1 Participate, activate, create: Volunteer

2 What we’ll cover What is a volunteer? Why become a volunteer? Your rights as a volunteer How to become a volunteer Your questions and comments

3 Volunteering – it’s not what you think it is…

4 You can… Masquerade as a dignitary, perhaps even the queen… Do a spot of bird watching, or breed frogs in your swimming pool Unearth ancient treasures Walk with a brown-eyed girl Turn your hand to knitting

5 You can… Invent a life-altering aid Go surfing or ten pin bowling Help plan a campaign Count every drop Hit the road

6 What is a volunteer? When you are a volunteer you: choose to give your skills and time help out the community and the not-for-profit organisation you volunteer with get something out of it yourself do it for free work in a specially assigned volunteer role

7 Things to remember about volunteering It’s always a matter of choice It only takes place in the not-for-profit sector It’s about participating in the community It’s unpaid It creates positive change

8 Everyone counts In 2004, 6.3 million Australians over the age of 18 volunteered They contributed approximately 836 million hours – on average, 132 hours each Most volunteers are aged from years. Those who worked the most hours in 2002 were aged (2.5 hours per week)

9 Why is volunteering important? It empowers individuals It adds value to not-for-profit organisations It strengthens communities It’s worth billions to the community

10 Volunteering: give it a try Do you want to: give something back to the community? work for social change? have fun? learn new skills? help others? gain work experience?

11 It takes all types…

12 Who benefits? the volunteer the organisation the client the community

13 What’s it like to volunteer? “Volunteering helps me put things in perspective – it keeps me in touch with my community and what other people’s lives are like.” “It’s the best decision I’ve made.” “In a word? Stimulating. And challenging. And sometimes tiring. But always rewarding – it’s incredibly rewarding. Actually, can I have more words?!”

14 Volunteering happens everywhere Sport/recreation Community/welfare Health Emergency Education/training/youth development

15 Volunteering happens everywhere Religious Environmental/animal welfare Business/professional/union Law/justice/political Arts/culture

16 What can you do? Empower people – teach & exchange skills Be indispensable - administration & clerical Provide nourishment - prepare & serve food Help the world go around - transport people & goods

17 What can you do? Keep things running smoothly – repair & maintain Save lives and property - emergency relief Build a sustainable world - environment Lead an organisation - management / committee work Make good work possible - fundraising and sales

18 Your rights as a volunteer To work in a healthy and safe environment To be covered by insurance Not to be discriminated against Not to do the work of paid staff To receive orientation and training

19 What do organisations expect of you? They’ll expect you to: –Be punctual and respectful of others –Tell them when something goes wrong or isn’t working –Undertake any training you might need –Carry out the job you have agreed to

20 Change your world … START NOW!

21 Choosing how and where How depends on what motivates you, your skills and the time available Where depends on which organisations meet your needs, and need your contribution GoVolunteer -

22 The application process: diligent, but not daunting Application Interview Screening process Police checks (if necessary)

23 Questions?

24 Change your world … START NOW!