A Gateway to connecting communities

National Volunteer Week (19-25 May 2025) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This special event is an opportunity to highlight the incredible impact volunteers have in building thriving and inclusive communities.

More than six million people in Australia volunteer through organisations across the nation. Have you ever thought about who makes volunteering possible behind the scenes?

Volunteering does not ‘just happen’ and without volunteer leadership, there is no volunteering. Whether paid or unpaid, Volunteer Managers are the lynchpin of effective volunteer involvement.

Leading and managing volunteers is more than just administration; it requires time, talent, and skill. Volunteer Managers are exceptionally passionate and talented professionals and elevating this critical role and function is long overdue.

A new solution to empower volunteer management

Volunteering Gateway emerged from a shared vision: to empower Volunteer Managers, Coordinators and Leaders across Australia.

The National Strategy for Volunteering identified the need to recognise the critical importance of volunteer management and provide ongoing strategic investment underpinned by adequate resourcing.

Volunteer Managers are often navigating a sea of scattered resources on their own. We identified an opportunity to create a central online platform, a trusted source of information, and a supportive community to streamline their efforts.

To achieve this goal, Volunteering Australia led the development of the Volunteering Gateway as a comprehensive toolkit to support Volunteer Managers. Launched in August 2024, the Volunteering Gateway offers a suite of free or low-cost training, resources, and technology solutions tailored to reduce administrative burdens and build the capacity of Volunteer Managers nationwide.

As the name suggests the Volunteering Gateway is a gateway to a curated selection of resources, technology and training that are well regarded by volunteer involving organisations across Australia. The simple and accessible online space aims to empower Volunteer Managers with the best available resources to effectively engage and lead volunteers, helping volunteering to thrive.

Key Features of the Volunteering Gateway

Volunteering Gateway offers a robust set of tools and opportunities designed to address the complexities of modern volunteering:

• A wide range of training opportunities is available to enhance the skills and capabilities of Volunteer Managers and Coordinators.
• Comprehensive guidelines and materials to improve volunteer recruitment strategies, retain existing volunteers, and recognise their contributions.
• Leading research into emerging issues in volunteering, helping organisations understand and adapt to changing trends and challenges.
• Tools designed to enhance the capacity of volunteer involving organisations, enabling a more strategic and sustainable approach.
• Leading Australian technology platforms that help streamline volunteer management processes, saving time and reducing administrative strain.

These features collectively aim to address the systemic challenges faced by Volunteer Managers—allowing them to focus on fostering meaningful connections and fulfilling their mission.

Collaboration across the nation

We were delighted to have the Volunteering Gateway recognised as a Technology for Community Impact finalist at the 2025 Australian Not-For-Profit Technology Awards.

One of the strengths of the Volunteering Gateway lies in its collaborative approach. Developed in partnership with key stakeholders across the volunteering ecosystem—including, but not limited to: International Association for Volunteering Effort (IAVE), Australian Charities and Not-for Profits Commission (ACNC), Department of Social Services, Australian Sports Commission (ASC), Institute of Community Directors (ICDA), Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR), the Department of Health and Aged Care, the National Office for Child Safety, state and territory Volunteering Peak Bodies, and the Good Things Foundation—the Volunteering Gateway exemplifies a united effort to support and uplift the sector.

This collaboration ensures that the Volunteering Gateway is not only informed by the needs of Volunteer Managers but also strengthened by the collective expertise of leading volunteer involving organisations. Furthermore, extensive user and stakeholder engagement conducted throughout the project’s development and since its launch has shaped the Volunteering Gateway’s evolution, ensuring it remains responsive and adaptive.

The Volunteering Gateway exemplifies the importance of creating systems that are simple, flexible, inclusive, and innovative. By empowering Volunteer Managers and Coordinators, streamlining processes, and fostering collaboration, the Volunteering Gateway sets the stage for a new era in volunteering—one defined by accessibility, sustainability, and impact. As our nation grapples with the challenges of modern life, initiatives like the Volunteering Gateway remind us of the collective power and potential of volunteering in Australia.

Building a Volunteer Nation

At its core, volunteering is about people: people doing things for others, for their community, and for the nation. Volunteering empowers people to make a positive impact and leads to more inclusive and flourishing communities.

As we celebrate another National Volunteer Week, it’s important to remember that valuing volunteering means more than just holding volunteers in high regard or speaking about the importance of their contribution. Genuinely valuing volunteering requires action to support it, including recognition of its contribution to cohesive communities and to essential services that would otherwise not be delivered.

Investing in the activities and resources that sustain volunteering will build on the creation of the National Strategy for Volunteering and the strong history of volunteering in Australia. Investment in the Volunteering Gateway is enabling volunteer involving organisations and their volunteers to thrive.

Volunteering Australia welcomes the Albanese Government’s new Ministry, including the appointment of the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP as the Minister for Social Services. We look forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government to support and build a thriving volunteer nation, for positive impact and strong communities.

This National Volunteer Week, we are celebrating the power of volunteering to bring people together with the theme Connecting Communities. Join us as we explore how giving to others fosters community engagement, connection and belonging.

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