Labours of love in high demand

Taronga Zoo received 400 applications for its annual volunteer recruitment in March. About 150 were given interviews and just a few zoo-keepers selected. Last year, the Wayside Chapel at Kings Cross filled 200 Christmas volunteer roles in an hour.

By InvestSMART · 29 Jul 2012

By InvestSMART ·
29 Jul 2012

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But while some organisations are forced to turn away applicants, others struggle to supply their volunteer programs.

The Anglican Retirement Villages, which run 14 centres across Sydney, are consistently advertising for volunteers. The shortfall is not surprising as experts say community service areas, such as aged care and welfare have a regular turnover and often need volunteers.

More than 6 million Australians volunteered in 2010, according to the Bureau of Statistics, with many Sydney organisations confirming they have waiting lists for popular positions.

Volunteering NSW said among the reasons for the wait for a position is competition between organisations. "The power of the brand is very strong," research manager Tony Frew said.

Publicity surrounding certain issues, such as the environment, can also be a strong pull factor, he said.

"Fluffy, cuddly animals attract people more than some of the more serious social issues," he said.

Volunteering booms at Christmas and during natural disasters but at times people find they are turned away due to lack of training, Volunteering Australia's Peter Cocks said.

"You can't expect to walk in on Monday and volunteer on Tuesday," he said.

There are 2040 active positions listed in NSW on Volunteering Australia's online referral system GoVolunteer at present.

The organisations that receive the most expressions of interest on GoVolunteer are Mission Australia, Wesley Mission, Anglicare, Cancer Council and The Smith Family.

However, these organisations provide widespread services and are consistently looking for more hands.

"When there is a sense of financial uncertainty, a lot of welfare organisations are finding more demand for their services," Mr Cocks said.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Which organisations have recently received the most volunteer applications?

High-profile organisations have attracted large numbers of volunteers: Taronga Zoo received around 400 applications for its annual volunteer recruitment in March (about 150 interviews and only a few keepers selected), and the Wayside Chapel at Kings Cross filled 200 Christmas volunteer roles in an hour.

Are some community organisations struggling to find volunteers?

Yes. While some groups face waiting lists, others struggle to supply volunteers. For example, the Anglican Retirement Villages (running 14 centres across Sydney) are consistently advertising for volunteers, and experts say community service areas such as aged care and welfare often experience regular turnover and ongoing volunteer need.

How many Australians volunteered recently and do organisations have waiting lists?

More than 6 million Australians volunteered in 2010, according to the Bureau of Statistics, and many Sydney organisations report having waiting lists for popular volunteer positions.

What factors influence where people choose to volunteer?

Competition between organisations and the strength of an organisation's brand are important factors. Publicity around certain issues (for example environmental causes) and appealing activities (Tony Frew notes 'fluffy, cuddly animals' attract people more than some serious social issues) also strongly influence volunteer interest.

When do volunteer opportunities spike and why?

Volunteering typically booms at Christmas and during natural disasters. Seasonal and event-driven needs lead to surges in volunteer interest—for instance, many organisations recruit heavily for Christmas programs and emergency responses.

Can someone start volunteering immediately after signing up?

Not usually. Volunteering Australia’s Peter Cocks warns that lack of training can mean applicants are turned away—'You can't expect to walk in on Monday and volunteer on Tuesday.' Many roles require induction or training before you can start.

How many volunteer positions are currently listed in NSW and which organisations get the most interest?

There are 2,040 active positions listed in New South Wales on Volunteering Australia’s online referral system GoVolunteer. The organisations receiving the most expressions of interest on GoVolunteer include Mission Australia, Wesley Mission, Anglicare, Cancer Council and The Smith Family.

Does financial uncertainty affect demand for volunteer-run welfare services?

Yes. When there is a sense of financial uncertainty, many welfare organisations experience increased demand for their services, which in turn can increase the need for volunteers, according to Peter Cocks.