About Volunteering

What is
Volunteering?

• to be of benefit to the community and the volunteer
• of the volunteer’s own free will and without coercion
• without financial payment
• in a designated volunteer position only

To facilitate a greater awareness of the issues affecting volunteers, Volunteering Australia developed a set of ‘Principles of Volunteering’. These Principles were developed in consultation with the volunteering sector, unions and government.

Principles of Volunteering

• Volunteering benefits the community and the volunteer.
• Volunteer work is unpaid.
• Volunteering is always a matter of choice.
• Volunteering promotes human rights and equality.
• Volunteering respects the rights, dignity and culture of others.
• Volunteering is not compulsorily undertaken to receive pensions or government allowances.
• Volunteering is a legitimate way in which citizens can participate in the activities of their community.
• Volunteering is a vehicle for individuals or groups to address human, environmental and social needs.
• Volunteering is an activity performed in the not-for-profit sector only.
• Volunteering is not a substitute for paid work.
• Volunteers do not replace paid workers nor constitute a threat to job security of paid workers.

Values of Volunteering

• Responsibility and accountability
• Consultation
• Community and volunteer-initiative
• Democratic
• Informal
• Motivation based