'Too Many Volunteers? A Case Study in Volunteer Engagement from the RD Milns Antiquities Museum, University of Queensland' presentation at the 2015 Museums & Galleries Queensland Conference

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2015 Museums & Galleries Queensland Conference #2015MGQcon
Volunteers Are Visitors Too
James Donaldson
Senior Museum Officer, RD Milns Antiquities
Museum
Too Many Volunteers? A Case Study in Volunteer
Engagement from the RD Milns Antiquities
Museum, University of Queensland

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Too Many Volunteers?
A Case Study in
Volunteer Engagement
James Donaldson
Senior Museum Officer
RD Milns Antiquities Museum

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RD Milns Antiquities Museum
Preserving | Connecting | Inspiring

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Early Years: 2007 - 2011
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Interns 4 3 4 0 4 5 3 4
Tourguides 0 7 10 7 7 9 9 12
Staff 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 4
Volunteers 13 18 35 21 27 29 48 24
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Count
Volunteers and Staff over Time

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Early Years: 2007 - 2011

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Early Years: Challenges and Successes
Challenges
• Dramatically
increased demand
• Lack of effective
planning
• Poor volunteer
retention
• Lack of staff time
Successes
• Community
Atmosphere
• Hands-on
experience
• Effective staff
training

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Refurbishment: 2011
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Interns 4 3 4 0 4 5 3 4
Tourguides 0 7 10 7 7 9 9 12
Staff 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 4
Volunteers 13 18 35 21 27 29 48 24
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Count
Volunteers and Staff over Time

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Refurbishment: 2011

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New Museum: 2012-2014
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Interns 4 3 4 0 4 5 3 4
Tourguides 0 7 10 7 7 9 9 12
Staff 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 4
Volunteers 13 18 35 21 27 29 48 24
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Count
Volunteers and Staff over Time

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New Museum: 2012-2014

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Challenges and Successes
Challenges
• Volunteers not in
strategic plan
• Demand remained
high
• Lack of staff time
Successes
• New gallery = more
projects
• More focused
volunteer roles
• Institution of Gallery
Volunteers

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Future Museum: 2015-2017
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Interns 4 3 4 0 4 5 3 4
Tourguides 0 7 10 7 7 9 9 12
Staff 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 4
Volunteers 13 18 35 21 27 29 48 24
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Count
Volunteers and Staff over Time

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Future Museum: 2015-2017

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How are we tracking?
Challenges
• Continuing to
develop program
• Managing
volunteer and staff
needs
• Managing
demands on the
program
Successes
• Improved staff
engagement with
volunteers
• Improved volunteer
retention

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Concluding Thoughts
Yes, you can have too many
volunteers!
• Make volunteering part of your Museum Vision
• Staff need to “buy-in” to volunteering
• Having a volunteer plan is essential
• Think about what volunteers need and what your
Museum needs
• Volunteers are your best ambassadors

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Thank you
Questions?
James Donaldson
Senior Museum Officer
RD Milns Antiquities Museum
j.donaldson@uq.edu.au