Research Findings: Impact of COVID-19 on University Students’ Volunteering – Emerging Trends and Way Forward

22/11/2024

Published: April 2023 

Research team: 

Fazlul K. Rabbanee, Curtin University 

Ingrid O’Brien, Murdoch University 

Eunjung Kim, Edith Cowan University 

Kirsten Holmes, Curtin University 

Megan Paull, Murdoch University 

Jo Kestel, Murdoch University 

Sumayyah Ahmad, Curtin University 

Majedul Islam, Curtin University 

 

Universities encourage student volunteering to enable students to gain valuable skills and experiences that are sought by employers as well as contributing to the university and the community. Traditional in-person volunteering was severely curtailed during COVID-19 due to lockdowns, social isolation, and physical distancing requirements. This mixed methods research identified the challenges experienced by university student volunteers due to COVID-19, examined the impact of the pandemic on university student volunteers' wellbeing and future intention to volunteer.  

Eight in-depth interviews were conducted with volunteering officials and student volunteer leaders at three universities in WA. A small number of survey responses were collected from existing student volunteers of the three universities.  

By way of background, from the literature review, motivations for students volunteering are identified. These include altruistic reasons, to build networks, cultural exchange, work experience, deal with anxiety and stress, enhance employability, resilience and wellbeing, self-esteem / identity, social empathy / civic engagement. The main areas students tend to volunteer are highlighted: aged care, culturally diverse programs, environment, events, food panties, gardening, homeless support, health, mental health, sports, student mentoring, virtual volunteering. The report briefly describes the different volunteer program models of the three WA universities included in this project – Curtin University, Murdoch University, and Edith Cowan University; the three types of student volunteering: academic, facilitated, and self-organised and how the universities engage with community groups and off campus volunteering opportunities. 

The findings provided evidence of specific operational disruption of volunteering activities during the pandemic, such as reduced volunteering opportunities, changes in priorities of students and universities, reduction in available hours and number of available volunteers, hesitancy among students in trying new things, allocating relatively less resources for volunteering, and changes in government policies. Additionally, evidence of adverse effects was found in terms of students’ loss of interest in volunteering, reduced level of resilience and wellbeing due to not being able to volunteer, and removal of social engagement through volunteering. It also identified a concerning possibility of a lack of intention to volunteer in the future.  

Trends in student volunteering that have emerged during the pandemic include other activities taken up by students, as well as virtual volunteering and micro volunteering. There is a likelihood of a flow on effect on advocacy as fewer student volunteers share their experiences, which is likely to significantly impact the word-of-mouth recruitment of new student volunteers.  

Finally, the research offered specific strategy recommendations for university student volunteering including a renewed push to engage students in volunteering using tried and true methods such as word-of-mouth, together with reinvestment in centralised platforms to provide information on various volunteering opportunities available on campus as well as off-campus and online and promoting these platforms more broadly.   

The project team acknowledge the funding from Volunteering WA’s Research Grant Program.  

Read the full report: University Students' Volunteering During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

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