The Complete Volunteer Recruitment Guide for NZ & Australian Charities
Where to find volunteers, how to write listings that convert, and proven recruitment strategies that work for Kiwi and Aussie charities.
Finding enough volunteers is one of the biggest challenges facing charities in New Zealand and Australia. The good news? There are more people wanting to volunteer than ever before. The challenge is connecting with them where they're looking and making it easy for them to say yes.
This guide covers everything you need to know about volunteer recruitment, with a specific focus on platforms and approaches that work in New Zealand and Australia.
Where to List Your Volunteer Opportunities
Don't rely on your website alone. List your opportunities on the platforms where potential volunteers are actively searching.
🇳🇿 New Zealand Platforms
🇦🇺 Australian Platforms
Four Recruitment Strategies That Work
Start with your existing community
Your best volunteer prospects are people who already know you: past donors, event attendees, service recipients, and their families. They understand your cause and are more likely to commit.
- Send a volunteer appeal to your email list (separate from donation asks)
- Add volunteer opportunities to thank-you pages and receipts
- Ask current volunteers to recruit friends—personal asks convert best
- Reach out to past volunteers who haven't been active recently
Optimise for search
When someone Googles 'volunteer opportunities [your city]', will they find you? Most volunteers start their search online.
- List on multiple volunteer platforms—don't rely on just one
- Use specific, searchable role titles: 'Weekend Event Volunteer' not 'Helper'
- Include location keywords in your listings and website
- Create a dedicated volunteer page on your website with clear calls to action
Leverage social media
Social platforms let volunteers share opportunities with their networks, multiplying your reach exponentially.
- Share volunteer stories with photos—people want to see what they're signing up for
- Create shareable graphics for specific opportunities
- Use Facebook Events for volunteer days and appeals
- Encourage volunteers to share their experience on their own profiles
Partner with corporates
Many companies now offer paid volunteer days to employees. These corporate volunteering programs are a goldmine of skilled, organised volunteers.
- Approach local businesses with team volunteering packages
- Register with corporate volunteering platforms like Volunteering Australia
- Create group-friendly volunteer experiences that work for team days
- Build relationships with corporate social responsibility managers
How to Write Volunteer Listings That Convert
A good volunteer listing is like a job ad—it needs to sell the opportunity while setting clear expectations. Here's what works:
Title
âś“ Good
Weekend Collection Volunteer – Auckland City
âś— Avoid
Volunteer Needed
Specific titles get found in search and set clear expectations.
Time Commitment
âś“ Good
2-hour shifts available between 9am-3pm
âś— Avoid
Flexible hours
People need to know if it fits their schedule before they apply.
Impact Statement
âś“ Good
Help us raise funds to train 10 new assistance dogs this year
âś— Avoid
Support our cause
Concrete impact motivates action. Show what their help achieves.
Requirements
âś“ Good
No experience needed—just enthusiasm and reliability
âś— Avoid
(Left blank)
Being explicit about low barriers removes hesitation.
What You'll Do
âś“ Good
Greet donors, handle cash and EFTPOS, answer questions about our work
âś— Avoid
Various tasks as needed
Clarity reduces anxiety about the unknown.
What You'll Get
âś“ Good
Training provided, team lunch, reference letter available
âś— Avoid
(Not mentioned)
Volunteering should be a two-way exchange of value.
Common Recruitment Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Only recruiting when desperate
Build your volunteer pipeline continuously, not just when you have urgent needs.
❌ Making registration too complex
Every extra form field loses volunteers. Collect only what you absolutely need upfront.
❌ Not responding quickly
Follow up within 24-48 hours. Interested volunteers lose momentum fast.
❌ Vague about time commitment
Be specific: 'Two Saturdays per month, 9am-1pm' not 'regular commitment required'.
❌ Forgetting to say thank you
Send an immediate confirmation and welcome. First impressions set the tone.
❌ Listing only on your website
People search on platforms like SEEK Volunteer and GoVolunteer—meet them there.
Key Takeaways
Ready to streamline volunteer recruitment?
PurposeTech makes it easy for volunteers to sign up and for you to manage them at scale. See how we can help your charity.