Cricket NSW’s commitment is to inspire everyone to play and love cricket, foster cricket excellence, nurture young talent and promote inclusivity.
Cricket NSW’s commitment is to inspire everyone to play and love cricket, foster cricket excellence, nurture young talent and promote inclusivity.
Across New South Wales, over 1500 affiliated community clubs and associations are powered by dedicated and passionate volunteers who support grassroots cricket and create exceptional cricketing experiences for participants.
What has been the impact that volunteers have in cricket, what are the range of opportunities available?
Volunteers are the backbone of community cricket in NSW. Their commitment, passion, and tireless efforts help build a vibrant, inclusive cricketing community. From coaching to managing teams, officiating, and more, volunteers play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth running of cricket at the grassroots level. Without their contributions, community cricket would not exist.
Volunteering in cricket offers a wide range of opportunities for everyone. Whether you're interested in coaching, administration, officiating, or simply lending a hand on game day, there’s a role for everyone. Volunteering in cricket is a rewarding way to be involved, make a positive impact, and experience the joy of being part of a thriving community.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities at Cricket NSW, and the work our volunteers do, go to https://www.cricketnsw.com.au/get-involved.
Volunteer Certification Program
In July 2024, Cricket NSW launched its Volunteer Certification Program (VCP), the first program of its kind to be offered by a state or national sporting organisation. The VCP is a free program that recognises and enhances the skills of dedicated, experienced volunteers while also educating newer volunteers on basic skills and the significance of volunteering in the cricket community. It also aims to educates volunteers on the importance of diversity and inclusion in cricket and is aimed at breaking down cultural barriers that can limit the contributions of people from diverse backgrounds. The program’s three certification levels offer a development framework that recognises varying experience levels and a service tenure ensuring participants are applying their learnings by volunteering at their local club or association.
During the 2023/24 season, Cricket NSW partnered with University of Technology Sydney (UTS) as part of their industry innovation project to work through the brief on how to boost volunteer engagement with cricket. The community consultation and research insights from this project informed the recommendation to build and implement a Volunteer Certification Program to help recruit and retain volunteers.
This is a great program for all community cricket volunteers, both new and experienced, and through this program, Cricket NSW hopes to see an increase in volunteerism in community cricket and continue to grow and strengthen community cricket across New South Wales.
For further information and to enrol in the program visit https://www.cricketnsw.com.au/get-involved/volunteer-certification-program.
Celebrating our Volunteers
Cricket NSW has a rich and strong history of volunteering that takes our programs to the furthest reaches of the state and enables us to conduct cricket programs in cities and remote towns alike, from Milparinka to Boorowa, from Coraki to West Wyalong. Every year, the Cricket NSW Community Cricket Awards celebrate our club and association volunteers from across the state. Many of Cricket NSW’s volunteers over the years have gone on to win Cricket Australia’s National Community Cricket Awards, while a few of them, such as teenager Elysa Oliveri, have been chosen as Australian Volunteer of the Year across all sports by the Australian Sports Commission.
During the Pink Test at the start of every year at the SCG, our most impactful volunteers from across NSW have their special box seats across all days of the match. Day 4 of the Test is the designated day to celebrate them, with a sit-down lunch and a volunteer march around the grounds at the Tea Break. This is Cricket NSW’s bid to demonstrate to our wonderful volunteers across the state how important they are, and the fact that cricket wouldn’t be the great game it is without our grassroots force.