International Volunteer Day is a global awareness day that recognises the contribution of volunteers and promotes the value of volunteering in communities worldwide. It highlights how volunteering strengthens social connection, supports essential services and helps address social, health, and environmental challenges.
Why this matters
- Volunteers play a critical role in supporting community services that would otherwise be under-resourced or unavailable.
- Volunteering strengthens social connection and reduces isolation for both volunteers and those they support.
- Many health, care, emergency, and community organisations rely heavily on volunteers to operate.
- Volunteering builds skills, confidence and a sense of purpose across all ages.
- Community resilience during crises often depends on volunteer support.
Recognising volunteers reinforces the importance of collective care and shared responsibility within communities.
Event Co-ordination / Support
International
- United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
United Nations programme that promotes volunteerism worldwide and coordinates International Volunteer Day, supporting peace, development, and community resilience through volunteer action.
Australia
- Volunteering Australia
National peak body representing volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations, providing advocacy, resources, and leadership to strengthen volunteering across Australia.
