Volunteering Strategy Discussion Paper · Web viewVolunteering Strategy Discussion Paper September...

Volunteering StrategyDiscussion PaperSeptember 2016

– Volunteering Strategy Discussion Paper

ContentsIntroduction...................................................................................................................3

The need for a Volunteering Strategy.........................................................................3

Vital volunteering..........................................................................................................5

Contemporary volunteering trends and issues..........................................................6

State of Volunteering in Australia 2016 Report............................................................6

The Economic, Social and Cultural Value of Volunteering to Western Australia.........7

National Volunteering Strategy....................................................................................8

National Standards for Volunteer Involvement............................................................8

Priority/focus areas in other jurisdictions.....................................................................9

National Volunteering Strategy.............................................................................9

New South Wales Volunteering Strategy 2016-2020...............................................9

South Australia Volunteering Strategy 2014-2020...................................................9

A new strategy for WA................................................................................................10

Focus Area 1: Encouraging participation in community life through volunteering......................................................................................10

Strategies for consideration.......................................................................................10

Questions for consideration...................................................................................11

Focus Area 2: Responding to emerging trends and issues....................................12



Focus Area 3: Supporting volunteering involving organisations...........................14



Focus Area 4: Recognising and valuing volunteering.............................................16


Questions for discussion........................................................................................16


For more information, please contact:......................................................................16

Introduction

The socio-economic and cultural value of volunteering to Western Australia in 2015 was conservatively estimated to be $39 billion1 with about 80 per cent of West Australians donating their time and effort to volunteering.

Volunteers play a critical role in community life in Western Australia and make a significant social and economic contribution.

In 2015, Volunteering Australia announced a new contemporary and inclusive definition of volunteering:

Volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.

This definition of volunteering is recognised by the State Government and will apply to the Volunteering Strategy developed.

The need for a Volunteering Strategy

The State Government, via the Department of Local Government and Communities (DLGC) supports and strengthens volunteering in Western Australia by:

providing funding of more than$1.3million to the community services sector to support volunteering in local communities. This amount includes funding for Volunteer Development Services and Volunteering WA for their sector support role

developing guidelines for government and non-government agencies

reducing barriers for volunteers through subsidised National Police Checks. The WA National Police Check Volunteer Program is open to any organisation that has volunteers, including Federal Government, State Government, local government and private and community sector organisations

recognising the State’s longest serving volunteers with the WA Volunteer Service Awards

providing grants for Thank a Volunteer Day

assisting with research on the state of volunteering in WA.

1 The Economic, Social and Cultural Value of Volunteering to Western Australia


In 2011, DLGC released ‘Vital Volunteering 2011-2016’ after extensive community consultation and research. It outlines the State Government’s commitment to volunteering and recognition of the value, importance and contribution of volunteering to the social, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing of Western Australia.

The State Government continues its commitment to volunteering through a partnership approach with Volunteering WA, volunteer development services (VDSs), other State Government agencies, local government and the corporate sector.

The aim of this discussion paper is to consider contemporary trends in volunteering and their impact on priorities for volunteering in the future.


Vital volunteering

‘Vital Volunteering’ identified 10 key strategies to direct the State Government’s commitment to volunteering over the period 2011-16:

1. Support the expansion of effective communication channels to share information and other resources related to volunteering, and particularly to volunteer management, build and support the governance capacity of volunteer-involving organisations (VIO) and volunteer-run groups, and take initiatives to reduce administrative red tape in grants processes.

2. Support and promote the benefits of corporate volunteering through the development of best practice guidelines and models for employee volunteering.

3. Explore strategies to expand the involvement of staff from the public sector as volunteers in the community sector.

4. Support and encourage the development of innovative and inclusive strategies for recruitment and retention of volunteers that respond to contemporary volunteering trends and patterns.

5. Support and undertake research on volunteering to inform the development of new volunteering initiatives and directions.

6. Develop strategies to strengthen and support volunteering in regional and remote communities.

7. Promote greater awareness and understanding of the roles of Volunteer Development Services and Volunteering WA.

8. Recognise the valued contribution of volunteers through funding community recognition events such as Thank a Volunteer Day and National Volunteer Week.

9. Reduce the financial burden to organisations by subsidising National Police Checks for Volunteers and Working with Children Checks.

