International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay) is an annual event, celebrated each year on 5 November, dedicated to recognising the vital work of Volunteer Managers. It’s a day to recognise and celebrate the profession of volunteer leadership. Established in 1999, it has become a global movement highlighting the vital role of Volunteer Managers in enabling safe and effective volunteering.
As the national peak body for volunteering, we celebrate the dedication of Volunteer Managers, Coordinators and Leaders who inspire others, drive innovation, and ensure that volunteering remains at the heart of Australian communities.
The 2025 theme, Be Bold. Make Change, is a call to action to step beyond comfort zones, speak up for what matters, and champion the changes that help volunteering thrive.
For more information, visit the official International Volunteer Manager’s Day website.
Share Your Story – Volunteer Manager Edition
We want to hear your story. Tell us about the bold steps you’ve taken in your role — the challenges you’ve faced, the changes you’ve made, and the moments that remind you why this work matters.
Your story could inspire other Volunteer Managers, strengthen our collective voice, and show the many ways bold leadership shapes the future of volunteering in Australia.
How to get involved:
- Complete our short Volunteer Manager Profile form
- Submissions close 27th October 2025
Let’s celebrate the leadership that keeps volunteering at the heart of Australian communities.
Countdown to IVMDay25
As an official International Volunteer Managers Day supporter, we encourage you to join us as we celebrate the vital role Managers, Coordinators and Leaders of volunteers play in enabling safe and effective volunteering.
By understanding the value of International Volunteer Manager Day, volunteer involving organisations can show their appreciation for their Volunteer Managers, and Volunteer Managers can leverage the occasion to better advocate for more resources and recognition within their own agencies. This can help to boost morale, reduce staff turnover, and create a more positive working environment.
Resources to Celebrate IVMDay
Social media tiles and banners: Courtesy of the IVMDay Committee.
Logos
Resources for Volunteer Managers
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program for Professional Leaders of Volunteers
The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program for Professional Leaders of Volunteers is a formal avenue to improve your knowledge, skills and future employability. Endorsed by Volunteering Australia the CPD Program is currently offered by the VolunteeringACT, Centre for Volunteering (NSW), Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria and Volunteering WA.
Why join CPD?
- Receive a formal certification awarding you the right to have Professional Leaders of Volunteers (PLV) after your name
- Be inspired to up-skill and gain more knowledge
- Promote your point of difference to current and future employers
- Be recognised for the learning you’re already doing, or planning to undertake
Accumulate CPD points through a combination of activities:
- Professional development, events and services offered by your Volunteering Peak Body
- Professional development at your organisation
- Reading relevant industry articles/newsletters
- Mentoring colleagues or members in volunteering management
- Reflective practice
To honour International Volunteer Managers Day, we are highlighting the following resources to support Managers of volunteers. Find resources and tools to help you recruit, train, inspire, maintain, and retain volunteers, enabling your organisation and its volunteers to thrive.
Volunteering Gateway
Volunteering Gateway is your one-stop shop for volunteer management. It has been designed to connect Volunteer Managers, Coordinators and Leaders across Australia with the tools and resources to help them succeed.
Our diverse range of tools and resources have been carefully selected to help you recruit, train, manage, and retain volunteers, improving the volunteer experience and fostering a vibrant community that makes a difference.
National Standards for Volunteer Involvement
The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement are a best practice framework to guide volunteer involvement. They are an essential resource for all organisations and groups that engage volunteers. The National Standards can be used flexibly, recognising that volunteering takes place in highly diverse settings and ways.
Quick Guide to Volunteer Management
The Quick Guide to Volunteer Management provides volunteer management professionals with an introduction to key topics in volunteer involvement. Each section contains links to further resources which provide additional information and tools.
National Volunteering Guide
The National Volunteering Guide is an invaluable resource for organisations managing volunteers. It covers the entire volunteer lifecycle, from recruitment and induction to performance management and the conclusion of volunteer roles. The guide emphasises the importance of a positive volunteer experience, offering practical advice on creating role descriptions, conducting checks, and managing grievances in a fair manner.
Author: Not For Profit Law
Is Your Organisation Accessible?
A checklist to ensure your organisation is accessible to volunteers living with a disability.
Author: Victoria ALIVE, Volunteering Victoria
Engage Journal – The global voice of leaders of volunteer engagement
Engage is a subscription based online journal designed for people who manage volunteers in charities and non-profit organisations.
Author: Engage
Seven Steps to Volunteer Management Success
Tips on how to best support volunteers and volunteer involvement.
Author: Leep
Events
TBC
To all Volunteer Managers, Coordinators, and Leaders of Volunteers: your dedication, innovation, and leadership are transforming communities across Australia. You’re not just managing volunteers; you’re building the bridges that connect passion with purpose, creating lasting social impact that strengthens Australia’s communities.
