They want to meet people and make new friends through sport. They want to make a positive difference to the lives of others.
Barriers - Lack of time in a busy life schedule is the biggest barrier. Over one third identified lack of recognition for volunteering efforts. 
Many said potential volunteers lack the necessary financial resources.
Youth Volunteering: Key Statistics,, opens in a new tabVolunteering Australia, (August 2023). The data presented here is taken from several sources, specifically Volunteering in Australia research undertaken in 2022 to inform the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering, the General Social Survey (GSS) 2019 and 2020, the Household Impacts of COVID-19 surveys (the February, March, April, and June waves). 25% of people aged 18-24 years volunteered formally (through an organisation or group) in 2022. This is an estimated 572,635 volunteers.
Volunteers aged 15-24 are more likely than those in other age groups to volunteer for fewer hours. However, the proportion of young volunteers who volunteer for 100 hours or more increased significantly between 2019 and 2020.
There are some differences by age in how people volunteer, though perhaps not as much as one might assume. Older people are relatively more likely to volunteer in person at an organisation or over the phone, whereas younger people were more likely to volunteer in the field or over the internet.
Those aged 18 to 34 years are more likely to report financial reasons for not volunteering (25.5%) compared to those aged 35 to 54 years (16.7%) and those aged 55 years and over (9.3%).
Older Australians were less likely to report a lack of suitable opportunities as a reason they do not volunteer. This indicates that younger volunteers may have more difficulty connecting with volunteering opportunities that interest them.
Volunteering inclusion for people from CALD backgrounds, opens in a new tab, Carissa Jedwab, Volunteering Australia, (July 2023). There is a strong social and economic case for building culturally and linguistically diverse* (CALD) communities’ inclusion in structured forms of volunteering within organisations (‘formal volunteering’). Positive benefits such as improved social and cultural integration has been shown to have direct correlation to successful settlement of new arrivals, as well as building confidence, English language skills, and practical experience within an Australian workplace. Volunteers also impart valuable cultural capital that is of benefit to individuals, groups and volunteer involving organisations.
Factors influencing older adults’ decisions to volunteer, opens in a new tab, Tim Windsor, Leeann Mahlo, Susan Gordon, et al., Volunteering Australia, (July 2023). To create sustainable opportunities that support volunteering among older adults, it is first important to understand the factors that influence older people’s decisions about whether to volunteer. Previous Australian research has identified the perceived need for training, a greater flexibility in and diversity of options available to volunteers, and more opportunities for intergenerational volunteering as key incentives identified by older adults. More recent Australian research identified the flexibility and variety of available roles and importance of feeling valued as a volunteer, along with opportunities for intergenerational and/or cross-cultural exchange, and ultimately, ability to derive meaning and sense of purpose as incentives. Barriers to volunteering include negative perceptions of volunteer activities, fear of ageism and concerns regarding increasing regulatory constraints on organisations, as well as out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., associated with transport/travel and telecommunications), and for most non-volunteers, being “too busy”.
European Report on Skills Needs Identification: Situation, trends, perspectives and priorities for the sport and physical activity sector, opens in a new tab, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (March 2023). In every nation in Europe, the backbone of the sector is a network of sport clubs, most of which are volunteer-run and not-for-profit. The contribution of volunteers to the sport sector, which while not direct financing is worth billions of euros to the European sport sector and indeed sport would grind to a halt without volunteer input of time and effort to make sport happen in communities. In relation to benefits of volunteering, some of the key insights include: It will be important for the sector to promote the positives of volunteering as opposed to ‘exploiting’ volunteers at the expense of employing paid staff. It may be important in the future for organisations to have a clear volunteering strategy which, whilst valuing volunteering, also provides routes to accredited training/ qualifications for volunteers and opportunities for volunteers to transition to part-time or self-employed status perhaps through entrepreneurial training.
The skills and attributes acquired through volunteering experiences in the sector should also be emphasised to support personal development as well as employability and career development. This could be a strong added value to encourage citizens to get involved in volunteering activities all over Europe.
An organisation that uses services of volunteers should take care of improving their qualifications to prepare them for their roles. Nonformal education of volunteers must be an important element supporting sports volunteering.
Understanding volunteer motivations and concerns in coaching and officiating basketball: implications for sport policy: Research summary, opens in a new tab, Meghan Casey, Jack Harvey, Melanie Charity, et al., Physical Activity and Sport Insights (PASI), (2023). It is positive that COVID-19 and associated restrictions do not appear to have severely negatively impact volunteer coaches and officials' intentions to return to basketball. Recruitment and retention of volunteers should focus on their motivations of fun, to help others and to support family and friends.
Online volunteering: Unlocking untapped potential, opens in a new tab, Debbie Haski-Leventhal, Irit Alony, Paul Flemons, et al., Volunteering Australia, (November 2022). Online volunteering (also known as virtual volunteering, digital volunteering, or e-volunteering) is defined by two main components: the volunteering component and the online component. Like traditional volunteering, it is unpaid work which requires volunteers’ time investment and the creation of benefits for others. However, unlike traditional volunteering, it occurs fully or partially on the internet. Online systems play a crucial role in volunteer recruitment, facilitating tasks, and volunteers’ work and often involves specialised systems infrastructure, focusing on civic engagement. A study on the topic highlights how volunteering, even when done online, can still help meet the volunteers’ self-actualisation needs6 with unique advantages in information processing and communication.
Volunteering in Australia 2022: The volunteer perspective, opens in a new tab, Nicholas Biddle, Charlotte Boyer, Matthew Gray, et al., Volunteering Australia, (October 2022). The focus of this report is the volunteer perspective. We explore the characteristics of volunteers and volunteering and how this has changed over the last decade and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The research draws on several data sources, including the ANUpoll series of surveys with the most recent data collected in April 2022.
