This year National Volunteer Week will be celebrated in Australia on May 21st-27th. Whilst it’s important to regognise and celebrate volunteers during National Volunteer Week, it is essential to recognise volunteer contributions throughout the year.

One way to show appreciation of our volunteers is to deepen the integration of volunteers with paid staff. Doing so can demonstrate to volunteers that they are considered, important and a valued part of the organisation. Additional benefits of increasing the integration of volunteers with paid staff can include an increase in program effectiveness and improved collaboration and cohesion. As a result, this can positively impact volunteer satisfaction and retention.

How to Increase the Integration of Volunteers with Paid Staff

Suggestions to consider when integrating volunteers with paid staff include:

• Collaboration, support and engagement: When paid staff work alongside volunteers or directly support them, a shared sense of purpose can be created. Additionally, providing opportunities for volunteers to work together with paid staff on improvement projects, working groups and workshops can foster this cohesion.
• Reward and recognition: Organise events to jointly recognise and celebrate the contributions of volunteers and paid staff together and to celebrate their years of service. Provide volunteers with name tags, lanyards and shirts to identify their role in the organisation. Present monthly and yearly awards to staff and volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their role and acknowledge them together. Where possible, include volunteers in any discounts which are provided to paid staff.
• Learning and development: Provide opportunities where volunteers can learn alongside paid staff through training and inductions. Include information about your volunteer program and it’s impact in staff inductions. Additionally, provide training and resources for staff on how to engage effectively with and support volunteers. This can build staff confidence and skills as well as demonstrating the importance of volunteers in your organisation.
• Strategy and planning: Include volunteers in organisational annual planning, policy development and staff position descriptions. Where possible aim to ensure volunteers are represented on organisational charts. Doing so demonstrates to volunteers that they are considered an integral part of the organisation. Including volunteers in strategic work can provide clarity to staff as to why the organisation engages volunteers and what they contribute to the organisation’s mission.
• Marketing and communication: Include volunteers alongside paid staff in organisational marketing and communication collateral. This can include your website, annual reports, social media channels, promotional pamphlets and videos.

Prior to implementing these strategies it is important to consider the impact on paid staff and engage with them. Providing an avenue for paid staff to raise concerns, ask questions and offer ideas can increase the chances they will embrace the integration of volunteers.

Please share any strategies you have put in place to deepen the integration of volunteers with paid staff.