Sustaining volunteer support

1. Sustaining volunteer support Working in partnership to face changes in the volunteering Sector.

2. Volunteering Tasmania • Peak body for volunteering • Partnership with State Govt/Tas Together Partners Program • Funding • Service provision • Where to find us • Future goals • National network • Statistics – 34.4% adult Tas vol 2hrs per week. Volunteering doubled in 10 yrs. Worth $30 billion per yr in Aust, $82million per day.

3. Demographic, employment and lifestyle changes Increased ‘contracting’ out of social services by govts Increased competition for funding Corporate social responsibility Greater need to focus on risk management Increasing ‘professionalism’ of volunteer organizations Technology has changed access to volunteering Volunteering as an opportunity to increase employability Changing expectations of volunteering experience by volunteers Trends in Volunteering

4. Volunteers: Want different, challenging short term roles Skill development Entrée to jobs Virtual volunteering More scope to volunteer On the move Organisations: Competition for funds put pressure on orgs Risk management focus takes away innovation training of vols requires $$$ and time, then vols leave Implications

5. General community Too many services-too many vol choices Confusion and distorted stats-believe myths Feel pressured to vol in areas not of interest Governments Can’t decide what its role is Risk management tends to guide decision to fund or not to fund and whether to support cause Can’t find enough competent NFP’s to fund services Community looks to Govt for help Implications

6. Solutions/Suggestions-for local Govt • Change of perspective • Take leadership • Develop opportunities for connection • Utilise what already exists • Celebrate, acknowledge and model

7. Change of perspective-Dispel the myths • MYTH- young people don’t vol • MYTH- there is a decrease in the numbers of vols • MYTH- older people vol more hours • MYTH- retired, unemployed and people on pensions vol more than others

8. Take leadership - locally • Educate ourselves on what ‘best practice vol management’ really means • Pilot innovative programs/ideas • Ask communities for solutions to issues/problems-involve them in solving the problem • Attract funding which builds capacity of vol groups and vols ( federal) • Encourage business to join in partnerships

9. Develop opportunities for connection • Business and community go hand in hand. • Develop a volunteer referral service-skills based audit. • Link visitors and tourists to volunteer opportunities • Support places to meet through events, invite all. • Link like and unlike.

10. Utilise what already exists • Encourage small organizational boards/committees to merge • Question the need to set up new organizations • Review roles and jobs already taken up by volunteers • Find out what existing groups do/see if they can expand

11. Volunteer recognition- Individual awards that support unique and diverse contribution. Competitions in schools. Best Practice vol Management awards. Take up opportunities in national Vol Week ( May) and International Vols day. ( Dec 5th) Model best practice Policies and procedures. Promote inclusiveness. Small grants programs. Provide training and support to Vols and their orgs. Show and tell what's going on in your area. ( radio, newspapers, public events). Celebrate, acknowledge and model

12. Working in Partnershipwhat can be done at a local level? • Corporate volunteering • On-line centers and community houses • Tourism • Schools – adult education/U3A

13. Activity: 20 minutes In small groups discuss/brainstorm- 1) What is local govt’s role in supporting volunteers and volunteering? 2) What can we do to prepare for the changing trends in volunteering?