Published on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 at 7:00:00 AM
The Esperance Volunteer Resource Centre (VRC) has wrapped up its Youth Volunteering program, celebrating the success of a project designed to connect young people with rewarding volunteering opportunities while helping local organisations prepare for the next generation of volunteers.
A series of videos highlighting and reporting back on the experiences of participating organisations and young volunteers has been produced as part of the program. These charming and absorbing videos are available on the VRC’s Facebook page and the Shire of Esperance's YouTube channel.
Delivered as part of the VRC's Volunteer Management Activity project for 2025/2026, the program was developed following on-the-ground research by dedicated VRC staff. Volunteer involving organisations were consulted to identify common perceptions about youth volunteers, and over 200 students from both high schools shared their views on how they saw and felt about volunteering. The findings helped shape a program focused on creating positive and rewarding experiences for young people and organisations.
Young volunteers aged 12 to 18 were linked with local groups including the Esperance Theatre Guild, 103.9 HopeFM and the Esperance Museum. The VRC helped co-design engaging, age-appropriate roles while providing guidance around key issues such as attracting and retaining young volunteers, insurance requirements and creating supportive environments.
The program comes at an important time for the volunteer sector, with many organisations experiencing declining volunteer numbers and an ageing volunteer workforce. By supporting youth involvement, the VRC aims to help local groups build a sustainable pipeline of future volunteers while ensuring young people feel welcome, valued and connected to their community.
In addition to the videos, the VRC has developed resources addressing common misconceptions about youth volunteering with detailed Myth vs Reality information. While the program has concluded, the VRC will continue to support organisations and young people, helping create meaningful volunteer opportunities and explore future initiatives such as micro-volunteering and environmental volunteering.
With Esperance already recognised for its comparatively high levels of youth participation in volunteering, the VRC hopes this project will be the foundation for even greater youth participation in the years ahead.
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