The Volunteering NSW State Conference is the primary forum in NSW where leaders and practitioners come together to build knowledge, leadership and best practice in the volunteering sector.
The Conference has been developed for volunteer coordinators and managers in the not-for-profit and community sectors, bringing together experts, academics and industry leaders to allow delegates the opportunity to advance their knowledge, develop skills and grow their networks.
About the 2025 Volunteering NSW State Conference
The theme for this year’s conference, to be held on Thursday 5 June is:
Protect, Preserve, Progress Volunteering in NSW.
Key focus areas are:
- Valuing Volunteering: This includes strategies for recruiting, retaining, and engaging volunteers, ensuring they feel appreciated and motivated.
- Leadership Innovation: Exploring new leadership models and the transition of leadership roles to adapt to changing times.
- Mental Health and Resilience: Addressing the mental health needs of volunteers and building resilience to cope with challenges.
- Online Engagement: Utilising social media and Artificial Intelligence to enhance volunteer engagement and outreach.
The conference will explore how to best manage the significant challenges we face, to build knowledge, leadership and best practice in the volunteering sector.
Keynote – Wendy Harmer
Wendy Harmer is one of Australia’s best-known humourists.
Her writing and performance skills have brought her success in a wide variety of mediums – as an author, radio broadcaster, TV host, playwright and stage performer.
As a stand-up comedian she performed her one-woman shows Love Gone Wrong, Please Send More Money and Up Late and Loving It at the Melbourne, Edinburgh, Montreal and Glasgow Mayfest Comedy Festivals, in London’s West End and the Sydney Theatre Company.
Wendy enjoyed huge popularity leading Sydney radio station 2Day FM’s top-rating Breakfast Show from 1993 – 2004 and was the co-host of ABC’s 702 Sydney morning show from 2016 -2021.
She is the author of seven books for adults, including the best seller Farewell My Ovaries. She has also written for young adults and children. Her much-loved fairy character Pearlie in the Park, is the star of 17 books, which have been translated into six languages. The stage musical of Pearlie in the Park toured nationally in 2007. Wendy has also penned two plays for young adults. She also wrote the libretto for Lake Lost, a Baz Luhrmann production for Opera Australia as well as the book for lyrics for THE GRANDPARENTS CLUB which is touring nationally.
She has hosted, written and appeared in a variety of TV shows including ABC’s Gillies’ Report and The Big Gig and a documentary series Stuff. Beginning her career in journalism as a teenager, Wendy has continued to be a regular newspaper and magazine contributor with myriad publications. Her memoir, LIES MY MIRROR TOLD ME was published in 2023.
Speaker – Paul Muller
As the founder of the Centre for Project Innovation Paul has over 15 years of senior management experience across Australia, Asia, and Europe in project-driven businesses. He currently advises public, private, and not-for-profit organisations on strategy, risk, operations, marketing, and people management.
A former PhD scholar at the Australian Innovation Research Centre, Paul holds postgraduate qualifications in International Sports Management and Law. He is a published author and has pioneered research in volunteering, sport, and creative industries. As a keynote speaker, he has shared his unique perspective on value at international conferences.
Paul is passionate about challenging institutional assumptions and improving executive decision-making, while mentoring the next generation of creative thinkers.
Early Bird Tickets Now on Sale
We are excited to announce that tickets for this year’s highly anticipated 2025 Volunteering NSW State Conference are now on sale. Taking place at Doltone House, Darling Island Wharf in Pyrmont, Sydney on Thursday 5 June, 2025, the Conference is your opportunity to hear from sector leaders and experts with a focus on Protect, Preserve, Progress Volunteering in NSW.
Scholarships Now Open
Sydney Conference – Scholarships
The Centre for Volunteering is pleased to offer a limited number of Scholarships to attend this year’s State Conference in person in Sydney. Scholarship recipients will receive complimentary registration to attend the 2025 Volunteering NSW State Conference at Doltone House, Darling Island Wharf in Pyrmont (any travel or accommodation costs will need to be covered by the delegate). Scholarship applications close on Friday 2 May.
APPLY FOR A 2025 SYDNEY SCHOLARSHIP
Regional Hybrid Conferences – Scholarships
The 2025 Volunteering NSW State Conference will be streamed out live as Hybrid events, to three NSW Regional Centres: Ballina, Broken Hill and Griffith. Scholarships will be available for professionals working in leadership and support roles in Volunteer Involving Organisations and within the Volunteering Sector to apply to attend the Regional Hybrid Conferences. Please follow this link to complete a Scholarship Application by no later than Friday 16 May.
APPLY FOR A REGIONAL HYBRID CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP
