Volunteering Australia was delighted to host the 2023 National Volunteering Conference on 13-14 February on Ngunnawal Country, Canberra. Thank you to the 580 delegates and speakers who joined us in person from all around Australia and to the over 300 online delegates who tuned in virtually.
It is a huge logistical effort to host a National Volunteering Conference. The Volunteering Australia team is immensely proud that we brought the volunteering ecosystem together to connect and explore the future of volunteering, alongside launching the new National Strategy for Volunteering.
Everyone at the Conference felt the collective joy and passion for volunteering. We all deeply understood Conference MC Sarah Wilson’s closing words when she emphatically said, “Volunteering isn’t something you do, it’s something you feel.” Over the coming weeks, we will share photos and excerpts from the plenaries and breakout sessions. In the meantime, here are a few images of our change makers in action at the 2023 National Volunteering Conference.
About the National Volunteering Conference
The National Volunteering Conference is Australia’s leading event on the volunteering calendar. The conference provides a platform for not-for-profit leaders, volunteer management professionals, government and corporate representatives, academics and researchers, and volunteers to come together to address emerging issues of high priority.
As the national conference, the event is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and open discussion on the future of volunteering and highlight practical and innovative approaches to reimagine volunteering in Australia. The conference is a key vehicle for all stakeholders to voice their priorities, hopes and challenges for the future of volunteering.
The Future is Now
The theme for the 2023 National Volunteering Conference was The Future is Now. This theme challenged delegates to explore how our actions today will build a better future for volunteering.
We came together to launch Australia’s first National Strategy for Volunteering in ten years, and this theme reflects that we need to implement change today to ensure volunteering thrives for future generations.
Program and Speakers
About the Program
The conference program included two full days of interactive workshops, plenary sessions and opportunities to network, as well as a Conference Reception on Day One.
The program was designed to include practical, strategic and research-focused sessions. Innovative approaches to volunteer engagement will be showcased and we will hear from speakers with deep and diverse expertise from across the volunteering ecosystem.
On Day One of the conference, the new National Strategy for Volunteering was launched and there will be an opportunity to hear firsthand how the strategy will move from development into implementation.
