Aged Care Volunteering Hub
Welcome to the Aged Care Volunteering Hub
The Aged Care Volunteering Hub provides information, resources and guidance to strengthen volunteer-led services across the aged care sector. Whether you are a volunteer, volunteer coordinator or service provider, you’ll find practical tools, training resources, and best-practice information to support safe, meaningful and person-centred volunteering.
Prepare
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.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing webpage
Packed with resources and information about volunteering in aged care, including:
– About volunteering in aged care
– Provider requirements and responsibilities for aged care volunteers
– Support and training for aged care volunteers
– Volunteer stories
– Resources
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: Website
Engaging volunteers in aged care – Guidance handbook for aged care providers
The aim of this booklet is to guide providers through the considerations involved in volunteer engagement. Topics covered include the legislative environment, checklists to prepare for volunteer engagement, designing volunteer roles, recruitment and retention and some frequently asked questions.
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: PDF (download)
Corporate volunteering
Information to support in developing a corporate volunteering program.
Source: Volunteering Australia
Resource type: Website
Innovate Your Aged Care Volunteer Engagement – Using a Co-production Approach
This resource aims to inspire Volunteer Involving Organisations to break traditional mould and collaboratively redesign volunteer involvement from strategic, operational and service delivery perspectives.
Source: Macarthur Disability Services and Volunteering SA&NT | Resources
Resource type: PDF (download)
The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement (National Standards)
A best practice framework to guide volunteer involvement. They are an essential resource for all organisations and groups that engage volunteers. The National Standards can be used flexibly, recognising that volunteering takes place in highly settings and ways.
On this website, you will also find Gap Analysis tool, a self-assessment checklist against the National Standards and underpinning criteria. Completing the checklist is a helpful starting point in implementing the National Standards
Source: Volunteering Australia
Resource type: Standard/Guideline
The National Strategy for Volunteering
Co-created by stakeholders from across the volunteering ecosystem, provides a blueprint for the next ten years that will enable volunteering in Australia to thrive.
Source: National Strategy for Volunteering
Resource type: Standard/Guideline
The Volunteer Involvement Cycle
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.
Source: National Knowledge Base
Resource type: Standard/Guideline
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing webpage
Packed with resources and information about volunteering in aged care, including:
– About volunteering in aged care
– Provider requirements and responsibilities for aged care volunteers
– Support and training for aged care volunteers
– Volunteer stories
– Resources
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: Website
Designing Volunteer Roles: A Practical Guide (2014)
How can I assess if this role is right for a paid employee or unpaid volunteer?
How can you help me recruit and retain the volunteers we need?
This Guide provides practical suggestions in answer to those questions and more. It is based on our twenty-five years of experience and also draws upon the publications of the Fair Work Ombudsman and Volunteering Australia. This Guide offers a number of steps for action, starting with a focused Workforce Analysis and ending with how to complete a constructive Volunteer Position Description.
Source: Volunteering ACT | Resources
Resource type: PDF (download)
12 Steps to Recruiting & Onboarding a Volunteer
This document breaks down the recruiting and onboarding volunteer process into 12 easy-to-follow steps.
Source: The Centre for Volunteering
Resource type: PDF (download)
Volunteering in Aged Care
This resource is an overview of volunteering in aged care, outlining the vital role volunteers play in supporting older people’s wellbeing, along with the eligibility, training, responsibilities, and safeguards required for volunteers and providers.
Source: National Knowledge Base
Resource type: Website
Glossary
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Resource type: Website
Recruit
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.
Volunteer recruitment websites: How to get more traction now!
This article provides practical examples of how organisations can improve volunteer recruitment by strengthening the content and design of their volunteer webpages. It outlines practical ways to clearly communicate volunteer roles, purpose, and impact to increase interest and enquiries.