10. Review legislation impacting on volunteers and volunteering.


Contemporary volunteering trends and issues

The last five years have seen changes in the volunteering sector, particularly as a result of advances in technology and changing demographics.

The following documents, published in recent years, provide a comprehensive overview of the status of volunteering in WA and Australia-wide.

State of Volunteering in Australia 2016 ReportIn April 2016, Volunteering Australia released the State of Volunteering in Australia Report for the 2016 financial year, which details the trends, demographics, successes and challenges in the volunteering sector nationally.

The report investigates the following questions:

Are the current volunteer engagement and management practices appropriate for the future?

Is there alignment between the types of roles volunteers want to undertake, the sectors they are interested in volunteering in, and the needs of volunteering involving organisations?

What is the appropriate strategy to support informal volunteering?

What are the necessary steps that need to be taken to future-proof volunteering?

The key findings identified from a survey conducted by Volunteering Australia to analyse the current state of volunteering in Australia, are listed below.

Key finding 1

Responses suggest there is a disconnect between the volunteering roles that people are interested in and the roles that organisations are offering.

Key finding 2

There is misalignment between the sectors volunteers are interested in and the sectors with the most positions advertised.

Key finding 3

Informal volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain, taking place outside the context of a formal organisation.


Key finding 4

Volunteers are deterred from volunteering because of lack of flexibility, personal expenses incurred, lack of reimbursement for out of pocket expenses, and burdensome administrative requirements.

Key finding 5

Volunteer involving organisations generally lack resources, both human and financial, and this can inhibit their ability to engage volunteers with barriers (e.g. people with a disability, people with language barriers). Lack of resources may also reduce an organisation’s ability to recognise their existing volunteer base, and engage with corporates through employee volunteering programs.

Key finding 6

Volunteers are not getting responses from volunteer involving organisations about opportunities fast enough.

Key finding 7

Online methods of recruitment and volunteering could be better aligned with the evolving information needs of future volunteers.

The Economic, Social and Cultural Value of Volunteering to Western AustraliaIn 2015, Volunteering WA released a report titled ‘The Economic, Social and Cultural Value of Volunteering to Western Australia’. Volunteering WA, with funding support from DLGC, commissioned the Institute of Project Management to undertake this study.

Key findings were:

The economic, social and cultural value of volunteering to WA is greater than $39 billion.

West Australians donated 15.9 hours per month.

Only 10 per cent of volunteers are reimbursed for out of pocket expenses.

Four out of five WA residents volunteer either formally or informally in the community.

Volunteering is WA’s largest industry (by participation levels).

In 2014, more than 7,500 tourists visited WA to volunteer.

West Australians identify a personal well-being-benefit from volunteering of $9.9 billion.


Increasing the rate of volunteering by as little as 1 per cent per year will create an additional $6.12billion in benefits over 10 years.

National Volunteering StrategyThe Australian Government released a ‘National Volunteering Strategy’ in 2011 to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations International Year of Volunteers. The strategy outlines the Australian Government’s vision for volunteering, and provides a strategy that encourages a responsive and supportive volunteering environment.

The national strategy allows for coordinated policy development at the federal, state and local levels to avoid duplication of resources.

National Standards for Volunteer InvolvementVolunteering Australia’s new National Standards for volunteer involvement was launched in May to mark the beginning of National Volunteer Week 2015.

The National Standards allow organisations to make use of simple, practical criteria across a broad range of volunteering situations.

There are eight standards addressing the key areas of volunteer involvement:

1 Leadership and management.

2 Commitment to volunteer involvement.

3 Volunteer roles.

4 Recruitment and selection.

5 Support and development.

6 Workplace safety and wellbeing.

7 Volunteer recognition.

8 Quality management and continuous improvement.

It is important the new WA strategy aligns with the ‘National Volunteering Strategy’ and supports volunteer involving organisations in achieving the national standards.

New South Wales and South Australia have published volunteering strategies in recent years. The priorities listed in these strategies are listed below.


Priority/focus areas in other jurisdictions

National Volunteering Strategy Respond to trends in volunteering.

Harness technology.

Better regulation and risk management.

Strengthen management and training.

Strengthen relationships and advocacy.

Recognise and value volunteering.

