Volunteer Centre Network presentation

1. Volunteer Centre Networkpresentation The Value of Volunteering

2. Statistics: • 5.2 million Australians (34% of the population) aged 18+ volunteer • 713 million volunteer hours p.a. • 44% of those aged 35-44 yrs volunteer • Queensland and ACT have the highest volunteer participation rates Australian Bureau of Statistics – 2006 Voluntary Work, Australia 4441.0

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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 spontaneouspeople.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

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

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

11. 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………

12. Contacts available on www.coverrs.org.au In this region: Volunteer Link 8558 4000 Liverpool 9821 6825 Macarthur 4647 5241 Nepean 4731 6523