Source: Tobi Johnson & Associates
Resource type: Website
Your complete guide to word-of-mouth for superior volunteer recruitment
This article by Tobi Johnson, explores how organisations can use ‘word‑of‑mouth’ more intentionally to strengthen volunteer recruitment. It outlines practical strategies for encouraging volunteers, staff, and stakeholders to share positive experiences and promote volunteer opportunities through their personal networks.
Source: Tobi Johnson & Associates
Resource type: Website
Strategies to recruit and retain volunteers in the aged care setting
This resource is a practical guidance summary that outlines evidence‑informed strategies for recruiting, motivating and retaining volunteers in residential aged care settings.
Source: Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA)
Resource type: Website
12 Steps to Recruiting & Onboarding a Volunteer
This document breaks down the recruiting and onboarding volunteer process into 12 easy-to-follow steps.
Source: The Centre for Volunteering
Resource type: PDF (download)
Recruiting volunteers from CALD backgrounds in Aged Care
This flyer, created by Volunteering SA&NT and COASIT SA, highlights the valuable contributions volunteers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds bring to aged care, and also outlines how organisations can better welcome and engage CALD volunteers through supportive, culturally aware practices and meaningful community partnerships.
Source: Volunteering SA&NT and COASIT SA
Resource type: PDF (download)
Tobi Johnson’s Ultimate guide to managing volunteers
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the volunteer lifecycle, covering recruitment, screening, placement, training, supervision, recognition, retention and evaluation.
The guide can be downloaded from Tobi Johnson’s VolunteerPro Volunteer Management Academy, offering practical insights to support effective and sustainable volunteer management.
Source: Tobi Johnson & Associates
Resource type: PDF (download)
12 Steps to Recruiting & Onboarding a Volunteer
This document breaks down the recruiting and onboarding volunteer process into 12 easy-to-follow steps.
Source: The Centre for Volunteering
Resource type: PDF (download)
In a Nutshell: Support at Home and the new Aged Care Act
Videos and factsheets for volunteers and paid workers on the Aged Care reforms, including:
– The Aged Care Act, Statement of Rights and Code of Conduct
– The Support at Home program
Source: Inner West Aged Care Services
Resource type: PDF (download)
Support
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.
Volunteer recognition
Valuing the time and efforts of volunteers is crucial to retain them. Recognising and rewarding volunteers is an essential part of best practice for volunteer management.
Source: Volunteering Australia
Resource type: Website
Tobi Johnson’s Ultimate guide to managing volunteers
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the volunteer lifecycle, covering recruitment, screening, placement, training, supervision, recognition, retention and evaluation.
The guide can be downloaded from Tobi Johnson’s VolunteerPro Volunteer Management Academy, offering practical insights to support effective and sustainable volunteer management.
Source: Tobi Johnson & Associates
Resource type: PDF (download)
Strategies to recruit and retain volunteers in the aged care setting
This resource is a practical guidance summary that outlines evidence‑informed strategies for recruiting, motivating and retaining volunteers in residential aged care settings.
Source: Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA)
Resource type: Website
Exiting volunteers the right way
This resource from Volunteering New Zealand outlines good volunteer‑management practices, helps organisations navigate conflict or exit processes with volunteers, and highlights ways to ensure departures are fair, respectful and meaningful.
Source: Better Impact
Resource type: Website
Exiting volunteers – Factsheet
This resource is a guide to managing volunteer exits, outlining fair and transparent processes for when volunteers choose to leave or when an organisation must end the relationship, in alignment with the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.
Source: Volunteering Tasmania | Resources
Resource type: PDF (download)
Creating and supporting inclusive volunteering environment in Aged Care
This flyer, created by Volunteering SA&NT and COASIT SA, explains that while volunteering strengthens communities, many regional organisations, people with disability and newly arrived migrants face barriers to getting involved — and that simplifying processes, offering flexible and inclusive roles, and building supportive partnerships can help overcome these challenges.