Volunteering in Australia 2022: The organisation perspective, opens in a new tab, Kirsten Homes, Patrick Dunlop, Leonie Lockston-Binney, et al., Volunteering Australia, (October 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.
Understanding Motivations to Volunteer, opens in a new tab, Arthur Stukas, Sarah Wilson, Volunteering Australia, (September 2022). about This paper summarises the literature on volunteer motivations and argues that volunteer involving organisations should care why people volunteer, including their goals and motives for participating, because understanding motivations to volunteer offers a pathway toward enhancing volunteer recruitment and improving volunteer retention. Moreover, research on different types of motivations may allow insights into whether and how volunteers themselves benefit from volunteering in terms of their health and wellbeing, in addition to more specific goals they hope to achieve.
The great (volunteer) resignation: An evidence-based strategy for retaining volunteers, opens in a new tab, Vivien Forner, Djurre Holtrop, Darja Kragt, et al., Volunteering Australia, (September 2022). This paper is intended to inform and guide the volunteering sector, national volunteering strategy and government policy to address the serious and ongoing decline in volunteer numbers. Our systematic review and meta-analysis of volunteer turnover research identified four factors that prevent volunteer turnover; 1) support from paid staff, supervisors, and peers, 2) affording volunteers autonomy, 3) roles where volunteers feel they are contributing productively, and 4) preventing burnout. Evidence-based recommendations for key actions that will have the greatest impact on minimizing turnover rates in volunteer involving organisations include: Increase social support – create stronger social connections and encourage support from staff, supervisors, and other volunteers. Improve the experience of autonomy – when possible, grant volunteers decision making authority, and when not possible, provide a clear rationale. Help volunteers feel productive – design volunteering tasks to be stimulating and clearly related to organisational goals. Minimize burnout – regularly check with volunteers if they have enough social, cognitive and physical resources to deal with their task demands.
Corporate volunteering: Implications for policy and practice, opens in a new tab, Debbie Haski-Leventhal, Volunteering Australia, (September 2022). Corporate volunteering (or employee volunteering) is popular in Australia, with over three quarters of Australian companies offering such programs to their employees. It occurs when employers (not only corporate ones) demonstrate a commitment towards their employees’ volunteering by encouraging, organising, and enabling employees to volunteer as part of their work commitment. There are many motivations and benefits of corporate volunteering to all participating parties – the employers, employees, not-for-profits, and the community. These include instrumental, relational, and moral or altruistic drives.
NSW Multicultural Volunteering Report 2022, opens in a new tab, The Centre for Volunteering (NSW), (2022). The purpose of this research is to explore the meaning and lived experience of multicultural volunteering in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Whereas there is an emerging body of Australian and international research on the volunteer experiences of specific ethnic and cultural groups, there is no significant literature on the collective experience of those who do not predominantly identify as Anglo-Australian. This study reveals a number of new insights that will confirm with evidence and occasionally challenge the assumptions of those familiar with and new to multicultural volunteering.
Pathways to culturally diverse volunteering towards COVID-19 recovery: research report, opens in a new tab, Mursha Gapasin, Thu-Trang Tran, Marijke Fotia, Volunteer West, (November 2021). The efforts and resources that facilitate volunteering in culturally diverse communities are less known. The Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing through the local Brimbank Melton Area commissioned Volunteer West to conduct a focused study to better understand the critical success factors for volunteer engagement among culturally diverse groups. The chosen cases were the Victoria State Emergency Service and the Dal Baba Bidhi Chand Sikh Temple.
Volunteering in sport - 2021, Australian Sports Commission, (October 2021). This report presents high-level information on nonplaying roles across all sport and physical activities. It then focuses on those in organised sport since this is where the vast majority occur. It examines whether these roles are all taken on by volunteers, who gets involved the most, what roles they take on and in which sports. The report also draws on other research projects conducted by the ASC that have identified different volunteer types and what drives them to become involved.
General Social Survey, opens in a new tab, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (June 2021), latest release. During the time that the GSS was conducted in 2020, initiatives were in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the economy. Because of changed methodology and the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the Australian population, care should be exercised when making comparisons with previous years. This report provides a breakdown of the volunteer characteristics: Australians had volunteered for 489.5 million hours in 2020 and 596.2 million hours in 2019.
One quarter (25%) of Australians aged 15 years and over participated in unpaid voluntary work through an organisation in 2020, lower than the 30% in 2019.
Volunteering rates for males and females were similar at 23% and 26%.
The most common types of organisations for which people volunteered were those relating to sport and physical recreation (31% of volunteers), religious groups (23%), and education and training (19%).
The main reasons given by people who did not do any voluntary work through an organisation in the 12 months prior to the survey in 2020 were 'No time (family / work commitments)' (52%) and 'Not interested / no need' (33%).
One third of Australians (33%) reported 'Always' or 'Often' feeling rushed for time. [this may impact willingness or ability to volunteer].
The Future of Sport Volunteering Insights Report - 2021, Australian Sports Commission, (April 2021). While the sport sector has suffered from fragmentation and a lack of clear roles and responsibilities, there is a strong recognition across the sector that things must change. COVID-19 has shaken the sector with immediate concerns about the return of volunteers to sport. For many, this is the burning platform for change that is needed. While this report has been commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission, it is designed for everyone, whether you are a National or State Sporting Organisation, community sport club or a volunteer seeking to make change.
Active Lives: Adult Survey, November 2019/20 Report, opens in a new tab, Sport England, (April 2021). Based on people having volunteered at least twice in the last 12 months Sport England found that men continue to be much more likely to volunteer in sport and activity (64% male; 36% female). This is in contrast to more general volunteering where men and women were equally represented. The roles undertaken also differ by gender, with women much less likely to referee or umpire, or coach or instruct, compared to men. Conversely, women are more likely to organise fundraising for sport and provide other help. The report also found that people from lower socio-economic groups were less likely to volunteer (making up only 11% of volunteers although they make up 31% of the population), and people with a disability, who make up 21% of the population, account for only 14% of volunteers. Regular volunteers have higher wellbeing scores than infrequent volunteers, who have higher scores than those who don’t volunteer. There’s a small positive association between volunteering and social and community development overall, but not between the different frequencies of volunteering.
