It’s International Volunteer Manager’s Day today and we thought we’d find what makes our volunteer managers do what they do.
What is your favourite thing about working with volunteers? Our volunteers come from all walks of life: retirees, social workers, teachers, health-care professionals or busy parents. It’s always been a pleasure to sit down with them during the induction process or over a coffee and hear about the experiences that led them to volunteer with us. Whether it’s a desire to give back to the community that supported them, or a personal understanding of the barriers young people face, their diverse histories enrich our program immensely. Hearing their personal journeys is a constant inspiration, and I learn something new from them every day.
How have volunteers made a difference to your job? They’ve made it possible! It’s as simple as that. As the Coordinator for Braking the Cycle, my role is to manage the program, but the volunteers are the engine that drives it (BTC pun intended). Their ability to quickly build rapport with participants and make them feel comfortable and safe in the car is invaluable. This trust allows me to focus on the administrative, planning, recruitment, and stakeholder engagement tasks required to run the program successfully. Because I know they will deliver high-quality, supportive mentorship, I can focus on sustaining the program.
Why are volunteers an important part of PCYC? Volunteers are the community. For a program like Braking the Cycle, our mentors bring that vital community connection directly into the car. Volunteers also give us something we can’t buy….their time. Their decision to dedicate their precious time back to the community, using PCYC as a means to offer that support, is an incredible gift. PCYC’s commitment to youth development and crime prevention relies heavily on their hands-on support, and I cannot emphasise enough how thankful I am for their commitment.
How do you keep your volunteers motivated? Motivation for me comes down to communication, recognition, and seeing the long-term impact of their incredible effort. I try my best to keep our mentors in the know. This means consistently communicating the overall success of the program and, most importantly, sharing every licence they’ve helped achieved. I work hard to show the volunteers that their time has made a lasting difference. Hearing where the participants are a year later (in a job, pursuing further education, or just driving independently) is the ultimate reward that shows the true value of their commitment.
Drew Wicks
Program Coordinator ‑ Braking the Cycle, PCYC Cairns
What is your favourite thing about working with volunteers? The volunteers’ passion and commitment to help others, selflessly and without payment. Our volunteers love giving their time and energy to help our community. They also offer our young people insight to different opportunities, life experiences, and support. I love it when volunteers offer fresh ideas and their perspective on things as everyone sees things differently.
How have volunteers made a difference to your job? The Braking the Cycle program would never have got off the ground back in 2018 if it wasn’t for volunteers. We had no funding for BTC initially, two Rotary clubs funded and donated a brand-new vehicle and volunteers jumped on board to get the program going. Volunteers lighten the load, not just physically but mentally, with their ideas, words and in most cases wisdom.
Why are volunteers an important part of PCYC? Volunteers help clubs, especially smaller clubs like Mareeba, that lack funding by being the ‘people’ helping to deliver programs. They are rich with knowledge and skills that we might be lacking, for example a volunteer that loves to cook is able to cook meals for the numerous young people that drop into our programs. Our volunteers also help at programs after hours with young people, at events, community days and whenever we need them.
How do you keep your volunteers motivated? By genuinely talking to them. Say g’day, ask what they’ve been up to, ask about family, ask if they’re enjoying what they’re doing, ask for better ideas and ways to do things. We arrange morning teas for catch ups, training, and recognising milestones in their years of service. And also, by thanking them every time I see them when they volunteer. Actually saying and meaning the words “thank you” means something to volunteers.
Sgt Mary-Anne West
Youth Club Program Manger
PCYC Mareeba
What is your favourite thing about working with volunteers? Most of all, I like to see the joyous reactions of our volunteers when one of our learner drivers achieves their P plates. It is a privilege to work with folk who believe in, and truly value the positive potential of our young drivers.
How have volunteers made a difference to your job? Every volunteer brings something unique to our program. Getting to know them and share their experiences is always interesting.
Why are volunteers an important part of PCYC? Volunteers are the lifeblood of BTC, without them we do not have a program. Apart from that important fact, our volunteers embody the aspirations of PCYC to build safer, healthier communities through youth development.
How do you keep your volunteers motivated? I always like to take the time to say “thank you” and to find out what they want to achieve in their volunteering, since most volunteers are intrinsically motivated. We always like to share the good news about our collective “wins” and to help them to understand how their efforts make a difference in the lives of our young drivers.
