Volunteer Involvement Cycle

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A tool for guiding volunteer involvement

The Volunteer Involvement Cycle is a tool that aims to equip volunteer managers with the knowledge, skills, and resources to enhance the volunteer experience, from recruitment through the entire volunteer cycle.

Volunteer Involvement Cycle Stages:

  1. Prepare.
  2. Recruit.
  3. Support.
  4. Evaluate.

Each stage of this cycle may be happening simultaneously, as people who lead and manage volunteers are often juggling many priorities.

The Four Stages

Each stage of the Volunteer Involvement Cycle aligns with the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement – the best-practice framework for volunteering in Australia.

Within each of the four cycle stages, there are three focus areas:

1) Prepare | This stage involves the planning for volunteer involvement including program and role design, ensuring support and resourcing.

The Prepare stage is comprised of the focus areas of Governance, Design and Resource.

2) Recruit | This stage involves the promotion of your volunteer roles and opportunities, volunteer selection and screening and volunteer onboarding.

The Recruit stage is comprised of the focus areas of Promote, Select and Onboard.

3) Support | This stage involves the day to day activities of volunteer management including developing and supporting volunteers, communication, and recognition.

The Support stage is comprised of the focus areas of Develop, Communicate and Recognise.

4) Evaluate | This stage involves collecting and analysing volunteer feedback, program evaluation and sharing impact.

The Evaluate stage is comprised of the focus areas of Feedback, Review and Share Impact.

Training on the Volunteer Involvement Cycle

Volunteering WA regularly runs a training workshop on the Volunteer Involvement Cycle. Visit the Events Calendar for upcoming sessions.

If you would like further support in understanding volunteer management best practice and using the Volunteer Involvement Cycle, please contact us via viohelp@volunteeringwa.org.au.