Conflict Management for the Volunteer Sector.

Voluntas: We Offer Constructive Conversations for the Volunteer Sector

Welcome to Voluntas

At Voluntas, we are dedicated to transforming conflicts into opportunities for growth within volunteer organisations. Our free, confidential, and independent conflict resolution service provides skilled volunteer mediators to help manage and resolve conflicts early, supporting a positive and collaborative environment for everyone who might encounter conflict.

Image of Voluntas logo which is blue with the V looking like a person with their hands in the air

About Voluntas

Voluntas is a free, confidential, and independent conflict resolution service dedicated to supporting volunteer organisations and volunteers. Our skilled facilitators and mediators volunteer their expertise to help manage conflicts early and foster constructive conversations between volunteers and their organisations.

Our program is delivered by the Voluntas Organising Committee, which includes mediators, leaders in the volunteer sector, academics, and other experts, all volunteering their time to determine the demand for conflict management services in the volunteer sector and the best way to deliver those services.

A group of volunteers working with buckets and shovels in a park area. There is a dam in the background

We Understand the Volunteer Sector

Conflict is a normal part of any environment. When managed well, conflict can lead to innovation and improvement. However, when conflict turns into competition and judgment, it can become destructive and stressful, potentially damaging individuals and organisations. Many people avoid seeking help for conflict due to fear of judgment or perceived risk, but addressing conflict early with a constructive conversation can prevent escalation and promote positive outcomes. At Voluntas, we create a safe space for participants to deal with conflict positively, ensuring no one is blamed and everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

What to Expect from Our Constructive Conversations Program

Our "Constructive Conversations Program" provides independent conflict management professionals (accredited mediators and coaches) to help participants engage in constructive conversations and reach agreements in an informal, collaborative, consensual, and informed manner. Our process encourages participants to:

  • listen to and be heard by each other

  • identify the disputed issues

  • understand what is important to each person

  • develop options that consider each person’s needs and desires

  • explore solutions that could lead to a workable agreement

Three people in an office having a conversation, there is a woman holding a clipboard while the man in the wheelchair speaks with the other woman who is holding a notepad. They look like they are discussing something together.

Facilitators of Constructive Conversations

Our mediators are trained, accredited, and volunteer their time to facilitate constructive conversations. Typically, two Voluntas facilitators are appointed to each conversation, with an experienced mediator mentoring a less experienced one, ensuring high-quality mediation and support.

Join Us

At Voluntas, we are passionate about fostering a healthy and productive volunteer sector. Join us in our mission to create better volunteer environments through constructive conversations and expert conflict resolution.

For more information or to get involved, please contact us.