Canoe/Kayak

Volunteering and Officiating, opens in a new tab, Paddle Australia, (accessed 13 September 2023). Provides information on how someone can become involved as a volunteer with Paddle Australia.

Consultation and research findings, opens in a new tab, (May 2022). The research and findings in this report aim to inform the overall strategy to improve recruitment, recognition and retention of volunteers in the sport. the report provides a breakdown of surveys of member (433 respondents) and club (57 responses), as well as summaries of thoughts and experiences from interviews and focus groups with Paddle Australia Board members and staff, Executive officers and Presidents from state associations, Representatives from six technical committees, and interviews with the CEOs of international federations. Of the 433 survey responses recieved from members:

• 44% had been on a club, state or national committee in the last 5 years. Of those who had undertaken such a role:
  • 31% felt frustrated it is always the same people; 57% enjoyed it, but do it to help out, 26% absolutely love it; 44% thought they would be volunteering in 2 years; 63% felt appreciated.
  • 19% of people not currently volunteering on club committees indicated they would if they were asked (an additional 57% stated they might do so). 21% stated they would consider going on the committee if more resources and training were available (54% would consider it).
  • When those had not been on a committee were asked for reasons why they didn’t volunteer only 4% stated they had a lack of interest or didn't want to: 43% cited lack of time; 20% not being asked; 15% fear of being overloaded with work; 13% lack of confidence; 12% not knowing what roles there are/no position descriptions or training available.
• 28% had undertaken coaching/instructing at a club, state or national level in the last 5 years. 73% had been coaching for over 4 years.
  • 62% of coaches indicated they “Absolutely love it” while 36% “enjoy it but really do it to help out”. Comparative to the club based volunteer positions only 4% “feel frustrated that it is always the same people”, and 76% felt appreciated.
  • 54% of coaches and instructors did not believe the development pathways are clear and there is very strong support for the development and provision of more training and support resources.
• 44% had undertaken a technical official or event volunteer role at a club, state or national level in the last 5 years. 58% had been undertaking their role for over 4 years with.
  • 31% of technical officials and event volunteers indicated they “Absolutely love it” while 57% “enjoy it but really do it to help out”. 14% “feel frustrated that it is always the same people”. 74% felt they are appreciated.
  • 68% stated they did not believe developmental pathways were clear. Again, there is very strong support for the development and provision of more training and support resources .
• Of the 57 survey responses from clubs, no club indicated they had more than enough volunteers for any function and most had “not enough” or “just enough” volunteers for each of the functions.
  • 58% of clubs stated it was “Difficult” or “Extremely Difficult” to recruit coaches and 44% answered the same when asked about their experiences recruiting technical officials.
  • Recruitment main strategy used by clubs was to “tap on the shoulder/personal recruitment”. Emails, social media and websites were used to varying degrees but there was almost no attempt to recruit from outside each clubs' community.
  • The majority of clubs provided “on the job training”. A small number offered formal induction training and only the coaches, instructors and official were offered formal training courses.
  • Only 4 of the responding clubs believed there were enough resources and formal training courses.
  • Clubs felt that the major barriers to attracting new volunteers were lack of personal time/other commitments (91%); fear of being overloaded with work (78%); lack of confidence (73%); increasing expectations of compliance (71%); lack of interest/ don't want to (71%); not being asked (44%).