Research & Innovation

Innovation is a key value in Volunteering WA’s operations and strategy, with research an integral part in our strive to innovate.

Research Committee

Volunteering WA is fortunate to have the support of a dedicated Research Committee to advise and support the management team on issues related to research in the sector. Meeting quarterly, the Committee shares information on current research, and promotes opportunities for collaboration and networking amongst researchers at all stages of their academic careers in WA.  Read the Research Committee member profiles.

A number of initiatives were thwarted by the disruption from COVID-19. However, the Committee spent much time reviewing guidelines for community organisations considering participating in research and developed a useful check list aimed at protecting their interests and managing their risks.

2021 Project: Volunteering in Aged Care Settings during covid-19 and beyond

Volunteering in aged care settings has changed significantly during the time of COVID-19 and initial indications are that some of the changes which have occurred are likely to remain, changing the volunteering landscape for volunteers, managers of volunteers and organisations. The objective of the project is to facilitate knowledge sharing about what has changed for the time of COVID-19 that is likely to remain and to assist organisations to include this in their briefing and recruiting of volunteers, reskilling of existing volunteers and planning for the future.

Launching in 2020-21, this project will engage volunteers and volunteer managers working in aged care. Project outcomes, including a Good Practice Guide, will be presented at the Volunteering WA State Volunteering Conference to be held in November 2021. Learn about this project here.

Research Digest

The Committee supports the publication of a Research Digest twice a year. The Digest is a collection of research reports, articles and papers relating to volunteering from Australia and around the world. It is a free resource for the Volunteering WA community and the WA researchers’ network.