Research
There are several organisations and individuals involved in research activity connected with volunteering. From an Australian point of view and looking particularly at the type of volunteering carried out by volunteers in HACC services, the following may be of particular interestVolunteering and Older People
- This paper contains research into older people and volunteering and was presented to the Premiers’ Forum on Ageing in New South Wales in 2001. It concentrates on volunteering as experienced by the ‘baby boomer’ generation and identifies barriers to volunteering amongst this age group as well as recruitment strategies. The author categorizes volunteers into four groups, namely nurturers, adventurers, socialisers and workers.
www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/download/DADHC.pdf
Volunteering Australia Research
- Volunteering Australia also has a part of their website dedicated to research about volunteering. It is a useful starting point for contacting local volunteering researchers.
www.volunteeringaustralia.org/support_unit.html
Measuring the Value of unpaid household, caring and voluntary work of older Australians
- This paper by David de Vaus, Matthew Gray and David Stanton prepared for the Australian Institute for Family Studies, October 2003. The paper focuses on recognising the potential benefits of an ageing society rather than the negative aspects.
http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/respaper/rp34.html
International Research
- This item from the United Kingdom focuses on hospital and community volunteering: http://www.fortonbank.org.uk/Downloads/good_intentions1.pdf
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Research was carrried out in Ontario in 1991. Today, it still has relevance and pertinent comments to make. Of interest, there is a section in the appendix about barriers to volunteering.
http://www.volunteer.ca/volunteer/pdf/health.pdf