The aims of the Volunteering Australia Annual National Survey of Volunteering Issues are twofold.
The first aim is to gather detailed information about how both public policy issues and volunteer management practices are experienced by volunteers and not for profit organisations. The second is to provide an opportunity for volunteers and organisations to raise issues relating to volunteering that may be new or emerging.
Key findings:
In 2006 there were 601 volunteer respondents and 572 respondents representing volunteer involving organisations. Key findings of interest include:
97% of organisations surveyed rate volunteer recruitment as an issue of importance to their organisation.
81% of volunteers surveyed would ‘personally appreciate’ having their volunteer work recognised in the form of opportunities to develop their skills.
79% of volunteers surveyed identified flexible volunteering hours as important to them.
23% of volunteers surveyed identified their organisation as having implemented the National Standards for Involving Volunteers n Not for Profit Organisations.
42% of volunteers surveyed say they do not have a clear, written job description for their role.
28% of volunteers surveyed said that they have been aware of confusion, uncertainty or conflict between the roles of volunteers and paid employees in their organisation.
Taken as a whole, the survey results indicate that many ‘best practice’ volunteer management strategies are being adopted by volunteer –involving organisations, but that for many organisations there is some way to go in terms of ensuring volunteers experience the full benefits of these approaches.
National Survey of Volunteering Issues 2006