Leading and Managing in Tasmania’s Volunteer Sector Volunteer, opens in a new tab, Dr Toby Newstead, Dr Gemma Lewis, and the Volunteer Leadership Research Group, UTAS in partnership with Volunteering Tasmania, (2021). This report distils the findings of a study that sought to assess the current challenges, strengths, and opportunities to better support volunteer coordinators in their efforts to lead and manage within Tasmania’s Volunteer sector. Almost 300,000 Tasmanians volunteer. Approximately 200,000 of these are termed formal volunteers, in that they volunteer within an organisation. The remainder are informal volunteers who give their time in more self-organised community activities. This report focuses on formal volunteers. The findings of this study, coupled with leadership and management research, point to two key recommendations: Invest in providing and developing good leadership and management in the volunteer sector;
Conduct further research to examine the challenges, strengths, and opportunities of volunteer leadership and management from volunteers’ perspectives.
Participatory arts, sport, physical activity and loneliness: the role of volunteering, opens in a new tab, what works wellbeing, (December 2020). There is promising evidence that volunteering can improve wellbeing and alleviate loneliness in participatory arts, sport and physical activity. This review shows that volunteering can enhance wellbeing and/or reduce loneliness when taking part in participatory arts, sport and physical activity. However, the volunteering role can sometimes be challenging if the helper-helped relationship is not well-matched; resources for long-term volunteering are lacking; and if volunteers feel undervalued and without preparation and guidance. We recommend providing volunteer training and support and adequate resourcing to mitigate these effects.
State of Volunteering in Victoria 2020, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Victoria, (October 2020). Across the 12 months of 2019, the value of volunteering to Victoria was $58.1 billion dollars. This includes the $19.4 billion it would cost to replace the labour that volunteers contribute to Victoria as well as $8.2 billion in contributions to Victoria’s Gross State Product. This represents a net return of approximately $3.70 on every dollar invested. It is also costing Victorian volunteers on average over $1,700 a year to volunteer. On average, volunteer-involving organisations (VIOs) are reimbursing only one dollar for every eight dollars a volunteer spends on volunteering. This means on top of their valuable time, volunteers are donating nearly $6.70 per hour to volunteer after reimbursements. This report outlines the hidden costs of volunteering, for both volunteers and VIOs. These findings should guide VIOs and governments on how to reduce the financial burden being placed on volunteers, which has the potential to exclude many who cannot afford the act of volunteering.
Longitudinal Study of Australian Children 2018 Annual Report: Chapter 11, Here to help: How young people contribute to their community, opens in a new tab, Constantine Gasser, Tracy Evans-Whipp, Growing up in Australia, Australian Institute of Family Studies, (December 2019). The purpose of the study is to provide data that contributes to our understanding of children’s development within Australia’s contemporary social, economic and cultural environment. The first wave of data collection was in 2004, with subsequent main waves every two years. Using data collected in 2016, this chapter describes the types of voluntary activities that adolescents at 12-13 and 16-17 years and their parents participate in. The chapter also looks at the frequency and amount of time that adolescents spend volunteering, and the characteristics of adolescents who participate in these activities. The most common types of volunteering activities, among 12-13 and 16-17 year olds were: sport and recreation - 16% at age 12-13 and 19% at age 16-17.
More parents of 12-13 year olds (24% of mothers and 23% of fathers) than 16-17 year olds (17% of mothers and 18% of fathers) volunteered for sport and recreation activities, possibly due to lesser involvement and supervision of their children's sporting activities when their children are older.
Although similar numbers of mothers and fathers volunteered for sport and recreation organisations, more mothers than fathers volunteered for church or religious groups, community or welfare organisations, and school and children's groups.
The data show that adolescents were more likely to volunteer if their parents volunteered, particularly their mother.
Adolescents with special health care needs had lower odds of volunteering for sport and recreation groups (27 percentage points lower) than those without special health care needs, suggesting that their health care needs might limit their capacity to volunteer in activities of this type.
Adolescents from high-income families (top third) had higher odds of volunteering for sporting and recreation groups (about 30 percentage points higher), and lower odds of volunteering for church or religious groups (45 percentage points lower) than adolescents from low-income families (bottom third). This may be associated with the cost of participating in particular activities, e.g., cost of uniforms.
Compared to adolescents living in major cities, adolescents living in inner regional areas, or outer regional and remote areas had higher odds of volunteering for sport and recreation groups (1.4 and 1.5 times higher, respectively).
Volunteering and Settlement in Australia: A snapshot, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia, Settlement Council of Australia, (May 2019). Volunteering Australia and the Settlement Council of Australia have conducted a National Survey on Volunteering and Settlement in Australia to inform our findings. Motivations to volunteer differ for everyone, however respondents were largely looking to contribute to society, make friends, improve their English or gain local work experience. Other key findings include: Research from McKinsey has found that companies that are more diverse are more likely to improve their customer orientation, employee satisfaction, and decision making. Further, companies that are more ethnically diverse are 35 per cent more likely to perform better than their industry partners.
Volunteering has many benefits for both the volunteers and organisations. Volunteering is critical to building strong and resilient communities by encouraging economic participation, mitigating isolation and loneliness, and increasing social inclusion, community participation and cohesion. Volunteering can also lead to employment, by increasing workforce participation and helping people to develop key skills
Volunteering can lead to employment by increasing workforce participation and connecting people to career paths that are better paid and more stable. 95% of employers believe that volunteering can be a credible way of gaining realwork experience to add to your resume. 85% of recruiters believe that volunteering is just as credible as paid work as long as it is relevant to the role or industry the person works in.92% of employers said that relevant volunteer experience gives candidates an advantage in job interviews.
