Despite being one of the newest franchises in the National Basketball League, the South East Melbourne Phoenix volunteer program is soaring.
Called the Heartland Crew, the Phoenix volunteer program has been an integral part of the organisation since it was established in 2018. Head of Operations, Rohan Short attributes the ongoing success of the Heartland Crew to the positive and supportive environment the organisation has cultivated for its 220+ volunteers.
“The Heartland Crew are the backbone of game day. They are passionate and dedicated individuals, who play an integral role, delivering an entertaining match day experience for all Phoenix fans.”
“We create an inclusive environment for people from all walks of life to get involved,” Short said.
“We have built our volunteer program on the understanding that volunteers need flexible and diverse roles, learning opportunities and regular recognition”.
To ensure the Phoenix can best place its volunteers to meet their individual expectations, while optimising its own game-day operations, the organisation holds a Heartland Crew launch night before every season.
“We bring the Heartland Crew together to complete a range of problem-solving activities that help us understand the motivations, strengths and personalities of each of our volunteers.”
“This not only helps the volunteers themselves, but also helps us walk into match one at a major arena knowing our game-day crew are happy and ready to go,” Short added.
'We really try to bridge the gap between our volunteers and players, because for most of our Heartland Crew, being amongst the players is the most rewarding part of their volunteer experience.'
South East Melbourne Phoenix Head of Operations, Rohan Short
Phoenix has also developed a thorough recognition program, which aims to retain Heartland Crew members by ensuring they feel appreciated by the club and motivating them to continue to volunteer their time.
“We show gratitude towards our volunteers through initiatives like our Volunteer of the Year award, on-court milestone jersey presentations or even an invite to a social function with our players,” Short said.
“We really try to bridge the gap between our volunteers and players, because for most of our Heartland Crew, being amongst the players is the most rewarding part of their volunteer experience.”
The Australian Sports Commission is proud to recognise Phoenix as an official supporter the Sport Volunteer Coalition Action Plan. To learn more about the Heartland Crew visit the South East Melbourne Phoenix website.
