Common Barriers To Volunteering

The 2023 WA State of Volunteering survey asked people to identify the barriers that stopped them volunteering.

People who already volunteered, reported the most common barriers to giving more time were:

1. No time.
2. Cost.
3. Burnout (over volunteering).
4. Health reasons.
5. No transport.

Whilst the barriers to people who weren’t volunteering, were:

1. Not sure how/ never been asked.
2. Lack of confidence.
3. Options weren’t interesting.
4. No one to volunteer with.
5. No time.

In 2023, all volunteering peak bodies commissioned a report to identify barriers to volunteering and how to improve access and inclusion for First Nations people, people with disability, and newly arrived migrants. We have created a snapshot series to share the key findings, so volunteer-involving organisations feel equipped to engage volunteers from each group.

Please note, the language used in these snapshots follows the Australian Government’s style manual.

However, language is always evolving and varies by region. Always check with local peak bodies and relevant agencies in your area for the most appropriate language.

Newly arrived migrants are defined as those who have lived in Australia for less than 5 years, arriving through various visa pathways. They join an increasing cohort of Australians born overseas, which now comprises almost 30% of the Australian population.

Migration plays a big role in helping Australia tackle demographic challenges, like an ageing population and declining birth rate. Migrants help to address labour shortages in industries such as healthcare, agriculture, and hospitality.

Migrants often volunteer informally, reflecting their cultural practice of supporting family and community.

Volunteering can be a key factor in helping newly arrived migrants to integrate into their new communities.

Key barriers to volunteering:

• Lack of understanding of the term “volunteering” in a Western context.
• Unsure how to find suitable roles and start formal volunteering.
• Overly complicated administrative processes and costs such as police checks and registration fees.
• Limited time due to paid work, study, and caregiving responsibilities.
• Lack of existing networks and social connections.
• Potential past experiences of trauma, discrimination or racism.
• Low levels of English proficiency and digital literacy.
• Inaccessible and non-inclusive volunteering programs, as well as conscious and unconscious bias against recruiting migrants.

First Nations people is a collective term that encompasses all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the original inhabitants of Australia. They have the oldest continuing culture in the world, rich with diverse ways of living, traditions, and histories. Their experiences, and those of their ancestors, live within them and reflect their outlook on life. First Nations people place a high value on community, kinship, and cultural practices.

Key barriers to volunteering: 

• Costs associated with volunteering such as transport.
• Discrimination and attitudinal issues.
• Misunderstanding of what volunteering means.
• Volunteering roles not advertised in First Nations communities.
• Fear of rejection and concerns about cultural safety.

The umbrella term “people with disability” includes individuals with mobility, vision, hearing, intellectual, psychosocial, and neurodiverse conditions.

This is a highly diverse group with varying needs and capabilities. Where possible specific characteristics of disability will be identified to provide further information about types of barriers to volunteering experienced by people with disability.

Many people with disability are active members of the volunteering sector.

Key barriers to volunteering:

Negative stereotypes reduce people with disability to mere recipients of volunteering rather than valuable contributors. Core barriers are wide-ranging and connected.

• Access to transport, physical access of the built environment, digital access and insufficient visual aids or captioning.
• Lack of infrastructure such as adaptive equipment, sign language interpreters, accessible material, or flexible volunteer hours.
• Negative stereotypes and assumptions limit opportunities and contribute to social exclusion.
• Unconscious bias or discrimination influences recruitment, selection processes, and growth opportunities.
• Medical expenses, specialist equipment and limited income impacts ability to cover volunteering costs.