New South Wales Volunteering Strategy 2016-2020 Expand participation in community life through volunteering.

Create digital media avenues to support volunteering.

Develop a mainstream media campaign and local marketing strategies to promote volunteering.

Design and develop new volunteering options.

Build capacity in volunteer organisations to innovate and deliver best-practice volunteer management.

Enhance programs to recognise the positive contribution of volunteers.

South Australia Volunteering Strategy 2014-2020 Invest in the foundations of volunteering.

Promote and inform on the benefits of volunteering.

Implement leading practice and high quality standards.

Progressively adapt through continuous improvement.


A new strategy for WA

A review of current research on volunteering identified a number of strategies that could be considered for inclusion in the new Volunteering Strategy. These strategies can be grouped under the following four focus areas.

Focus Area 1: Encouraging participation in community life through volunteering

While more people are volunteering across most sectors, the average hours of voluntary activities are declining. People often cite a lack of time or suitable opportunities as a reason for not volunteering. Volunteering organisations also experience barriers to engaging and supporting volunteers.

Development of this strategy provides an opportunity to rethink how barriers to volunteering can be overcome, and the number of West Australians engaged in volunteering increased.

Raising the profile of volunteering in Western Australia will ensure that all facets of the community have a greater understanding of the benefits of volunteering.

Strategies for consideration1.1 Raise awareness and promote volunteering opportunities

Undertake marketing campaigns.

Promote the use of social media as a marketing tool.

1.2 Raise the profile of volunteering Promote benefits of volunteering and effect on health and wellbeing.

1.3 Reduce costs involved in volunteering Implement ways to reduce costs for volunteers.

1.4 Increase diversity in volunteering Promote volunteering to specific groups such as Aboriginal / Torres Strait

Islander, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds, seniors, youth, and those with disability.

1.5 Reduce barriers to recruitment by volunteering involving organisations


Implement cost saving measures such as online training.

Build capacity of volunteer involving organisations to meet the needs of volunteers.

1.6 Retain volunteers and increase duration of volunteering activity Encourage parents to volunteer beyond their child’s participation in sport

and recreation activities.

1.7 Support volunteering in regional Western Australia Implement strategies to support volunteering in regional Western Australia.

Questions for consideration1 Which of the following strategies are the most important in encouraging

participation in community life through volunteering? (Rank by rating the strategies from 1 – 7 with 1 being the most important)

a) Raising awareness and promoting volunteering opportunities by undertaking marketing campaigns and promoting the use of social media as a marketing tool.

b) Raising the profile of volunteering by promoting the benefits of volunteering and effect on health and wellbeing.

c) Implementing ways to reduce costs for volunteers.

d) Increasing the diversity in volunteering by promoting volunteering to specific groups such as Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander, CaLD, seniors, youth, and those living with a disability.

e) Reducing barriers to recruitment by volunteering involving organisations, by implementing cost saving measures such as online training and building the capacity of volunteering involving organisations to meet the needs of volunteers.

f) Retaining volunteers and increasing duration of volunteering activity by encouraging parents to volunteer beyond their child’s participation in sport and recreation activities.

g) Supporting volunteering in regional Western Australia.

2 What other ways can more people be encouraged to volunteer and volunteer for longer?


Focus Area 2: Responding to emerging trends and issues

For people interested in volunteering there are a number of factors that will affect their motivation to find a suitable appointment. People may have limited time, be interested in volunteering in a particular sector or be restricted to volunteering from home.

Volunteering involving organisations will need to adapt to current trends and create volunteering roles that suit the needs of potential volunteers.

‘The State of Volunteering in Australia 2016’ report identified that there is a disconnect between the volunteering roles that people are interested in and the roles that organisations are offering. It also found that there is misalignment between the sectors volunteers are interested in and the sectors with the most positions advertised.

The challenge for volunteer involving organisations will be in valuing and utilising the skills and experience that volunteers bring and developing roles to utilise those individual skills.

Strategies for consideration2.1 Support flexible volunteering opportunities

Volunteer sharing.

Short term/project based volunteering.

Volunteering on a visa.

Tourism volunteering.

2.2 Support innovative use of technology Volunteer matching.

Virtual volunteering.

Micro-volunteering.


2.3 Adapt to changing demographics Wider participation from broader community to be better facilitated (for

example, people with CaLD backgrounds and people with disability).

