Volunteering Queensland - inVOLve Module 2: Prepare

A Strategic Approach to Volunteer Involvement

Establishing a volunteer program and working with volunteers is a challenging undertaking. It is a common mistake to underestimate the time, effort and resourcing that goes into sustaining a healthy and effective program.   Following are some issues to consider when deciding whether or not it will be appropriate to have a volunteer program within your organisation.

Reasons for involving volunteers

• What is the key reason/s for having a volunteer program?
• How does volunteer involvement fit with your organisation's mission and philosophy?
• What role will volunteers play in acheiving your objectives?

Organisational Culture

• What attitudes, beliefs and traditions are fundamental to your organisation and how it functions?
• What attitude and beliefs about volunteers does your organisation hold?
• How welcoming is your organisation?

Roles and Responsibilities

• Is the role volunteers will play in your organisation clearly defined and generally understood and agreed?
• Are the skills and knowledge required to fulfill these roles available within your community?
• Can the roles and responsibilities you require be fulfilled by volunteers who work only one or two days a week or less?