Research Digest

25 May

Research Digest

All The Lonely People, Where Do They All Belong: Community Radio and Social Connection

The incidence of loneliness in Australia is growing. The personal and social consequences of loneliness are significant for those affected but also for policymakers. This article argues that community broadcasting in Australia should be valued as a medium that can reduce social isolation and enrich community cohesion.
25 May

Research Digest

The Free-Fall of Volunteer Leaders in Australian Grassroots Associations

Current availability of volunteer leaders for grassroot associations is declining. This study aimed to identify motivations and barriers to members of grass roots associations stepping up to leadership roles on committees and explore potential recruitment strategies.
25 May

Research Digest

Myths and Misconceptions About University Student Volunteering: Development and Perpetuation

This paper examines how erroneous myths and misconceptions are developed and perpetuated and can undermine the potential and value of university student volunteering.
25 May

Research Digest

Investing in Strategic Volunteer Engagement – A Qualitative Study

Volunteerism is a core element of society and the non-profit workforce in the US. It is assumed to be a positive activity offering benefits to non-profits, volunteers, and the community. Yet, raising or justifying funding to support the engagement of volunteers has been a challenge for many volunteer involving organisations (VIOs). This study explored what stops charitable foundations and funding organisations from investing in volunteer engagement, the kind of evidence that would encourage funders to invest, and the evidence they might need from grant partners to measure volunteer engagement.
25 May

Research Digest

The Impact of Volunteering on a Young Person’s Life

This research offers a significant contribution to the definition, understanding and development of secondary school volunteering in both the New Zealand and global context.
25 May

Research Digest

Community Giving in First Nations Communities in Gippsland: Strengths, Barriers, and Opportunities

This project sought to understand the valuable ways that Indigenous peoples in Gippsland contribute to their communities and support and sustain each other.
10 Jan

Research Digest

Good Sports – Why Sports need to Engage Female Volunteers

Sport volunteering attracts a less diverse population generally, with volunteers more likely to be male, white, and from a higher socioeconomic background. This study undertook exploratory research to find out more about the experiences of women as sports volunteers, with a view to understanding, and ultimately correcting, the gender imbalance.
10 Jan

Research Digest

Building Community Resilience Through Youth Volunteering: Towards a New Model

Australian regional communities are changing. The combined impact of out-migration and ageing populations means that the capacity of regional communities to function as they traditionally have is challenged. In this context, volunteer effort remains a vital part of building community resilience and social capital.
10 Jan

Research Digest

The Game of Life: Designing a Gamification System to Increase Current Volunteer Participation and Retention in Volunteer-based Non-profit Organizations

Games have been powerful tools in motivating human behaviours. Today, games have become integrated into social media as a means to engage and encourage user behaviour and also in the workplace to motivate employees
09 May

Research Digest

Young People as Volunteers: A Guide to Moving from Traditional Practices

This research was heavily focused on practical outputs and strategies; aiming to provide organisations with tools to implement into their programs.