Volunteer recruitment and retention issues: a review of the literature

This volunteerism research literature review was carried out for two main reasons: (1) to confirm that the various research priority needs identified previously by fire services in relation to volunteer recruitment and retention had not already been addressed elsewhere - the review confirmed these gaps in knowledge; and (2) to provide a resource for those working or studying in the broad area of emergency services volunteer recruitment, management, support, and training - this is the first comprehensive review of research relating to recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters in Australia. The review has been organised into 16 self-contained sections, each with its own list of references. The topics addressed (which were generated during discussion with staff and volunteers of the participating agencies) are: general trends in volunteering; age and volunteering - with a special subsection on youth volunteering; rural regions and volunteering; economic aspects of volunteering; reasons for volunteering; barriers to volunteering; retention of volunteers; incentives and recognition; volunteers and their communities - social capital; organisational issues; training; legal issues; families of volunteers; employers of volunteers; women volunteers; volunteers and minority groups - Indigenous Australian volunteers, and volunteers from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Excerpt from publication. Show less