Source: Volunteering SA&NT and COASIT SA
Resource type: PDF (download)
The way we respond: Practical leadership guidance for managers and HR in aged care
The resource provides practical tools to support consistent leadership responses that influence workforce engagement, early escalation of risk, and staff retention. It is aged care but not volunteer specific, however a good resource, as volunteers are to be treated as paid staff.
Source: Multicultural Communities of SA
Resource type: PDF (download)
Supporting Older People: Volunteer Learning Guide
The Supporting older people: Volunteer learning guide helps registered providers and volunteer managers understand and deliver training on the five core topics consistently.
Supporting Older People: Volunteer Learning Guide webpage
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Department of Health, Disability and Ageing webpage
Packed with resources and information about volunteering in aged care, including:
– About volunteering in aged care
– Provider requirements and responsibilities for aged care volunteers
– Support and training for aged care volunteers
– Volunteer stories
– Resources
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: Website
Managing volunteers in aged care – Guidance handbook for volunteer managers
This handbook provides guidance for aged care volunteer managers for volunteer engagement and management processes including recruitment, onboarding, retention, administration and further training and information. Aged care providers can also use this resource to support their volunteer managers.
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: PDF (download)
Psychosocial Safety for CHSP Providers and Volunteers
Recording of a webinar in March 2025 on how volunteer involving organisations can make their workplaces safe and compliant with work health safety guidelines on psychosocial safety. Includes examples relevant to in-home support aged care services.
Source: Meals on Wheels NSW
Resource type: Webinar recording
Volunteering and Boundaries
A guide on what boundaries are and what they look like in a volunteering program.
Source: Volunteering Australia
Resource type: Standard/Guideline – January 2021 (download)
Exiting volunteers the right way
This resource from Volunteering New Zealand outlines good volunteer‑management practices, helps organisations navigate conflict or exit processes with volunteers, and highlights ways to ensure departures are fair, respectful and meaningful.
Source: Better Impact
Resource type: Website
Exiting volunteers – Factsheet
This resource is a guide to managing volunteer exits, outlining fair and transparent processes for when volunteers choose to leave or when an organisation must end the relationship, in alignment with the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.
Source: Volunteering Tasmania | Resources
Resource type: PDF (download)
In a Nutshell: Support at Home and the new Aged Care Act
Videos and factsheets for volunteers and paid workers on the Aged Care reforms, including:
– The Aged Care Act, Statement of Rights and Code of Conduct
– The Support at Home program
Source: Inner West Aged Care Services
Resource type: PDF (download)
Volunteering in aged care: Diversity & Inclusion NEW – Publication date – 7 April 2026
Volunteers support older people from a wide range of diverse backgrounds. This means that volunteers need to be inclusive and treat older people with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or life experiences. This is essential for quality care and support of older people.
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission | Resource library
Resource type: PDF (download)
Volunteering in aged care: Elder abuse and advocacy pathways NEW – Publication date – 7 April 2026
Older people have the right to feel safe and respected. This means it is important that volunteers are aware of what elder abuse is and what advocacy pathways are available for older people.
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission | Resource library
Resource type: PDF (download)
Evaluate
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.
About volunteering in aged care: Why volunteers are important
Find out what volunteers can do, what it means for older people in aged care and basic eligibility criteria
Source: Department of Health Disability and Ageing
Resource type: Website
The impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers: A rapid evidence assessment
The ‘technical report’, rapid evidence assessment reviews research on how formal volunteering affects volunteers’ wellbeing. Based on 158 UK and international studies, it highlights positive links with life satisfaction and happiness, notes potential risks such as stress or burnout, and outlines practical implications for designing safe and effective volunteer programs.
For aged care providers, it reinforces the importance of supporting volunteer wellbeing to improve retention and meet psychosocial safety obligations.
Source: Volunteering Gateway | Resources
Resource type: PDF (download)
Innovate Your Aged Care Volunteer Engagement – Using a Co-production Approach
This resource aims to inspire Volunteer Involving Organisations to break traditional mould and collaboratively redesign volunteer involvement from strategic, operational and service delivery perspectives.
