Volunteering
This strategy uses Volunteering Australia’s definition of volunteering: ‘time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain’.1 This definition encompasses the broad spectrum of volunteering activities including formal volunteering, informal volunteering, community volunteering and corporate volunteering. It also includes activism and employee volunteering through an organisation.
Formal volunteering
Formal volunteering activities are those undertaken through public, private, non-government and community organisations.
In formal roles, volunteers may have a position description for their work, and might work a set number of hours per week on a roster. Others may also work on longer cycles (such as monthly) and may not have position descriptions but may have a list of duties instead.
Informal volunteering
Informal volunteering takes place outside of an organisation and may include providing support for another person who does not live in the same house, such as a relative or friend.
Many people who undertake informal volunteering do not self-identify as volunteers.
Volunteer-involving organisations (VIOs)
Volunteer-involving organisations (VIOs) are organisations that provide opportunities for volunteering as part of their operation. They take many forms, ranging from local councils and state government departments to grassroots collectives, community groups and local sports clubs. Some larger entities deliver disability, health and aged care services.
They may be small, unincorporated groups or large national organisations and charities. For-profit entities also contribute in some parts of the sector. State and federal governments, along with philanthropy and business, play a role in funding and supporting volunteer programs and services. Similarly, many different groups and organisations provide volunteering support and capacity building.
Volunteer support organisations (VSOs)
Volunteer support organisations (VSOs) provide information about volunteering to the general public and suggest volunteer positions that suit the needs of those interested in volunteering. They have a local area focus and provide support and capacity building regarding volunteer engagement, management and leadership to small and medium-sized volunteer-involving organisations.
This is similar to but distinct from volunteer resource centres. Together. they are sometimes referred to as volunteer support services, but this term is not used in this strategy.
Place-based approaches
Place-based approaches bring together partners from across sectors to support community-led and -designed initiatives towards the community’s desired local outcomes. A place-based approach recognises that people and places are interrelated. The places where people live, learn, work, play and volunteer have an important role in shaping their health and wellbeing. At their core, place-based approaches are local solutions for a local community, leveraging local strengths.
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