The Future of Volunteering is an innovative project which, for the first time in the world, used narrative research processes, tools and proprietary software Sensemaker ^TM (developed by Cognitive Edge Pty Ltd) to explore an issue of critical public policy.   This was the first government funded project using Cognitive Edge approaches to address a social issue, where the information collected will be available in the public arena.

The Future of Volunteering project focused on the community care sector in NSW – volunteers, their

managing organisations, funders and policy makers.  Large numbers of stories about volunteering from

volunteers, managersof volunteers and policy makers were captured onto the Sensemaker ^TM database.

Sensemaker is a potent tool for analysing the collected database of narratives.   It enables researchers

and policy makers to access these stories directly and examine themes and patterns.   In other words,

meaning “emerges” from the direct experience of the people telling their stories.