Meet Sharyn, a Volunteer Coordinator at St Vincent’s Hospital Northside & St Vincent’s Hospital Brisbane whose leadership is grounded in compassion, courage and care. In this Share Your Story – Volunteer Managers Edition feature for International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay), Sharyn reflects on how leading with heart, purpose, and empathy can transform both volunteers and the communities they serve.
Why Bold Leadership Matters in Volunteer Management
Bold leadership in volunteer management is about having the courage to lead with heart and purpose. It’s about staying true to our mission — to serve with compassion, dignity, and justice — even when it means challenging old ways of doing things.
Volunteers are the living expression of that mission. They bring connection, empathy, and humanity into moments and places that need it most. Bold leadership means standing up for that value — advocating for volunteers to be recognised as essential partners in creating change, and ensuring their voices are heard and respected.
It also means being open to innovation — finding new and creative ways for people to engage in meaningful service and community. Sometimes bold leadership is quiet: it’s about speaking up for inclusion, holding space for others’ experiences, and making decisions that honour people over process.
Ultimately, bold leadership ensures our mission is not just something we talk about — it’s something lived and felt every day through the generosity, courage, and spirit of our volunteers.
Proudest Achievement as a Volunteer Manager
My proudest achievement as a Volunteer Manager has been creating spaces where people feel deeply connected — to purpose, to each other, and to the difference they make.
Over time, I’ve seen volunteers grow in confidence, find belonging, and rediscover meaning through service. Whether it’s launching new initiatives, reshaping programs to better meet community needs, or simply helping someone find the right place to offer their gifts — seeing those moments of connection and transformation is what I’m most proud of.
One piece of advice for fellow Volunteer Managers
It’s not just about numbers or outcomes; it’s about building a culture of care. When volunteers feel valued, supported, and inspired, the ripple effect reaches far beyond the organisation — it strengthens the heart of the whole community.
That, to me, is the true measure of success in volunteer management. Volunteer management is not just about systems or tasks — it’s about people, purpose, and potential. Be bold enough to advocate for your volunteers, innovate when needed, and make decisions that put people first. At the same time, be compassionate — listen deeply, value their contributions, and nurture the connections that make volunteering meaningful.
View the full collection of our Share Your Story series and be inspired by the many ways Volunteer Managers are leading with courage, care, and creativity.