Volunteers can face a number of barriers that can detract from their volunteer experience. Volunteers frequently report that increasing red tape, a lack of flexibility and organisations refusing to reimburse for out-of-pocket expenses can act as an enormous deterrent and inhibit the things they do as volunteers.
The Social and Economic Sustainability of WA’s Rural Volunteer Workforce, opens in a new tab, Kirsten Holmes, Amanda Davies, Leonie Lockstone-Binney, et al., Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Report No. 22/19, (February 2019). Study identified how rural communities in WA are addressing the challenges of recruiting and retaining volunteers at a time of unprecedented demographic change and increasing pressure on the rural volunteer workforce. It identified the critical role of volunteering in creating a sense of community wellbeing and delivering essential services in rural areas. It also presents the strategies volunteers and voluntary organisations are using to sustain the rural volunteer workforce.
Leadership in volunteering survey, opens in a new tab, State of Victoria, Ministerial Council for Volunteers, (June 2017). [Download link] The Ministerial Council for Volunteers (the Council) conducted a survey to seek the views of those who lead or coordinate volunteers. Findings from this survey helped to inform key points on strengthening and supporting volunteer leadership in Victoria. Key points identified by the survey for organisations were: valuing/recognition of volunteers; training/education; and, investing in efficiency and competitiveness.
Volunteers in Victoria, opens in a new tab, State of Victoria, Ministerial Council for Volunteers, (June 2017). [Download link] This report was developed to provide a contemporary narrative for volunteering. It also provides a summary of the known social benefits, economic value and current trends. Findings from this report highlight key trends, challenges and opportunities for volunteering, and have informed the development of strategic priorities to strengthen and support the volunteer sector in Victoria. Some key findings included: Most people volunteer because they want to help others and the community (66%), for personal satisfaction (62%), or to do something worthwhile (56%).
75% of Victorian volunteers had a parent who volunteered.
Sport and recreation organisations attract the highest proportion of volunteers (32%), followed by education and training (25%, welfare and community (21 per cent), religious (19 per cent) and health organisations (11%).
In regional Victoria, the sport and recreation (15%) and church and spiritual (10% sectors had the highest rates of weekly volunteering.
Over 231,000 Victorians (48% of sport and recreation volunteers) reported contributing 50 hours or more per year, which equates to a minimum of nearly one hour per week.
Sporting and recreation clubs are the engine room of volunteering – in 2014, 84% of people who volunteered had also participated in organised team sport as a child. This was significantly higher participation than other organised activities, such as youth groups (62%) and arts/cultural activities (52%).
Givers: Recruit, manage and retain your volunteers more effectively, opens in a new tab, Join in, Sport + Recreation Alliance, Simetrica, (April 2017). For the first time, groundbreaking behavioural science research, has given us new evidence and insight into what drives people to volunteer, and what keeps them from doing so. We’ve distilled these insights into a simple framework to help grassroots clubs and organisations recruit, retain and realise the potential of volunteers. We call this GIVERS. It stands for: Growth; Impact: Voice: Ease and Experience; Recognition; Social.
d63c877f-8822-4929-b5eb-533704d90679, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the Australian Sports Commission, (2017). This review focused on the overall sports sector, with a particular emphasis on participation in sport and community level sport. The report estimates that together, sport creates significant value for Australia, with at least $7 returned on every dollar expended in the sector. This high rate of return is a combination of the benefits described above: direct economic benefits, the network of volunteers and not-for-profits, avoided health costs, and education benefits. It also highlights some of the challenges facing the Australian sport sector, including a decreasing participation rate of both sport participants and volunteers.
State of Volunteering in Australia report, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia/PWC, (April 2016). Volunteering Australia and PwC have 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 report investigates the following questions: Are the current volunteer engagement and management practices appropriate for the future? Is there alignment between the types of roles volunteers want to undertake, the sectors they are interested in volunteering in, and the needs of volunteer involving organisations? What is the appropriate framework to support informal volunteering? What are the necessary steps that need to be taken to future proof volunteering? Sport is included as one of the industries/areas of volunteer participation investigated.
Motivations of Sport Volunteers in England A review for Sport England, opens in a new tab, Geoff Nichols, Eddy Hogg, Ryan Storr, et al., University of Sheffield, University of Kent, Victoria University for Sport England, (January 2016). This review is the first to combine the findings of commercial reports and academic research into the motivations of sports volunteers with general theory understanding volunteers and volunteering. This provides a broader understanding of volunteering in sport. It provides a useful resource for anyone in the planning, management and delivery of sports volunteering and a stepping stone for further research.
Volunteering Insights Report, opens in a new tab, Gemba for Sport New Zealand, (November 2015). This report was commissioned to better inform the New Zealand sport sector; having three objectives: (1) understanding the underlying drivers and the level of engagement; (2) viewing sport as seen by its consumers; and (3) providing detailed analysis of key measures. Data was weighted by age, gender and location according to the latest New Zealand Census. Key insights provided in this report follow: The recruitment of volunteers at an early age is critical. Volunteers begin their service at an early age (16-24 years old) and are likely to serve for a significant period of time.
Sport volunteers are also participants of their respective sports. On average, 54% of sports volunteers have participated in that sport in the last 12 months. Those participating in the sport will be most effective and will help to drive sustainable levels of volunteers.
The motivations of volunteers are selfless. They serve for the enjoyment achieved from giving back to their community and/or sport, and care little about the rewards they receive in return. The majority of participants intend to continue volunteering, and could be incentivised by more training and development, and better support from clubs and parents.
