Volunteer Centre Network presentation The Value of Volunteering

Statistics: 5.2 million Australians (34% of the population) aged 18+ volunteer 713 million volunteer hours p.a. 44% of those aged yrs volunteer Queensland and ACT have the highest volunteer participation rates Australian Bureau of Statistics – 2006 Voluntary Work, Australia

The 2008 National Survey of Volunteering Issues 98% of volunteers feel their volunteer work makes a difference 86% of volunteers feel that volunteering increases their sense of community belonging 34% felt their volunteer training provided skills useful in current or future employment 38% of organisations provide accredited training or modules towards a qualification

Formal volunteering in Australia is defined as an activity that takes place through not for profit organisations or projects & is undertaken: To be of benefit to the community ; Of the volunteer’s own free will & without coercion; For no financial payment; In designated volunteer positions only.

Why Might an Organisation involve volunteers? Involving volunteers provides opportunities to: tap into the energy & time of people who want to contribute. increase awareness & understanding of situations & issues. improve the quality of community life. assist people to develop their skills. enhance, humanise and extend services. bring fresh ideas and insights into the organisation. encourage mutual help and self help. break new ground with committed and spontaneous people.

Volunteer rights: To work in a healthy and safe environment. Know what the job is before starting. Decide when and how long to be available. Negotiate job, times and days (where possible) A meaningful job or activity Supervision, instruction and training Have the right tools for the job Not to fill a position previously filled by a paid worker

Volunteer Responsibilities : Do the best job they can Be punctual Let the coordinator know if they are unable to work Maintain confidentiality Support other volunteers Be a team member Know their limitations

Personal Benefits of Volunteering To meet new people To develop new skills or maintain existing ones To increase confidence and self-esteem To have fun To add variety to your work experience To meet personal needs and goals Gives you a sense of purpose Enables you to feel commitment to an organisation or job. Gives you a feeling of making a worthwhile contribution. Provides an opportunity to be active & involved in community activities.

Volunteer Positions can include: Administration Customer service Transport Food services Working with people with disability Gardening or landcare Tutoring Retail Working with the elderly

Find the reason: Why does your client want to volunteer? What would they like to get out of their volunteer experience?

Preparing to volunteer: Why do I want to volunteer? How much time can I spend on a regular basis? What kind of volunteer work do I want to do? What kind of work will I NOT do? What I hope to get from volunteering in the short-term is……. What I hope to get from volunteering in the long- term is………

Contacts available on In this region: Volunteer Link Liverpool Macarthur Nepean