Russell Savage
Program Coordinator ‑ Braking the Cycle, PCYC Townsville
What is your favourite thing about working with volunteers? Their passion and commitment; our volunteers bring such good energy. They’re patient, kind, and always up for a chat. They’ve usually got the best stories.
How have volunteers made a difference to your job? They make all the difference. Without our volunteer mentors, there’s no program. Their commitment means we get to focus on supporting them, celebrating their wins, and making sure everything runs smoothly. Volunteers have made my job feel so rewarding with how they connect with participants, and the impact they make.
Why are volunteers an important part of PCYC? Volunteers are the heart of our program. Without them, our learners wouldn’t have the chance to get the hours they need or the encouragement they deserve. They give their time, their patience, their kindness and their support. Volunteers make things possible that wouldn’t happen otherwise.
How do you keep your volunteers motivated? Sometimes the biggest motivator is just knowing they’re appreciated and by sharing the wins, when a learner passes their test, gets a job, or tells us how much their mentor means to them. Those little stories remind volunteers why they do it. We trust our volunteers and give them room to bring their own style to mentoring.
Tim Darr
Program Coordinator ‑ Braking the Cycle, PCYC Toowoomba
What is your favourite thing about working with volunteers? Their enthusiasm and support to youth.
How have volunteers made a difference to your job? I rely heavily on volunteers for their support to programs and their skills they bring.
Why are volunteers an important part of PCYC? Just another gateway for youth to experience mentors from all background engaging with them.
How do you keep your volunteers motivated? Probably lucky that our volunteers enjoy the Programs (Boxing After Dark / After Dark Sport / Youth Leadership Team).
Sgt Marc Schneider
Youth Club Program Manager
PCYC Upper Ross
What is your favourite thing about working with volunteers? My favourite thing about working with volunteers is the incredible people I get to work alongside every day. They’re generous, dependable, and genuinely care about making the world a better place. I’m so lucky that I get to spend my days with these amazing people.
How have volunteers made a difference to your job? Volunteers make my job so much easier. I’m lucky to have such a supportive and passionate team—each one of them truly cares about the role they play in young people’s lives. Their commitment and energy are a big part of why the program is so successful.
Why are volunteers an important part of PCYC? We are a community, and volunteers are at the heart of it. Having volunteers on board brings a depth of experience, and genuine care that strengthens everything we do. Volunteers bring warmth, energy, and a shared sense of purpose—without them, PCYC simply wouldn’t be the same
How do you keep your volunteers motivated? We keep things fun, and always make sure our volunteers feel appreciated. A big part of motivation comes from feeling valued, so we take every opportunity to acknowledge their efforts—whether that’s a simple thank you, a shout-out during a team meeting, or celebrating milestones together. We also try to create a positive, supportive environment where everyone feels part of the team.
Sarah Pitt
Program Coordinator ‑ Braking the Cycle, PCYC Beenleigh
What is your favourite thing about working with volunteers? Working together with volunteers from external agencies allows ideas and strategies to be shared and I love brainstorming and getting them thinking about the potentials. It’s a great way to network as well especially in small communities.
How have volunteers made a difference to your job? Having volunteers turn up to the club assisting with different jobs and activities allows me to concentrate on club operations. They really do take pressure off my shoulders of a night time when they offer to prepare the food or run activities. I would honestly be lost without them on Mornington Island.
Why are volunteers an important part of PCYC? I feel volunteers are an essential role in PCYC as they often engage with the community day to day and it allows them to go hands on with the community and engage with the kids. Often in smaller centres, the volunteers are FIFO workers who attend meetings daily with councils etc and coming down after work allows them to unwind and have some fun with the kids and the kids see them as a friendly face rather than just another FIFO worker.
How do you keep your volunteers motivated? I always ask what they would prefer to assist in. Many types of activities occur at the club and rather than allocate them tasks I ask them to choose what they are comfortable in doing. No matter what they choose, it alleviates the pressure. I also reward them with cold drinks especially during the afternoons as the heat can become overbearing.
Sgt Mick King
Youth Club Program Manager
PCYC Mornington Island