The intrinsic rewards (doing something worthwhile and contributing to their community) that motivate volunteers mean that their rationale for giving up volunteering are due to time restraints or other commitments, rather than a lack of appreciation.
Older (45 to 64 year old) volunteer coaches are the most qualified and engaged coaches. When compared with younger coaches, older coaches are the most likely to have received coaching development or to have achieved a coaching qualification.
Older coaches have more experience and are likely to be working at all levels of sport; 60% have coached for six years or more. Older coaches are also the most likely to coach at a diverse range of coaching locations.
Volunteers - Market Segmentation - May 2014, Australian Sports Commission, (May 2014). The Market Segmentation Study for Volunteers helps identify segments in the Australian community with the greatest potential for recruitment of new sport volunteers, and practices and strategies for the retention of current sport volunteers. This research tells us that we are doing some things really well, with nearly all club volunteers reporting they were satisfied with their experience (89% extremely or somewhat satisfied) while 92% of club sport volunteers are likely to continue volunteering in club sport in the next 12 months. 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.
Market Segmentation Study for Volunteers, Australian Sports Commission, (2014). The key findings of this research help identify the motivations of volunteers in the sport sector. This study identified ten segments among the Australian adult population, five are considered to be likely sources for the recruitment and retention of volunteers to the sport sector: Happy Helpers, Community Committed, Overcommitted, Opportunists, and Altruists. There are also five segments of the population less likely to become volunteers: Self Servers, Sidelined, Occupied Observers, Well Intentioned, and Uninvolved. This research confirms that the sport sector is doing some things really well, with nearly all club volunteers reporting they were satisfied with their experience. Motivations for volunteering fall into three broad categories: emotional, experiential and tangible. The Study found that among the more tangible motivations for volunteering, the social benefits offered are key motivators for many who currently volunteer. Those current club sport volunteers who are likely to continue volunteering in club sport will do so for the enjoyment of having a role to play in the sport club and organisation (51%), and / or because of their child’s continued involvement (50%). 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 changing face of volunteerism, opens in a new tab, Steggles A, Higher Logic, (2014). This paper details some of the challenges facing volunteerism in the United States of America. Associations are embracing a hybrid approach to incorporate alternative engagement opportunities for their membership, allowing a much broader audience and greater level of engagement, satisfaction and ultimately, a higher retention rate.
Market Segmentation for Sport Participation – Volunteers 2012-13 Research Report, Victoria Parr, Tabitha Lucas, Marcail Arbuthnot, Latitude Insights for theAustralian Sports Commission, (July 2013). The primary purpose of the Market Segmentation for Volunteers (the Study) was to identify the core set of attitudes, motivators, needs and barriers that underpin Australians’ decisions to volunteer in sport (including at club level and other types of sports related volunteering) as compared to other voluntary activities, and to use this information to develop a needs-based market segmentation model of Australian sports volunteers.
Value of Sport, Australia, 2013, opens in a new tab, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2013) Final report (ceased). This publication collates ABS data related to the value of sport. The chapter on volunteers includes information on the number of volunteers by age and sex, family and household type, and their contribution to the labour force. Sport and physical recreation organisations attracted the largest number of volunteers as a sector, 14% of the adult population contribute in some voluntary capacity.
Recruitment and retention of volunteers: A rapid literature review, opens in a new tab, Melanie Randle, Samantha Reis, NSW Family and Community Services, (2013?). This rapid literature review synthesises existing research on volunteering in Australia. It focuses specifically on motivations, barriers and facilitators to volunteering among different segments of the population, and the application of marketing concepts to provide insight into the volunteering marketplace and understand volunteering behaviour. In addition it reviews publicly available evaluations of previous social marketing campaigns that are designed to recruit volunteers to assess their effectiveness.
Sport and Physical Recreation: a statistical overview, Australia 2012, opens in a new tab, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2012) Final report (ceased). This report provides information on the demographics and motivations of sport volunteers. Volunteers in sports organisations reported a variety of reasons for volunteering, with the three main reasons being: (1) to help others in the community (53% of volunteers); (2) personal satisfaction (46%); and, (3) personal or family involvement (46%). Other key points from the report include: 93% of sport and recreation volunteers participated in organised sport as a child. The ethos of volunteerism is ‘putting something back’ into the sport system that made an impact upon that person’s overall development.
Sport and recreation volunteers are involved in a range of activities, about half of all sports volunteers also volunteered in another type of organisation outside of sport.
There was a positive correlation between higher volunteering rates and being born in Australia, employed, and in couple families with children aged under 15 years.
Travel time did not appear to impact upon participation in sport and recreation volunteering.
There appears to be an association between rates of volunteering and socio-economic status – lower rates of volunteering being associated with socio-economic disadvantage.
Lower rates of volunteering are also associated with self-reported health problems.
Sport and Social Capital, Australia, 2010, opens in a new tab, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (March 2012) Final report (ceased). This report examines the relationship between participation in sport and physical recreation and social wellbeing using a range of indicators from the 2010 General Social Survey (GSS). This report shows the associations between participation and a range of social indicators that may be used to assess social capital and wellbeing. Literature suggests that volunteering in the community is an important contributor to the development and maintenance of social capital (Nicholson and Hoye 2008). Data from the GSS show that sport participants are an important source of volunteers in the community. Over three quarters of those who volunteered their time and services to an organisation also participated in some sport or recreational activity during that same time period. The participation rate for non-volunteers was much lower.
Volunteers in Sport, Australia, 2010, opens in a new tab, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (March 2012) Final report (ceased). Data from the 2010 General Social Survey of the Australian population provides information about various aspects of volunteering and how these may relate to each other. This report provides a detailed analysis of the characteristics of volunteers in sport and physical recreation. People volunteering in the sport sector are split into two categories; volunteers in sport and physical recreation organisations only, and volunteers who participate in sport and other organisation(s).
The economic contribution of sport to Australia, Frontier Economics report to the Australian Sports Commission, (2010). There are three main ways in which sport delivers economic benefits to society: (1) promotion of 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.
Involvement in organised sport as a coach, instructor, referee, or umpire, opens in a new tab, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Perspectives on Sport series), (October 2008). Results from the ABS survey of Involvement in Sport and Physical Activity conducted in 2007 show that 1.6 million people or 9.9% of the population aged 15 years and over were involved in one or more non-playing roles. This included 659,000 (4.0%) who were involved as a coach, instructor or teacher and 381,000 (2.3%) who were involved as a referee or umpire. Overall, more males (386,000) than females (273,000) were involved as a coach, instructor or teacher. This difference was also noticeable for those involved as a referee or umpire with 233,000 males involved, compared with 148,000 females. In most age ranges there were also more males than females involved as a coach, instructor or teacher; or as a referee or umpire. However, an exception was in the 15-24 year age group where there were more females (67,300) involved than males (50,700). Persons involved as a coach, instructor or teacher were most likely to undertake their role for between 3 and 9 hours per week (43.6%) or for less than 3 hours (42.6%). Just 13.8% were involved in these roles for 10 hours or more per week. In comparison, the majority (62.7%) of referees or umpires were involved for less than 3 hours per week.
Sport and physical recreation volunteers, opens in a new tab,  Australian Bureau of Statistics  (Perspectives on Sport series), (October 2008). Voluntary work enables many sporting clubs to deliver community services. Volunteering helps to develop and reinforce social networks and cohesion within communities. Sports and physical recreation organisations attracted the largest number and proportion of volunteers, 1.7 million people or 11.1% of the population.
Understanding volunteer motivations and concerns in coaching and officiating basketball: implications for sport policy, opens in a new tab, Meghan Casey, Jack Harvey, Melanie Charity, et al., BMC Public Health, Volume 23, article 946, (May 2023). For many years the sector has faced challenges to volunteer recruitment and retention, especially due to the increased bureaucratic and compliance demands in operating community sports clubs. This research examined volunteer intentions and motivations in coaching and officiating in basketball and explored factors influencing their decision to return to COVID-safe basketball. Data was collected in Victoria Australia during July 2020 before basketball had the chance to return from the first Australian-wide COVID-19 lockdown. Volunteers had positive intentions to return to basketball following COVID-19 restrictions because it was fun, to help others, or because friends/family were involved. Volunteers were most concerned that others will not comply with COVID-safe policies particularly around isolating when feeling unwell (95%), but also reported concerns about the inconveniences of some COVID-safe policies introduced to return to organised sport (e.g. social distancing, density limits, and enforcing rule changes).
Sports and Cultural Volunteering: Competitive or Complementary Activities?, opens in a new tab Kirstin Hallmann, Cristina Muñiz Artime, VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, Volume 34, pp.263–275, (2023). The findings suggested that sports and cultural volunteering were complementary activities. Thus, promoting volunteering in one of the domains positively affected volunteering in the alternative domain. Parental volunteering, religiosity, and education were primary drivers of both types of volunteering. However, differences in some determinants have also been found. For example, volunteering in culture was predominantly female, while male volunteers dominated sports.
The Opportunity Costs of Volunteering: Evidence From Germany, opens in a new tab, Sören Wallrodt, Lutz Thieme, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Volume 52(5), (October 2022). This study analyzes the effect of opportunity costs on the decision to volunteer, the extent of volunteering, and how opportunity costs are related to competing volunteering activities. Our results reveal that opportunity costs operationalized as net wage per hour had the predicted negative effect on the extent of volunteering but a positive effect on the decision to volunteer. When the individual hourly net wage of the surveyed volunteers is applied, volunteering has average opportunity costs of about 14€/h. As volunteering competes with other activities, we assigned opportunity costs to different activities such as family, hobbies, paid work, or spending time with friends. Results show that, overall, opportunity costs of volunteering are especially related to family activities and less so to paid work. This implies that volunteering activities, in general, compete with family activities rather than with paid work or other activities.
Do Women Perceive a Payoff from Working without Pay? A Gender Comparison of Perceived Career Outcomes of Sport Volunteering, opens in a new tab, Katrin Scharfenkamp, Pamela Wicker, Tim Thormann, et al., sustainability, Volume 14(19), 11907, (September 2022). Gender equality among volunteers and in the labor market are essential for social sustainability. This study examines whether women value benefits of sport volunteering for their job market situation significantly differently than men. Based on signaling and social role theory, we hypothesize that women are more likely to value sport volunteering as a job market signal and as useful for career options than men. According to human capital and ecological systems theory, we hypothesize that this link depends on women’s age and national gender equality. An online survey targeting volunteers in European football clubs (in seven countries; n = 16,989) was conducted. Logistic regressions are estimated to analyze the factors affecting respondents’ agreement that sport volunteering ‘looks good on their CV’ or ‘allows to explore new career options’. The findings show that women are significantly more likely to value sport volunteering as a job market signal but are significantly less likely to explore new career options than men. While older women are significantly less likely to agree, women living in more gender equal countries are more likely to agree. Our findings indicate a link between the male dominance in sport volunteering and the job market, which is determined by social sustainability.
Motivations for volunteering in an adapted skiing program: implications for volunteer program development, opens in a new tab, Martha Sanders, Stephen Balcanoff, Disability and Rehabilitation, Volume 44(23), pp.7087-7095, (2022). The purpose of the study was to understand the personal and professional motivations for volunteers in an adapted skiing program and to make recommendations to improve the volunteer experience. Forty-eight volunteers participated in a mixed method study in Winters of 2017 and 2018. Volunteers as a whole were primarily motivated by personal values, understanding [children with disabilities], and personal growth. College students reported significantly higher levels of motivation than long term volunteers for professionally oriented motives that include understanding children and learning career-related information. Qualitative interviews triangulated VFI findings with themes of volunteers’ satisfaction through seeing improvement, positive emotions through helping, and applying academics to everyday practice.
