How many hours a week do you think our district volunteers would ‘work’ collectively? I honestly could not tell you, in fact, I’d hate to do the maths. There would be hundreds of people working hundreds of hours, all so each of us can enjoy sport, interest groups and events. None of them get paid, and many sacrifice family time for the community’s sake.

I may ruffle a few feathers here, but as a volunteer in this area for 30 years who has never taken a backseat in anything my children or I have been part of, I know how much work goes into running committees and organising events – and I’ve seen the demise of the humble volunteer. 

The hours of work are still there. What’s not are the number of people working those hours. That means the workload is spread across fewer people and it is causing volunteer burnout and resentment from those working; and clubs, groups and events are running inefficiently or not at all.

I hold serious concerns for the sustainability of our groups, and the health and wellbeing of our volunteers as the demands put on these people grow because fewer people are putting their hand up. 

Earlier this month, The [Koondrook and Barham] Bridge ran a small round table forum with representatives from local community groups and events. I was uncertain what response I would get from those I asked. No uncertainty was needed, as I soon discovered that everyone shares my concerns and this forum could quite easily have been held on a larger scale.

Here’s a summary of what participants had to say. Although these responses are from a handful of the town’s volunteers, they reflect what is happening across the board.

What age range, and what issues do you have with volunteers?

• With the exception of one group which had someone in their mid-20s, most were 40 or older, and some groups had volunteers only aged over 65
• Older volunteers struggle with physical work
• Can get helpers on the day of an event, but not in the organising
• No new people coming on
• The same people are having to rotate through key positions
• Young people seem to have so much going on
• The workload scares people off
• Tried to drop some jobs but there’s no one to fill them
• People rostered on just don’t turn up

What is it you enjoy about volunteering, and what keeps you coming back for more?

• People saying they’re enjoying an event and thanking us
• Mixing with people, talking
• Giving back to the community
• Enjoying working with kids
• Everyone had their roles and on the day, even though there’s apprehension, the event comes together and people say what a great day they’ve had
• Being part of a 5th generation family involved in our club
• Friendships
• Meeting people and learning about new people
• Filling my time in useful ways
• You’re part of a group and you become friends
• Learning new skills (like secretary and treasurer)
• Seeing kids achieve, and seeing what they’ve achieved now as adults
• Going to meetings and talking and bouncing ideas off each other 
• Having a sense of purpose and belonging, especially when new to town

Any feedback from new volunteers/observations as to why they might not come back?

• Too expensive (with a joining fee)
• Their passion has changed and they’ve moved onto something else
• Young people have so much going on, there’s a conflict of activities/events
• People nowadays tend to wait and see what happens rather than committing to something ahead of time
• Kids are more likely to leave town for uni or other work, leaving us with a void of young people

What has your group tried/or is doing to encourage new members?

• Announced that the 100-year-old event would fold and held two community meetings. New people came on board (but they were people from other committees)
• Nurture any new members
• Post photos on Facebook to showcase what the groups do
• Hold a thank you morning tea/dinner for volunteers at end of year
• Hold a monthly dinner for committee members to encourage the social side
• Offer to shadow new members (but still couldn’t get anyone to come on board)
• Subsidised cost to new members of the umbrella organisation joining fee
• Asked people in person
• Announced the sport wouldn’t be offered if no help forthcoming. Two people came. Sport will continue for another season

Suggestions on how to attract more members

• It has to be relevant to people’s lives – i.e. you can’t ask someone to be on committee for bowls if they don’t play
• How do we tackle the changing times – e.g. years ago kids played netball/footy in winter and tennis in summer. Now there are a multitude of activities throughout the year. Everyone’s ‘too busy’
• Ensure volunteers are being thanked
• Train them, ask what they need
• Make sure new members’ enthusiasm isn’t lost when they are lumped with a big work load
• Making sure there is support from other members
• Encouraging people who are new to town, involving them and making sure they don’t feel on the outer in your conversations
• Have a mentor
• Ask people directly

How do we get kids involved?

• If parents have volunteered, kids are likely to volunteer
• Explain they’re gaining life skills (counting cash, spreadsheets etc), and can add to their resume
• Nurture concept of volunteering

What can we do to encourage more young people to be active volunteers?

• Be relatable to young people
• Use social media platforms that young people use (not just Facebook)
• Encourage them by saying it will get them out of the house, give them something else to think about in their busy lives
• Keep relevant and change your ways if needed
• Show them they’re valued
• Don’t knock their ideas back, let them run with them

How did lack of volunteers effect your committee members, and in turn, your event?

• We all did more than we should have
• Plenty of people came out on the day to help, but not to organise the event throughout the year – that’s where the help was needed
• Volunteer(s) suffered burnout, melt-down, resentment towards event, no longer enjoyed it
• Event folded
• Feeling of guilt that we couldn’t continue a revered community event – letting down participants and the hospital (recipient of funds raised)

If you don’t get volunteers, what will happen to your club?

• Aging volunteer base can’t do the physical work required 
• Amalgamation, but that takes away the group’s identity and local community connection
• Fold within a few years
• Can’t offer full range of opportunities to community
• Can’t get a quorum to run a committee meeting (as per incorporation rules)
• Burnout 

While we were never going solve the problem of the volunteer shortage during the forum, all agreed it brought out that they are not alone. Participants left the forum with the tools to encourage new members, and one group has since set up an Instagram account to reach a younger audience. Thank you to those who participated, and to those who wanted to but couldn’t.

From the outside, people say what a great community we are – and we are – but on the inside, some groups and events are struggling to stay afloat.

They need your help.

If you can relate to any of the discussion and/or you have any ideas to help our community groups run efficiently and successfully as they can to service the needs and wants of the people of our community, get in touch with The [Koondrook and Barham] Bridge. 

Without you, there is no us. Volunteers are vital.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 29 February 2024.