Travel volunteering (eg. Grey nomads).

Promote opportunities for volunteering as a means to combat social isolation

Youth volunteering programs.

Student volunteering programs.

2.4 Promote corporate volunteering Public sector volunteering programs.

Volunteering core business expertise and mentoring.

Publish best practice guidelines and models for corporate volunteering.

Questions for consideration1 Which of the strategies are the most important in responding to emerging trends

and issues? (Rank by rating the strategies from 1 – 4 with 1 being the most important)

a) Supporting flexible volunteering opportunities

b) Supporting innovative use of technology

c) Adapting to changing demographics

d) Promoting corporate volunteering

2 What other ways can innovation in volunteering be implemented to respond to emerging trends and issues?


Focus Area 3: Supporting volunteering involving organisations

People volunteer for many different reasons. Some do it to meet new people, learn new skills, or use their skills and experience in a positive way, improve their resume, help other people, make good use of their spare time or take on new challenges. Whatever reasons inform a person’s decision to volunteer, it is likely that the volunteer will need the support of their volunteer organisation, their families and friends to juggle the competing demands placed on their time. The support needs of volunteers are as diverse and complex as their reasons for volunteering.

Similarly, volunteering organisations also have a wide range of support needs. Many volunteering organisations are only equipped to focus on the basic needs of their client base and are not able to respond adequately to increasing challenges and opportunities. In an operating environment characterised by change, it is important that volunteering organisations are able to capitalise on the emerging and disruptive technologies informing the progressive development of other sectors across the community.

The challenge for the volunteering industry is to ensure that its planning vision is:

firstly, (pro-actively) informed by the collective support needs of volunteering organisations

secondly that such support needs are integrated fully into the ‘core’ business plans of all volunteer organisations and not ignored as a matter for later consideration.

Strategies for consideration3.1 Support volunteer involving organisations in managing risk, legal

liability and legislative requirements Improve access to information.

Advocate for sensible approaches to risk and legal liability.

Produce and promote standardised templates of key documents for volunteer involving organisations.

3.2 Support for training Volunteer training.

Volunteer manager training.


3.3 Support volunteer involving organisations with administrative matters Build capacity in volunteer organisations to deliver best practice

volunteer management.

Identify opportunities for resource sharing between volunteer organisations.

3.4 Reduce financial burden Alleviate costs for organisations and volunteers.

Encourage reimbursement of expenses.

Strategies to increase partnerships and resource sharing between volunteer involving organisations.

3.5 Build capacity of volunteers to upskill in response to emerging trends and issues

Promote an industry culture that pro-actively supports up-skilling and empowers volunteers to adapt readily to greater complexity and demands placed upon the volunteering community.

Promote self-awareness – encourage the volunteering community to continuously update its knowledge of community issues so it is able to respond to emerging trends in an informed and timely manner.

Questions for consideration1 Which of the strategies are the most important in supporting volunteering

involving organisations? (Rank by rating the strategies from 1 – 5 with 1 being the most important)

a) Supporting volunteer involving organisations to manage risk, legal liability and legislative requirements

b) Supporting training

c) Supporting volunteer involving organisations with administrative matters

d) Reducing financial burden

e) Building the capacity of volunteers to upskill in response to emerging trends and issues

2 What other ways can volunteering involving organisations be supported?


Focus Area 4: Recognising and valuing volunteering

It is vital that West Australians recognise the contribution that volunteers make to their communities and to individuals.

Strategies for consideration4.1 Support programs that recognise the positive contribution of volunteers

Host or support events that recognise volunteers.

4.2 Develop innovative ways to recognise and value volunteering Formal recognition of skills achieved.

Paid time off for corporate volunteering.

Training opportunities.

Questions for consideration1 How should volunteers be recognised and valued?

For more information, please contact:

Department of Local Government and CommunitiesGordon Stephenson House, 140 William Street, Perth WA 6000GPO Box R1250, Perth WA 6844Telephone: (08) 6551 8700 Fax: (08) 6552 1555Freecall: 1800 620 511 (Country only)Email: [email protected] Website: www.dlgc.wa.gov.au

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) – Tel: 13 14 50


http://www.dlgc.wa.gov.au/

mailto:[email protected]

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