When the Revolution Has a Surfboard

Last week I attended a volunteering conference where the keynote speaker was none other than Wendy Harmer—one of Australia’s most recognisable comedians, authors and broadcasters.

Wendy has long been a trailblazer in the media landscape, known for her razor-sharp humour and fearless commentary. But her address was more than punchlines—it was about purpose.

In a keynote that was equal parts heartfelt and practical, Wendy reminded us just how much community projects—especially in health, social services and grassroots advocacy—depend on the time and energy of volunteers.

For those of us who work in project delivery, it's easy to think in terms of budgets, Gantt charts and KPIs. But in the not-for-profit and community sectors, people are the critical path. Without volunteers, many initiatives would stall at initiation.

Wendy shared a deeply personal story about her husband Brendan, who, while she was building her career, made the choice to give up paid work to raise their kids and dedicate himself to volunteering.

For over 30 years, Brendan has worked to mobilise surfers—a notoriously independent crowd—around issues like marine pollution, offshore drilling, and protecting Australia’s coastline from overdevelopment. He did this through local boardrider groups and informal networks, using creativity and persistence to bring people together around shared values.

As Wendy put it, surfers aren’t exactly known for their eagerness to attend committee meetings. So how did he do it? She shared Brendan’s top tips—hard-earned through decades of experience—that should be essential reading for anyone managing youth involvement in community projects.

These aren’t just ideas for youth workers or volunteer coordinators. They’re relevant for project managers too—especially those working across sectors that rely on community input, time-poor contributors, or engagement beyond transactional task lists.

With Wendy’s permission, here are Brendan’s 9 practical tips for engaging young volunteers:

"So here are his thoughts after 30 years and more of herding cats

1. To find those volunteers, go to where they are – don't expect them to come to you. The personal approach is usually better than the virtual. And in your own survey, an overwhelming number said they began volunteering through family and friends.
2. Allocate young people them an area of concern that they can make their own. Ask them what they'd like to do. Do they have a special skill that you can make use of? Maybe you never thought of it ... until now. Do they have friends who'd like to join them for a special project?
3. Don't expect them to attend or sit through boring meetings, but rather have them present to you and in a way that can make best use of their tech-savvy skills and wider connections.
4. Don't pull rank – treat them as equals, as friends, and invite them to social occasions where they can bond with mentors and learn something that's valuable to them. Assume they are of a like-mind. Because they are. Listen! This is not about you.
5. Keep your expectations modest – remember that so often, the causes you are involved with are problems not of young people's own making. They are under a lot of pressure with insecure work and housing .. they often have little time and brain space ... Like that proverbial duck that seems to be gliding along, but paddling like mad underneath. It's much harder for them to volunteer than it was when we were young.
6. Young people can spot a scam a mile off – so if your outfit is stuffed with layers of bureaucracy – not returning much to the cause, the people it's supposed to be helping and being uncommunicative – they'll soon know and won't be joining you, and they'll tell everyone else.
7. Prepare yourself for the churn – a high rate of attrition ... BUT they will often be inspired to start their own organisations. Don't see this as a threat. Be supportive of their endeavours.
8. This one is the MOST important, to retaining people, he says: Say thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you again. Offer a memento of their involvement – no matter how small. A clothing patch, a magnet or a badge ... whatever ... that they can display as part of their involvement – you never know where it will end up. (there's that family and friends thing again)
9. And lastly, there's a famous quote attributed to the famous American anarchist feminist, Emma Goldman – "I don't want to be part of your revolution if I can't dance." Make it fun.

In project management, we often think in terms of deliverables, risk mitigation and scope control. But youth volunteering reminds us that people aren’t just resources to be scheduled—they’re potential changemakers, if we create the right environment.

Whether you're managing a youth mental health program, a community garden, or a sustainability campaign, the challenge isn’t just recruiting volunteers. It’s keeping them engaged, respected and valued.

Wendy’s keynote—and Brendan’s advice—was a welcome reminder that successful projects don’t just meet objectives. They build belonging.