What is Volunteering? September 5 th , 2013 Presented by: Michelle Ewington (VT – Chair)

1. What is Volunteering? September 5th, 2013 Presented by: Michelle Ewington (VT – Chair) & Jill Maxwell (VT State Manager)

2. Definition of Volunteering A definition of formal volunteering is a critical reference for the sector. It protects the integrity of volunteering, and it also protects volunteers by ensuring that the term volunteering and what is and is not intended when we use this word is widely understood.  The formal definition and principles of volunteering (Volunteering Australia) were the result of a national consultation undertaken in 1996 with a wide range of stakeholders including volunteers, personnel of not for profit organisations, policy makers and unions

3. The question…. In defining Volunteering, do we limit our capacity to adapt to the changing shape of volunteering within a contemporary society?

4. Why revisit? Emerging issues and trends challenge the current definition of volunteering in Australia - Volunteering Australia’s Definitions and Principles of Volunteering (June 2005) Explore the views of our volunteer sector and what is unique to Tasmania

5. For what purpose? • Provide guidance to : • our State volunteer sector and the wider community on what activities are volunteering • Provide guidance to our stakeholders, including policy-makers and researchers, to inform policy development and research work; and • Provide guidance to VT for service delivery, research projects, and policy and advocacy work • Assist people to determine whether they identify as a volunteer • Set the scope for VT policy and Research work

6. What did we do? • Looked at the theoretical concepts of volunteering – characteristics underpinning a common understanding of what volunteering is • Free Will: is it an activity undertaken by free will (not coerced) • Beneficiaries: benefits others and the volunteer • No Remuneration: unpaid • Structure: can occur in both formal and informal settings Cnaan, Handy and Wadsworth (1996) Paine, Hill and Rochester (2010)

7. What did we do? We looked at how volunteering is currently defined in Australia? VA Definition • Of the volunteer’s own free will (without coercion) • Benefits the community and the volunteer • No financial payment • “Formal” volunteering only • Takes place through not for profit organisations and projects only

8. Consultations WHO? VT consulted with the Tasmanian volunteer sector, our Social Policy Advisory Council (S-PAC) and our internal team to gather informed views about how volunteering should be defined in Tasmania HOW? We provided examples of controversial or questionable scenarios and asked people to rate them along continuums of five key elements

9. Table Based Scenarios Using the resources provided Review the Volunteer Scenario (each table is unique) Decide where the Volunteer best fits on a continiuim for each key element (there is no right or wrong answer) A table facilitator is available to assist (and will present back)

10. What did you notice?

11. Characteristics of Volunteering

12. Conceptual Tool All Characteristics CHOICE UNPAID BENEFIT TO COMMUNITY & VOLUNTEER Some challenging Elements present No Characteristics

13. Conceptual Tool An internal tool and process for staff to use to assist in determining when an activity is volunteering and when it isn’t

14. The question In defining Volunteering, do we limit our capacity to adapt to the changing shape of volunteering within a contemporary society?

15. Please feel free to ask us any questions, or follow up Jill Maxwell JillM@volunteeringtas.org.au (03)6231 5550