Ramping up support for community sport volunteers

Published July 18, 2022.

The Victorian Government is backing community sport volunteers to get involved with the sports they love with more than $225,000 to be invested in a new Sport Volunteer Support partnership with Vicsport.

The state’s peak body for sport will engage volunteers and industry experts to develop videos and interactive materials focusing on recruitment, retention and recognition.

Resources will focus on key areas such as: recruitment, retention and recognition; building an inclusive and welcoming volunteer program; restarting a volunteer program in a COVIDSafe environment; and coaching volunteers through organisational change.

CEO of Vicsport Lisa Hasker said volunteers are the backbone of community sport, this project will enable clubs to support volunteers to engage, return and remain in sport and support Victorians to be active.

The plan is being designed in bid to encourage and support more volunteers to get involved with community sport clubs and associations as they rebuild following seasons disrupted by the pandemic.

With an estimated 738,000 Victorians currently volunteering their time at clubs and associations, initiatives like these improve the capacity of sporting clubs to increase participation while giving volunteers the support, pathways and recognition they deserve.