Source: Macarthur Disability Services and Volunteering SA&NT | Resources
Resource type: PDF (download)
Tobi Johnson’s Ultimate guide to managing volunteers
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the volunteer lifecycle, covering recruitment, screening, placement, training, supervision, recognition, retention and evaluation.
The guide can be downloaded from Tobi Johnson’s VolunteerPro Volunteer Management Academy, offering practical insights to support effective and sustainable volunteer management.
Source: Tobi Johnson & Associates
Resource type: PDF (download)
Receiving volunteer feedback
The purpose of this quick guide includes information on receiving feedback from your volunteers including why you should be asking them for feedback and some ways you can do this.
Source: Volunteering TAS (with excerpts from Volunteering WA) | Resources
Resource type: PDF (download) – 2023
Reform and Compliance
Aged care volunteering plays a vital role in supporting older Australians, and recent reforms are strengthening how volunteer services are delivered, governed and supported. These changes aim to ensure volunteering remains safe, ethical and responsive to the needs of older people, while aligning with broader aged care quality and safeguarding requirements.
This section provides clear information on current reforms, compliance obligations, and good practice guidance for CHSP and in-home care volunteers and providers. It supports organisations to understand their responsibilities, meet regulatory requirements, and embed strong governance, risk management and volunteer support frameworks.
By staying informed and compliant, volunteer programs can continue to deliver meaningful, high-quality support while meeting community expectations and national aged care standards.
Community Organisations and WHS Laws: A guide to understanding and complying with work health and safety laws (2024)
This guide, available as a pdf download from the Work Health and Safety Laws page at Justice Connect, helps community and not‑for‑profit organisations understand when WHS laws apply and what their safety responsibilities are, offering clear, practical explanations to support safer workplaces for volunteers and staff.
This pdf resource includes many examples referencing volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.
This resource is relevant to all States and Territories except Victoria.
Source: Justice Connect | WHS Laws
Resource type: PDF (download)
Guide to occupational health and safety laws in Victoria (2025)
This guide, available as a pdf download from the Occupational Health and Safety Laws in Victoria page at Justice Connect, covers the circumstances in which Victoria’s OHS laws may apply to not-for-profit community organisations.
This resource includes many examples referencing volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.
This resource is relevant only to Victoria.
Source: Justice Connect | WHS Laws – Victoria
Resource type: Standard/Guideline – October 2025
Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
The Code of Practice provides clear, practical guidance on how workplaces should identify, manage and reduce psychosocial hazards, helping organisations meet their WHS obligations and protect workers’ mental and physical wellbeing.
This resource is relevant to all States and Territories except Victoria.
Source: SafeWork NSW
Resource type: Legislation/Regulation
Volunteering – Legal obligations
SafeWork NSW explains when and how work health and safety laws apply to volunteers, helping organisations understand their responsibilities and keep volunteers safe. It’s a clear, practical guide for any group that engages volunteers and wants to make sure they meet the right safety standards.
This resource is relevant to all States and Territories except Victoria.
Worksafe Victoria provides guidance on how to manage volunteer health and safety in Victoria.
Source: SafeWork NSW
Resource type: Website/page
Volunteers in Aged Care
This webpage provides video and fact sheet resources for Volunteer Managers and Volunteers on the topics of:
– Code of Conduct
– Serious Incident Report Scheme
– Complaints
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Resource type: Legislation/Regulation
Glossary
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Resource type: Website
Volunteering in aged care: Diversity & Inclusion
Volunteers support older people from a wide range of diverse backgrounds. This means that volunteers need to be inclusive and treat older people with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or life experiences. This is essential for quality care and support of older people.
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission | Resource library
Resource type: PDF (download)
Volunteering in aged care: Elder abuse and advocacy pathways
Older people have the right to feel safe and respected. This means it is important that volunteers are aware of what elder abuse is and what advocacy pathways are available for older people.