The determinants of the intention to continue voluntary football refereeing, opens in a new tab, Thomas Giel, Christoph Breuer, Sport Management Review , Volume 23(2), pp.242-255, (April 2020). The purpose of this research is to identify the factors that determine the intention to continue voluntary refereeing in the context of football in Germany. Analysis reveals the motive of self-orientation, respect shown by athletes, coaches, and spectators towards referees, compatibility of refereeing with one’s occupational and private life, perceived organisational support, and referees’ satisfaction to predict referees’ positive intention to continue with their activity. Simultaneously, experiences of offences during refereeing negatively influence this intention, and younger referees show higher intentions to continue their activity than do older referees. Because volunteer recruitment and retention are expensive, the findings of this study facilitate the improvement of effective retention strategies for the federations responsible for referees.
Beyond the glamour: resident perceptions of Olympic legacies and volunteering intentions, opens in a new tab, Richard Shipway, Brent Ritchie, P. Monica Chien, Leisure Studies, Volume 39(2), pp.181-194, (2020). Data were collected in two phases between January 2013 and April 2016 amongst residents living in the borough of Weymouth and Portland. The borough is in the county of Dorset in the South West of England and was the host destination for the sailing events of the 2012 Olympic Games. Our findings revealed that residents’ intention to volunteer post-Games declined between 2013 and 2016. Actual volunteering experience, perceived event legacy, commitment to the community, age and length of residence were found to contribute significantly to future volunteering intentions. While the results provide insights for those seeking to develop event legacy strategies to both recruit volunteers and to better leverage volunteering opportunities, it also cautions the claim of positive volunteering legacy made by the 2012 Games.
Gender and Volunteering at the Special Olympics: Interrelationships Among Motivations, Commitment, and Social Capital, opens in a new tab, Kirstin Hallmann, Anita Zehrer, Sheranne Fairley, et al., Journal of Sport Management, Volume 34(1), pp.77-90, (2020). This research uses social role theory to investigate gender differences in volunteers at the Special Olympics and interrelationships among motivations, commitment, and social capital. Volunteers at the 2014 National Summer Special Olympics in Germany were surveyed (n = 891). Multigroup structural equation modelling has revealed gender differences among motivations, commitment, and social capital. Volunteers primarily volunteered for personal growth. Further, motivations had a significant association with commitment and social capital. The impact of motivation on social capital was significantly mediated by commitment. Event organizers should market opportunities to volunteer by emphasizing opportunities for personal growth and appealing to specific values.
The impact of volunteer experience at sport mega‐events on intention to continue volunteering: Multigroup path analysis, opens in a new tab, Hyejin Bang, Gonzalo Bravo, Katiuscia Mello, et al.,  Journal of Community Psychology, Volume 47(4), pp.727-742, (May 2019). This study examined the impacts of volunteers’ motivation and satisfaction through Olympic/Paralympic volunteering experiences on their intention to volunteer for future community events and the moderating role of previous volunteering experience in the relationships among motivations, satisfaction, and intention to continue volunteering. Path analysis revealed that among the total sample, motivations had direct and indirect (through satisfaction) effects on intention to volunteer. Results of multigroup path analysis showed that the relationships among motivations, satisfaction, and intention vary by returning and first‐time volunteers, supporting the moderating role of prior volunteering experience in the path model.
Determinants and Outcomes of Volunteer Satisfaction in Mega Sports Events, opens in a new tab, Daehwan Kim, Chanmin Park, Hany Kim, et al., Sustainability, Volume 11(7), pp.242-255, (March 2019). The role of volunteers is an important factor for the sustainability of mega sports events. Key issues in the literature on sports event volunteers are volunteer satisfaction and its determinants and outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of the fulfillment of volunteers’ psychological needs and Volunteer Management Practices (VMP) on overall volunteer satisfaction, and to test their conditional effects depending on volunteer involvement. Overall volunteer satisfaction was found to positively affect future volunteering intention, spreading positive words regarding sports event volunteering and intention to visit the host city as tourists. In conclusion, sports event managers need to design an optimal work environment that can fulfil volunteers’ psychological needs and improve VMP to enhance the sustainability of mega sports events.
Assessing volunteer satisfaction at the London Olympic Games and its impact on future volunteer behaviour, opens in a new tab, Minhong Kim, Steven Suk-Kyu Kim, May Kim, et al.,  Sport in Society, Volume 22(11), pp.1864-1881, (2019). The findings of this study shed light on the identification of volunteer satisfaction factors in the mega sporting event setting, particularly for a unique type of volunteer (i.e. media worker) assigned to a special set of tasks. Unlike Galindo-Kuhn and Guzley’s results that revealed participation efficacy and group integration to be strong predictors of volunteer satisfaction, organizational support was the primary predictor for media centre volunteers’ re-participation intention towards future volunteering programmes.
Olympic Volunteers: the case of 2018 Games, opens in a new tab, Keunsu Han, Yong-Yeon Ji, Jin Dong Park, Journal of Sport and Recreation Management, Volume 16(2), pp.51-62, (2019). The role of volunteers has become a core component for the overall success of major international sport events. In recent years, the Olympics, considered to be the world’s biggest sporting event could not be hosted without the contribution of a large number of volunteers. From the large number of volunteers, the Olympic organizing committee could not only obtain a huge financial advantage but also create a positive energy and culture. Despite the significance of volunteers in the Olympics, research on Olympic volunteers’ motivations is still limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the motives and future intentions of volunteers at the 2018 Olympics, and investigate the factorial structure of the Motivation Scale adapted for this study. Data were collected from a volunteer sample of 36 individuals who offered their services at the 2018 Olympic Games. The results from the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression show that only the “Volunteer Attachment” variable out of the four factors of volunteer motivation has a significantly positive relationship with volunteers’ future intention. This study will provide information that could enhance effective volunteer recruitment and retention in the Olympics.
