Smash Hits - Hands Up

Dear Members,

Volunteer engagement is a hot topic. An Australian Market Segmentation Study for Volunteers in 2014 identified segments in the Australian community with the greatest potential for recruitment of new sport volunteers, and practices and strategies for the retention of current sport volunteers.

The Study identified 10 segments among the Australian adult population 14-75 years old: 5 volunteer segments - Happy Helpers, Community Committed, Over-Committed, Opportunists, and Altruists; 5 non-volunteer segments - Self Servers, Sidelined, Occupied Observers, Well Intentioned, and Uninvolved. All of these different groups give valuable insights to issues and challenges that sport organisations must consider to connect with volunteers, for example:

• provide volunteer opportunities that target different age and gender groups (eg. engage various groups of people across different events)

• offer structured training and advancement for volunteers (eg. ask and identify committed people)

• retain volunteers by showing how much they are needed and appreciated (eg. through forms of recognition or remuneration)

• make sure that people who volunteer for the first time or every time, have a good time (eg. reduce burnout or overwork by offering different experiences and roles)

Everyone who has played sport has at least 1 volunteer to thank. Badminton Australia has sought feedback and will be announcing a national recognition campaign starting in 2016. The Badminton Australia Annual Awards are designed to ensure that we value the individuals or groups in the sport for doing a great job, or has achieved excellent outcomes and results. The Award categories and criteria will be posted on Badminton Australia's website, and we would appreciate your active engagement and promotion of this (ie. invite award nominations through your emails, newsletters, website and other social media platforms). Please tell ALL members to get involved!

In other news: Dinner ladies deliver sport Finding and keeping volunteers Fitminton

BA is also considering the possibility of hosting a community workshop (a follow on from a National Participation Forum which was held in 2015) in each State/Territory to communicate the sport's national initiatives, but more importantly also gain a better understanding from associations, clubs, and individuals on what is important to members specific to their region, what more they want to see from the sport, and how everyone might contribute. I will be in touch with each State/Territory to discuss this.

Finally, I extend a warm welcome to Craig Haydock as Badminton VIC State Director. Craig has had extensive experience in the sports management arena, including previous roles with both Badminton Victoria and Badminton Australia, so brings a wealth of experience to the position.

Upcoming participation programs and events: Badminton NSW is hosting a Shuttle Time Teacher's Course on 31 May; Badminton VIC is hosting a Level 1 Coaching Course on 28 May; Badminton WA is hosting a Level 1 Coaching Course on 22 May; Badminton Australia is hosting a National Coaches Conference on 3-6 June.

Regards, Marianne Loh Participation Manager Badminton Australia