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission | Resource library
Resource type: PDF (download)
The Australian Government has developed a new Aged Care Act to strengthen Australia’s aged care system. The new Act aims to ensure that people who access aged care services funded by the Australian Government are treated with respect and have the quality of life they deserve.
Latest version – 1 November 2025
Source: Australian Government
Resource type: Website
The new Aged Care Act is strengthening Australia’s aged care system. It ensures that people who access aged care services funded by the Australian Government are treated with respect and have the quality of life they deserve.
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: Website
This booklet outlines the upcoming changes under the new Aged Care Act 2024, (the new Act) which commences on 1 November 2025.
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: PDF (download)
New Aged Care Act and Volunteering in Aged Care – What volunteers need to know
This booklet outlines the upcoming changes under the new Aged Care Act 2024, (the new Act) which commences on 1 November 2025.
Source: Australian Government – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: PDF (download)
In a Nutshell: Support at Home and the new Aged Care Act
Videos and factsheets for volunteers and paid workers on the Aged Care reforms, including:
– The Aged Care Act, Statement of Rights and Code of Conduct
– The Support at Home program
Source: Inner West Aged Care Services
Resource type: PDF (download)
Screening requirements for the aged care workforce
If you want to work in a paid or volunteer aged care role, you must undergo a screening process to get clearance. The clearance protects the safety and wellbeing of people accessing aged care.
Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: Website
Aged Care Worker Screening Guidance Material
This guidance material aims to assist registered providers delivering funded aged care services to understand and comply with the worker screening requirements introduced by the Aged Care Act 2024 and the Aged Care Rules 2025 that commenced on 1 November 2025.
Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Resource type: PDF (download)
If you have a CHSP or In-Home Aged Care related resource you would like to submit for the Aged Care Volunteering Hub or you have any feedback, please complete a submission form.
Aged Care volunteering information and opportunities across Australia
Volunteering in aged care makes a meaningful difference in the lives of older Australians and the communities they live in. Across Australia, volunteers have various roles in supporting people receiving services in their homes, in the community and in residential aged care facilities. As a volunteer, you might be driving older people to medical appointments or shopping, assisting with activities in social groups, chatting with older people in aged care facilities, or delivering meals to people in their homes.
While many aged care roles involve a regular commitment, they can still be flexible so you can take a holiday or change your volunteering days to accommodate your other needs.
Becoming an aged care volunteer doesn’t require special qualifications—what matters most is you have empathy, good communication skills and a genuine interest in supporting older people. As a volunteer in aged care, you will need to complete a National Police Check and undertake some basic training, so you understand your obligations under the Aged Care Act 2024. This will ensure you feel confident and prepared for your role.
Overall, volunteering in aged care is a rewarding way to build stronger community connections and to positively impact the lives of older Australians through reducing social isolation and supporting independence.
This hub brings together information, opportunities and resources to help you get involved, and links to organisations delivering volunteer-led aged care services in metropolitan, regional and remote communities in Australia.
Stories from aged care volunteers
CHSP Volunteers talk about volunteering in aged care
Inspired and inspiring volunteers talk about their experiences in aged care, how they make a difference and how volunteering makes them feel.
Source: Volunteering SA&NT
Resource type: Video
A Day in the Life of an Aged Care Volunteer – Meet Lou
Celebrating volunteers in aged care, this video follows ‘a day in the life’ of Lou, who delivers meals to older people in South Australia as part of Nonna’s Cucina’s Commonwealth Home Support Program.
Source: Volunteering SA&NT, COASIT SA and Nonna’s Cucina
Resource type: Video
New to Australia? Come Volunteer! (English)
This video highlights how volunteering in Australia has many personal benefits simply by giving time and skills to support your community.
Source: Canterbury City Community Centre and The Centre for Volunteering
Resource type: Video