A systematic review of motivation of sport event volunteers, opens in a new tab, Kim, Eunjung, World Leisure Journal, Volume 60(4), pp.306-329, (2018). The aims of this paper are to summarize the current status of the literature on motivation of sport event volunteers and identify research gaps in order to suggest a research agenda for the future research. It develops a better understanding of approach to sport event volunteers’ motivation and how it could be applied to volunteer management in sport events.
Individual and contextual determinants of stable volunteering in sport clubs, opens in a new tab, Torsten Schlesinger, Siegfried Nagel, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Volume 53(1), pp.101-121, (2018). This article addresses factors that influence voluntary sport club (VSC) members’ loyalty to voluntary engagement. The question asked is an issue of VSC volunteers’ commitment whether they decide to quit or continue their engagement. A multilevel approach was used that considered both individual characteristics of volunteers and corresponding contextual features of VSCs to analyse members’ voluntary commitment. Different multilevel models were estimated in a sample of 477 volunteers in 26 Swiss and German VSCs. Results indicated that members’ stable voluntary activity is not just an outcome of individual characteristics such as having children belonging to the club, strong identification with their club, positively perceived (collective) solidarity and job satisfaction. In addition to these factors, the findings confirm the significance of the contextual level. Stable volunteering appears to be more probable in rural VSCs and clubs that value conviviality. Surprisingly, the results reveal that specific measures to promote volunteering have no significant effect on voluntary commitment in VSCs
Volunteering in sport is more prevalent in small (but not tiny) communities: Insights from 19 countries, opens in a new tab, Balish S, Rainham D, Blanchard C, International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Volume 16(2), pp.203-213, (2018). Research suggests members of smaller communities are more likely to play sport. This study looked at whether members of smaller communities are also more likely to volunteer in sport. Data were acquired from the World Value Survey and analysis involved 22,461 participants from 19 countries. After controlling for country-level demographic variables (including sport participation), participants from communities with between 2,000-20,000 residents were more likely to report volunteering in sport, compared to participants from larger communities (> 500,000 population). The effect of community size occurred for all measured forms of volunteering. These findings provide novel evidence that participants from smaller communities are more likely to volunteer, even when controlling for sport participation. Future research will be needed to reveal the specific determinants and consequences of sport volunteering in smaller communities.
Modelling the decision to volunteer in organised sports, opens in a new tab, Hallmann K, Sport Management Review, Volume 18(3), pp.448-463, (August 2015). The decision to volunteer can be considered a form of private consumption choice. Individuals have time at their disposal which they can be devoted to work or leisure; volunteering is only one of many choices. Considering both the decline in voluntary service and the necessity for most non-profit sporting clubs to recruit volunteers, it becomes essential to understand the drivers of volunteering. The theoretical model presented by the author contains factors from four domains: (1) demographics (age, gender, cultural background); (2) economic indicators (employment status, income, human capital); (3) sociological indicators (community engagement); and, (4) psychological indicators (preferences and experiences). The strength of each factor is estimated using a mathematical model.
We can do it: Community, resistance, social solidarity, and long-term volunteering at a sport event, opens in a new tab, Kristiansen E, Skirstad B, Parent M, et al., Sport Management Review, Volume 18(2), pp.256-267, (May 2015). This study aimed to contextualise the long-term commitment found in a whole community of volunteers and to explain this pattern of ‘collective volunteering’ not in terms of individual motivations, but in terms of broader social processes. Data was collected from interviews with volunteers in Norway who took part in events during the years leading up to the 2013 World Cup in ski flying. This research suggests that long-term volunteering can be understood in terms of: (1) a high level of social integration; (2) the creation of a collective identity focused around the sport, and (3) the maintenance and reinforcement of strong community identity and social solidarity.
Pioneer volunteers: the role identity of continuous volunteers at sport events, opens in a new tab, Fairley S, Green B, O’Brian D, et al., Journal of Sport and Tourism, Volume 19(3-4), pp.233-255, (2014). This study looks at the role identity of 125 volunteers during lead-up events as well as their participation in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In addition, a small sample were interviewed 12 years after the Olympics. Six themes described the experience of ‘pioneer volunteers’ (i.e. continuous volunteer participation): (1) friendship and teamwork; (2) prestige; (3) behind the scenes access and knowledge of the event; (4) learning enabled by their experience; (5) a sense of connection with and ownership of the event; and (6) transition to Games time roles. Pioneer volunteers experienced a strong and sustained identification with their role and sought out continued opportunities to volunteer in future events.
A multi-level framework for investigating the engagement of sport volunteers, opens in a new tab, Wicker P, Hallmann K, European Sports Management Quarterly, Volume 13(1), pp.110-139, (2013). Previous research has extensively investigated the drivers of the decision to volunteer on an individual level. As volunteering usually occurs within an institutional context (e.g., sport club and sport event), the characteristics of the institution must also be considered; however, they have been largely neglected in previous research. A review of the literature on both levels reveals both theoretical and methodological shortcomings which this paper attempts to address.
Volunteering Research Papers, opens in a new tab, Volunteering Australia, (2022). The Volunteering Research Papers were peer reviewed as part of the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering. They aimed to capture evidence on a wide range of topics related to volunteering and outline key insights for policy and practice. More information and access the full papers on the Volunteering Australia Research page, opens in a new tab.Volunteering Research Papers - Round Two, opens in a new tab, YouTube, (6 December 2022).
Volunteering in Australia Research Launch, opens in a new tab, YouTube, (20 October 2022).
Volunteering in Australia Research Early Insights Launch – The Volunteer Perspective, opens in a new tab, YouTube, (26 May 2022).
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