Aged care volunteering provider workshop

22 January 2025

Between April and May 2024, we held 8 workshops across Australia to hear from aged care providers who manage volunteers. A total of 123 participants from 84 home and residential aged care providers shared their insights.

What we heard

We heard that many current practices aren't as effective as they could be. We also heard valuable ideas to make it easier for providers and volunteers.

Challenges raised:

• it's difficult to attract volunteers
  • fewer people are volunteering
  • there are sign-up barriers for volunteers from diverse backgrounds
  • transport time and cost are challenging in remote areas
• onboarding processes deter potential volunteers
• Volunteer Managers are stretched
• the value of volunteers isn't understood by management (the cost of volunteering calculator is a great tool to work this out)

What would help:

• a change in the perception of volunteering in aged care
• easier onboarding process (have people physically assist with onboarding)
• more training options (such as virtual, face-to-face, short or long courses)
• stronger volunteer management (qualifications, training, reporting to show volunteer value, reinstate pre-COVID-19 support groups)
• more flexible volunteering opportunities
• more awareness of existing resources to support organisations and volunteers
• volunteers to promote aged care volunteering (word-of-mouth)
• promotion of volunteering in aged care to recruit volunteers in local community groups

What we're doing

We're using this information to improve processes and access to information to ensure volunteering in aged care is supported and sustainable. Many items will need to be addressed by organisations and volunteers themselves.

We will run the next aged care volunteering survey this year to see how things have changed since the 2023 survey.

To provide feedback on aged care volunteering, email AgedCareVolunteer@health.gov.au.