10 minutes with… Volunteering SA&NT CEO Hamilton Calder
Hamilton Calder is the CEO of Volunteering SA&NT, the peak body for the state’s volunteering organisations. We ask him about how he encourages people to give back.
How did you first get involved with volunteering?
I grew up in an amazing community in the western suburbs. We lived in homes provided by the Housing Trust and our street was full of people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. Everyone helped each other – from doing odd jobs to mowing lawns and running errands. I also have a strong memory of my parents helping out at the local primary school. This all instilled in me a very natural instinct to look for ways you can help others and how to do whatever’s required to make it happen.
Today, in addition to my day job at Volunteering SA&NT, I am the recent past President of the Ashton Rangers Soccer Club, I’m coaching the AHJSA U14 Boys team for the upcoming State and Country Championships and I volunteer on several not-for-profit boards including the SA Leaders for Gender Equity. I am really excited to have recently become the SA Co-Chair for Anti-Poverty Week, too. Of course, we’re not unique. There are almost a million other South Australians giving up their time as volunteers across our state.
How did you come to lead Volunteering SA?
Coming from a background in economics, the early part of my working life sat at the intersection of public policy, systems reform, business and community development to empower people and communities. From the RAA to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, my work really grew into a passion for representation and driving positive change. When the opportunity arose at Volunteering SA&NT, it was a chance to lead advocacy for the largest sector in South Australia. It’s a privilege to be in a position to not only promote and celebrate volunteering but also strengthen and influence the structure around it.
Why is volunteering important for SA?
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We often forget that volunteering is the foundation of so many organisations and our community. It underpins our economic prosperity and resilience, contributing around $36.1 billion in social and economic benefits to the state annually. We often think of service and care-based volunteers who deliver food relief, stand up in times of emergency and support the disadvantaged, but it’s important to also remember that many major events from the Fringe to the footy and WOMAD to the Royal Adelaide Show are powered by volunteers. It’s often what keeps services viable and available, especially in regional areas.
People who volunteer are shown to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives which has a real flow-on effect. Right now, loneliness is one of the biggest epidemics our society faces and volunteering is a vital way to combat this because it keeps people connected.
Last but not least, volunteering builds capacity by supporting people, particularly young people, to learn a range of skills and earn credentials that tangibly translate to employment and workforce capability.
You’re set to host the national volunteer conference in June – tell me about the event and its importance to the sector?
It’s a great honour for Adelaide to host the 2026 National Volunteering Conference at a really pivotal time for the sector. The theme Innovation and Impact: Reimagining Volunteering reflects the fact that the world has changed and we can’t keep approaching volunteering as we did in the past. The Conference will bring together nearly 500 volunteers and representatives from organisations across the country from June 16 to 18. There will be a focus on learning through information as well as lived experience. One of our keynote speakers is Sam Johnson. Sam was the driving force behind the mobilisation of 27,000 student volunteers in the wake of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. He went on to found the Student Volunteer Army, which now boasts more than 160,000 volunteers across the world – including around 700 in South Australia as part of a very successful pilot program we are running with State Government support.
What’s the state of the sector at the moment? Is there a shortage of volunteers in SA?
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According to our latest count, more than 950,000 people were volunteering in SA. That’s more than 63 per cent of the population, contributing 223 million hours with individuals volunteering for an average of four and a half hours each week.
Across the country, participation has increased slightly since 2022, but it remains below pre-pandemic levels. The most recent stats revealed 45.5 per cent of volunteer managers observing a decrease in willingness to volunteer in a formal capacity.
However, it’s important to note that informal volunteering is on the rise with those aged 25-39 participating at significantly higher rates than other age groups.
This gives a really strong insight into the fact that people still, very much, want to volunteer. They just need more flexibility to fit in with their life, interests and availability. Our next State of Volunteering report is due to be released soon, so it will be interesting to see what further insights it presents.
In relation to reduced numbers, why is that the case?
People still want to help but they want to do it differently to the way it has been done in the past. We know that increasing cost and time pressures are having an impact on people’s ability to commit to regular volunteering at a particular organisation; instead, volunteers might be able to help out an hour here or there, a couple of times a week, come in during their holidays or even once a year with friends, family or workmates. Over time, actual and perceived barriers have also increased so we’ve identified a real priority to support organisations to be more flexible and inclusive in accommodating volunteers, along with ensuring safe, appropriate and meaningful volunteer roles are offered.
What’s your message to those who are thinking about volunteering but have yet to take the plunge?
Give it a go! Find something you are passionate about and where you want to make a positive difference. Follow that and don’t be scared to try something new. In chatting with people who volunteer across our community, it is resoundingly clear that when purpose and passion meet, it generally makes for a great volunteer experience and delivers a greater impact. For ideas, a good place to start is our website.
What does leadership mean to you?
It’s care and responsibility for our team, the people and communities we serve, the sector we represent and the future we are shaping. In this role, especially, it is about listening to truly understand what people are saying and feeling and being a voice for others who can’t easily be heard. It’s about articulating their position strategically, clearly, persistently and with the humility they would. Of course, it’s also a huge opportunity to bring people together, fostering collaboration and driving hard but necessary conversations for the benefit of communities now and for generations to come.
The 2026 National Volunteering Conference will be held in Adelaide from 16-18 June 2026, co-hosted by Volunteering Australia and Volunteering SA&NT.
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