Snow Australia conducted a survey of its volunteers, clubs and lodges to better understand the challenges and opportunities to improve the volunteer experience. It revealed snow volunteers have a high level of satisfaction, valuing diversity in their roles, on-the-job training and the sense of community they feel.

Rebecca Clark, Snow Australia’s Community Engagement Manager, is proud of the community in snow sports, but recognises the need to maintain this connection and provide better support mechanisms for volunteers.

“It's crucial for Snow Australia to nurture this connection by ensuring that volunteers feel supported and appreciated, which will in turn help to sustain and grow participation in our sport,” Rebecca said.

“To do this, we must identify the key challenges and opportunities and provide support to our organisations and events to deliver on these opportunities.”

The survey also highlighted areas for improvement around communication, role clarity and flexibility. Volunteers expressed a desire for greater appreciation and the need to attract younger volunteers.

"It’s our responsibility to clearly communicate the various roles, expectations, time commitments and responsibilities involved,” Rebecca said.

“We need to better understand the younger generation within our snow sport community to engage them effectively and support succession planning within our sport."

These insights will guide Snow Australia’s future Volunteer Strategy to ensure a more inclusive and supportive environment.

"This survey lays the groundwork for creating volunteer-friendly environments," Rebecca continued.

"By building on these strengths, Snow Australia will ensure volunteers remain engaged and empowered to have a lasting impact."

Today is International Volunteer Managers Day, a day to recognise the importance of volunteer leadership and celebrate the vital work of volunteer managers.

To find resources and tools to support your sport volunteers, visit the Sport Volunteer Resource Hub - Volunteer Resource Hub | Australian Sports Commission (ausport.gov.au).