Volunteers: How to attract them & How to keep them

1. Volunteers: How to attract them & How to keep them 3rd Annual Regional Events Conference 2011 Presented by Volunteering North Queensland Events Queensland Gold Coast The Drover’s Camp Camooweal

2. Volunteers: How to attract them & How to keep them • The Nature of Volunteering • Creative Recruitment • Tools of the Trade • Top Ten Tips • Q & A Volunteering North Queensland

3. Who is Volunteering North Qld Volunteering North Queensland is funded by the Australian government to provide a volunteer linking, training and community support service for communities in the North Queensland region. Volunteering North Queensland

4. What is Volunteering Volunteering Australia defines formal volunteering as an activity that takes place in not-for-profit program or projects and is undertaken: • To be of benefit to the community and the volunteer • Of the volunteers own free will and without coercion • For no financial payment • In designated volunteer positions only Volunteering North Queensland

5. How many People Volunteer? • In 2009/10, 5.4 million Australians over 18 volunteered (representing 34% of the population) • Queensland & the ACT have the highest volunteer participation rate of 38% • Volunteers are worth over $45 billion year to the Australian economy • Approximately 713 million hours of voluntary work is carried out by Australian’s each year • 36% of women volunteer & 32% of men volunteer • Volunteering is more common amongst those living in parts of the state outside the capital city (Volunteering Australia 2009/10) Volunteering North Queensland

6. Volunteering Trends • Episodic Volunteers • Pathway Volunteers • Corporate Volunteers Volunteering North Queensland

7. Motivations for Volunteering Why do people volunteer … Social interaction, desire to help others, feel needed, share skills, change of pace, help someone, explore career paths, learn skills, give back to the community, know the community better, make friends, be an advocate, fulfill centrelink requirements, set an example for children, act on passion … WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME! Volunteering North Queensland

8. Top 11 Reasons Why People Leave • Culture & Climate • Missions & Goals • Policies & Procedures • The Work • Communication • Relationships • Leadership • Orientation • Training • Life Circumstances • Not Appreciated Volunteering North Queensland

9. Volunteering North Queensland

10. Inter-generational Volunteering • Children & Young People • Generation Y • Generation X • Baby Boomers • Silent Generation Volunteering North Queensland

11. Creative Recruitment Talk to your Volunteer Referral Centers, attract Corporate Volunteers, tap into the Grey Nomad Network, invite Service Clubs or Schools, host bring a Friend day, have a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator, ask Staff/Volunteers for Suggestions, Banners on Emails and Envelops or Word of Mouth or start a Rumour … just remember the bottom line! “What’s in it for ME!” Volunteering North Queensland

12. Valuing Volunteers How do you value volunteers? Smile, say hello, regular thanks, welcome letters, discounts, awards, certificates, complimentary tickets, personalised coffee mug, references, social activities, involvement in decision making, uniforms, training opportunities … Volunteering North Queensland

14. Useful Tools of the Trade • National Standards of Volunteering • Volunteer/Organisational Rights & Responsibilities • Volunteer Job Descriptions • Volunteer Agreements • Volunteer Codes of Conduct • Information Packs • Volunteer Registration/Interview Forms • Orientation Checklists Volunteering North Queensland

15. Useful Websites www.volunteeringnthqld.org.au www.eqconference.com.au www.volunteeringqld.org.au www.volunteeringaustralia.org Volunteering North Queensland

16. Volunteering North Queensland

17. Today’s Top Tips • Create great COMMUNITY relationships • Recruit a dedicated Volunteer COORDINATOR • Get to know your Volunteers and satisfy their NEEDS • Have clear ROLES and expectations • SHARE the workload • Regularly FOLLOW-UP • Make sure everyone is on the same page, INDUCT and TRAIN your volunteers • Create a CULTURE of communication • Say THANKYOU … acknowledge your volunteers • Have FUN! Volunteering North Queensland

18. THANKYOU HOW TO CONTACT VNQ Unit 6/56 Charles Street Aitkenvale Phone: 07 4725 5990 Fax: 07 4725 5996 PO Box 1496 Aitkenvale Web-site: www.volunteeringnthqld.org.au Email: vnq@volunteeringnthqld.org.au Volunteering North Queensland

19. Rachael White – Event Operations Coordinator Volunteering North Queensland

20. Events Queensland Gold Coast – who are we? Events Queensland Gold Coast (EQGC) - wholly owned subsidiary of Events Queensland, a government-owned company that forms part of the Premier of Queensland’s portfolio EQGC manages the events “owned” by the Queensland Government – the Gold Coast Airport Marathon (annual) and the Pan Pacific Masters Games (biennial) Not-for-profit organisation Volunteering North Queensland

21. Events Queensland Gold Coast EQGC produces high profile, mass participation sporting events that maximise economic impact. The events provide an enjoyable and memorable event experience that showcases the Gold Coast whilst maintaining world-class event management standards. Volunteering North Queensland

22. Motivating Volunteers Gold Coast Airport Marathon 250 volunteers each year Volunteer population comprised of a diverse group of individuals; domestic and international students, retired professionals Motivations range from socialising, meeting people, contributing, expanding skill-set, work experience, improving english-speaking skills Differentiate tasks based on motivation – ask the question! Creation of Internship Program Volunteering North Queensland

23. Getting Creative About Recruitment Volunteers – where are they? Over 50s Lifestyle Village Partner with education – schools, TAFE, Universities Sporting organisations and community groups – donation? Event attendees/participants’ families and friends Participants themselves (injured? Emotionally invested in your event?) Other events Corporate sector, Sponsors – include in their agreement Volunteering North Queensland

24. Volunteering North Queensland

26. Bronco Branders in Street Parade

27. Charity Auction Street Parade 2011

28. Drovers Camp Volunteer Float Street Parade 2011

29. Liz Flood & Volunteer David Green 2011 Drovers Camp

30. Liz Flood with Eugene Kostin oldest Drovers Camp Volunteer

31. Novelty Mail Race Drovers Camp Festival 2011

32. Volunteers serving drovers luncheon

33. THANKYOU Presenter contacts: Paula Johnson training@volunteeringnthqld.org.au Rachael White rachael@goldcoastevents.com.au Liz Flood info@droverscamp.com.au Volunteering North Queensland