VOLUNTEER STRATEGY FOR SURF LIFESAVING IN NEW ZEALAND (2022)
The Volunteer Strategy comprises a series of national projects and initiatives that have been designed to support and empower our volunteers and clubs across the country. Additionally, it provides a set of strategies or initiatives that all clubs can put in place to deliver the best possible volunteer experience for their members.
Click here to view the Volunteer Strategy for Surf Life Saving in New Zealand (2022).
REFRESHING THE VOLUNTEER STRATEGY - 2024/25
In preparation for the Volunteer Strategy refresh, scheduled to take place in August 2025, SLSNZ have once again conducted research via a deep dive into our membership database (July 2024), the Volunteer Survey (Nov 2024) and Volunteer Stress & Burnout Research (Jan 2025), you can view the key insights below.
Volunteer Stress & Burnout Research (Jan 2025)
The importance of staying ahead of the curve in volunteering cannot be overstated. This investigative study aims to explore, examine, and discuss factors related to volunteer stress and burnout in surf lifesaving in as much depth as possible.
Volunteer Stress & Burnout Research (Jan 2025)
SLSNZ Membership Metrics & Analysis (July 2024)
The analysis includes membership retention rates, churn, and acquisition and has been displayed across a broad range of criteria, including club, region, and member demographic breakdowns.
SLSNZ Membership Metrics + Analysis (July 2024)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE VOLUNTEER STRATEGY
The Volunteer Strategy was developed by, with and for volunteers in consultation with SLSNZ staff. It has been informed by both qualitative data collected in the 2022 SLSNZ Volunteer Survey and the quantitative data provided through analysis of our 2022 membership database.
Click here to view the three year plan (2022 - 2024) for the volunteer strategy.
You can view the key data informing the volunteer strategy below;
- SLSNZ Volunteer Survey - Report (2022)
- SLSNZ Member Journey Insights - Volunteer Survey 2022
- SLSNZ Member Journey Insights - Member Data 2022
- SLSNZ Member Journey Insights - Sport participation
- SLSNZ Member Journey Insights - Sport participation (update)
- Voice of Participant Survey 2021
- Women in Lifesaving Report 2020
You can view a summary report of the volunteer strategy purpose, development and core outcomes below;
UNDERSTANDING THE VOLUNTEER SURVEY
The Volunteer Survey presents a unique opportunity to connect with and further understand the experiences, ideas and needs of our more than 18,000 volunteer members.
Conducted in partnership with the wider volunteer SAR sector the survey enables us to compare and collaborate with other non-governmental organisations – Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, National Emergency Management Agency, Coastguard New Zealand and Land Search and Rescue.
Additionally, we are able to ask specific questions relating to our members’ experiences as a Surf Lifesaving volunteer, breaking the survey down into six distinct branches of volunteering. For many of our volunteers multiple branches may apply, the branching allows us to analyse specific feedback across categories.
The Survey was first conducted in 2022 and was completed again in October 2024, the survey was open for four weeks and was sent directly to all our members aged 14+ in addition to being shared on our website and social media channels.