The history of Volunteering Australia began over 35 years ago:
- Volunteering Australia Inc. is an incorporated body under the Australian Capital Territory Associations Incorporation Act 1991.
- It was founded in 1997 under the National Secretariat Program and is the peak body for volunteering in Australia.
- The Volunteering Australia Board is appointed in accordance with its constitution endorsed by Foundation Members on 13 August 2018.
- Volunteering Australia, formerly known as the Australian Council for Volunteering (ACV), was formed as a result of the merger between two incorporated bodies: The Australian Association for Volunteering (AAV) and the National Association of Volunteer Referral Agencies (NAVRA).
- The Australian Council for Volunteering was incorporated in 1993 and in 1997 received funding from the Commonwealth Government and became Volunteering Australia. At that time VA underwent a constitutional change restricting membership to the State/ Territory volunteer centres.
- In 2003, the Board of Directors reversed that decision, opening membership to national organisations with a demonstrated interest in volunteering.
- In 2012, Volunteering Australia moved from its original home in Melbourne, Victoria to Canberra, ACT where it is now firmly established.
- In 2018 Volunteering Australia transitioned to an independent skills-based board with six new Board Members elected at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 29 November 2018.
