University of Tasmania, with Volunteering Tasmania, conducted interviews with 30 volunteer organisations and their co-ordinators statewide, to discover that funding was needed to professionalise volunteer leadership.

It found that both paid and volunteer workers in leadership and management roles did the same level of work, yet volunteer coordinators were not remunerated and therefore sometimes lacked motivation and encouragement to adequately perform their roles.

The report said that volunteer coordinators require complex leadership skills, which includes an ability to inspire action, encourage engagement, build trust, delegate effectively, navigate HR systems at the same time as maintaining relationships with each volunteer.

"Providing direction is key in both the paid and volunteer sector, but in the volunteer sector, it must be done in a way that is nuanced and sensitive. The ability of volunteer coordinators to negotiate respectfully, influence positively, and persuade compellingly is essential - and these are core leadership capacities," the report said.

It called for training and development within the leadership and management volunteer sector to address this challenge, specifically recommending investment in management training, human resource roles, succession planning to ensure a pipeline of leaders, and specialist training in managing volunteer mental health.

A call for further research was also made in its second recommendation.

Volunteering Tasmania chief executive Lisa Schimanski said there was a big need for greater recognition of the value of leadership in our volunteer co-ordinators.

"Volunteer coordinators are pivotal in supporting the amazing work of organisations and volunteers. It is essential to recognise the value of the roles they play by providing increased training and resources," she said.

University of Tasmania report co-author Toby Newstead said volunteer coordinators facilitated services such as emergency response, parenting programs, community gardens, sports clubs and health and welfare centres.

"Our aim with this report, and with the continued efforts of our Volunteer Leadership Research group, is to ensure volunteers in Tasmania experience the kind of leadership and management that will keep them engaged, satisfied, and able and willing to continue providing the essential services that support our peoples and places," Dr Newstead said.

Volunteers part of the study ranged from 18 to 67, with most aged in their 50s, and some of the coordinators had been in their roles for 30 years, while others were in their roles for two.

Study participants represented sectors including emergency services, community and welfare, arts, heritage, education, health and environment.