While we celebrate their career accolades, it is also important to recognise those who were with them from the start: the volunteers.

Supporting, celebrating and empowering our unsung heroes is the ultimate goal of the Sport Volunteer Coalition.

The Coalition was established in 2022 and is made up of eleven members who specialise in areas such as government relations, women’s sport, First Nations sport and diversity and inclusion.

Over the last 12 months the Coalition has helped put volunteering higher on the agenda. Members have used national conferences and other forums to call on sport administrators to prioritise support for volunteers and utilise the Sport Volunteer Coalition Action Plan.

“We’re really starting to see momentum build in the volunteering space with sports exploring new ways to recruit and retain their volunteers,” said Sport Volunteer Coalition Chair Dr Lindsey Reece.

“We know when volunteers feel welcomed, valued and supported they’re more likely to remain in sport so it’s our job to help sports create that positive experience.”

This momentum has led to twenty national sporting organisations forming the first ever volunteer network. The Australian Football League, Basketball Australia, and Football Australia are among nine of the largest organisations to form part of the network.

The network meets bi-monthly to share key data and insights as well as best practice guidelines and key learnings.

It has prompted five sporting organisations to develop their first ever Volunteer Action Plan. For Paddle Australia this involved extensive consultation with 57 clubs, 25 focus group sessions and 433 survey recipients.

“We have started implementing key projects including a volunteer profile series, induction programs, personal development opportunities, and we are in the process of developing a resource hub,” said Paddle Australia’s Sport Development Coordinator Naazmi Johnston.

“It has already opened opportunities for collaboration with our State Paddle Associations, clubs and committees and enabled us to work towards the same goals and outcomes.”

Paddle Australia is hoping to welcome a new wave of volunteers ahead of the next Games who will play an integral role in supporting their future stars.

“Success for Paddle Australia means diversifying and expanding the volunteer base, cultivating a culture of appreciation and inclusion, and ensuring sustainable engagement at all levels of the sport.”

“It is about creating an environment where volunteering is not only accessible but also rewarding, leading to increased retention and satisfaction while building stronger, more connected paddling communities nationwide.”

A sentiment the Sport Volunteer Coalition 100 per cent supports.

Organisations interested in joining the Volunteer Leaders Network can email volunteering@ausport.gov.au.