Longitudinal Study of Australian Volunteers (2019-21) April 2022

The Longitudinal Study of Australian Volunteers (LSAV) is a research project that aims to explicate whether, why and how participating in the Australian Volunteers Program (the program) influences volunteers personally and professionally in relation to four outcome areas: (i) civic participation, engagement and literacy, (ii) global literacy and connections, (iii) career progression and professional capabilities, and (iv) personal circumstances and capabilities.

This report outlines findings of the study’s first three years (2019-21), which tracked a cohort of 54 Australian volunteers and “approved accompanying dependents” (AADs) who in 2019 commenced assignments in 16 countries. Scheduled assignment durations ranged from 2-18 months although most were curtailed prematurely by COVID. Data were collected via a series of semi-structured interviews with each participant at three waves: prior to commencing their assignment (T1), at the end of their assignment (T2), and again 12 months after completing their assignment (T3). This report complements earlier reports outlining participants’ preassignment motives and expectations (Phase One, 2019) and in-country experiences (Phase Two, 2020). The study reveals generally favourable personal and professional impacts for participants despite their truncated assignments and the substantial post-assignment social and economic impacts created by COVID.