Each week 100’s of volunteers across the Rugby Victoria community are giving up their time to ensure that Rugby is enjoyed here in Victoria. These volunteers may be marking lines, running canteens and BBQ’s, pumping up balls, cutting up oranges or coaching teams, often with very little thank you or recognition for their efforts.
Club volunteers are essential to community sport, and this is no different in Rugby, with nearly all club administration roles across the Rugby Victoria community being non-paid roles and often requiring volunteers to give up their time on top of existing work commitments and family commitments. For Rugby to continue to move forward it’s extremely important that clubs and governing bodies look after our volunteer community and make it easy for new people to get involved in volunteering at their local club. This can be done by ensuring all volunteers are given the tools to succeed as volunteers.
Some of these tools include:
- Access to training and onboarding for new volunteers.
- Clarity of volunteers’ positions and roles, through standard operating procedures or position descriptions.
- Access to capability building professional development.
- Being rewarded and recognised for service.
- Connecting volunteers with the best resources and support from Rugby Australia and Rugby Victoria.
This week (May 19th- 26th) is National Volunteers Week which presents a great time to highlight the contributions that volunteers make to the game of Rugby in Victoria.
To support the reward and recognition of volunteers, Rugby Victoria is introducing the Rugby Victoria Volunteer of the Month Award, recognising the volunteers who support Rugby throughout the season. The Volunteer of the Month Award will supplement the recognition of volunteers through the Community Awards Night, held at season end.
To nominate a volunteer for the Rugby Victoria Volunteer of the Month Award, please click the link below and in 100 words or less tell us “Why the nominated volunteer should win the Rugby Victoria Volunteer of the Month Award (May)”. All nominations for Rugby Victoria Volunteer of the Month Award will be automatically nominated for the Rugby Victoria Volunteer of the Year Award, monthly winners will be announced monthly and highlighted on Rugby Victoria Media outlets.
Rugby Victoria is asking all clubs to thank their volunteers this National Volunteer Week with a simple “thank you”, a pat on the back, recognition at training, game day, in the club newsletter or via club social media.
Rugby Victoria would like to thank all the committee members, game day volunteers and other volunteers who drive the Union forward in 2025.
See below some supportive websites to help your club acknowledge the contribution of volunteers
Australian Sports Commission - NVW
