Imagine the Possibilities! Presented by Sue Noble CEO - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Power of Volunteering. Imagine the Possibilities!

Presented by

Sue Noble CEO Volunteering Victoria

Definition of Volunteering

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

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@volunteeringvic

About Volunteering Victoria

Our vision

• Resilient communities & empowered & active citizens through volunteering

Our purpose

We are the peak body for volunteering in Victoria. Through our dynamic & transformative leadership we will promote & build a vibrant, prosperous & strong volunteering community that is inclusive, respected & sustainable

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@volunteeringvic

Some statistics

• Nationally 31% of volunteers over 15 years of age volunteer in S&R
• 14% of all adults (2.3 million people) volunteered in S&R
• 15% (1.25 mill) of all males
• 12% (1.05 mill) of all females
• The rate of volunteering by age group was:
• 18-24 years – 8%
• 25-34 years – 11%
• 35-44 years – 20%
• 45-54 years – 20%
• 55-64 years – 14%
• 65+ years – 6%

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Some statistics

• 8% (1.4 million) of people in capital cities are more likely to volunteer in S&R

than people in the rest of the country (6% or 0.9 million people)

• 23% of people in couple families with children < 15 years of age were more

likely to volunteer in S&R than other family types (11-14%)

• People volunteering in S&R had higher rates of participation in physical activity

for exercise or recreation (90%), compared to other volunteers (80%) & non- volunteers (65)

• In Victoria:
• 13.6% (580,000) of adult Victorians volunteered for S&R organisations
• Of these, 9% (382,000) of people in capital cities were more likely to volunteer than

people in the rest of the state (5% or 197,000 people)

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@volunteeringvic

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2016 Census

RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS

Recruiting volunteers

Steps to recruit volunteers. Follow good, common sense HR practices

• Planning
• Why do you want volunteers? What tasks/roles are suited to volunteers?
• What do you want them to do? Prepare simple job descriptions
• Who will manage/support your volunteers?
• Risk management: legal & moral obligations, insurance, police & WWC checks, OH&S, privacy, IP

protection etc

• Understand volunteers’ rights & responsibilities
• Who are you targeting as volunteers?
• What are their interests & motivations
• What are potential barriers to them volunteering
• How do you communicate with them? WoM, social media, presentations, website
• Look beyond your sport
• Resources are available to assist you

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@volunteeringvic

Why people volunteer

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Volunteering is personal & motivations differ

• Support personal goals
• Because someone they know volunteers
• Build social networks & connectedness
• For organisations, in places, at times that suit them
• Affinity with causes & issues
• Belief they can make a difference
• Sense of purpose & empowerment
• Sense of satisfaction, pride & accomplishment
• Skill utilisation, development & transfer
• Work preparedness
• Contribute & connect to the community

@volunteeringvic

Barriers to volunteering

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• Limited meaningful volunteering opportunities that utilise skills & knowledge
• No interest
• Regulatory barriers, including insurance, police checks etc.
• Do not have time
• Unable to make a long term commitment
• Competing time demands e.g. work & informal caring
• Do not know how to get involved
• Health problems or physical ability
• Financial cost
• Mismatch between volunteering opportunities & volunteers motivation
• No-one asked

@volunteeringvic

Trends in volunteering

Volunteering is evolving in response to societal & technological changes

• Centrality of experience more important
• Decline in longer term, regular volunteering
• Episodic volunteering increasingly popular
• One-off, sporadic, irregular, ad hoc or spontaneous volunteering
• Shorter duration tasks, specific projects or events
• Limited organisational loyalty
• Virtual volunteering
• Volunteering often initiated or actioned by social media & networks
• Crowdsourcing, slacktivism, micro-volunteering
• Pro bono or skilled volunteering (by individuals or through employee volunteering)
• Entrepreneurial volunteering
• Voluntourism
• Timebanking (voluntary exchange of services)

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@volunteeringvic

Trends in volunteering

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@volunteeringvic

Volunteers are changing

• Diverse social, cultural, linguistic, religious backgrounds
• Different characteristics, motivations, understanding & experience of volunteering
• Different generations. Life-cycle & life-style changes
• More mobile & tech-savvy. Have multiple roles, experiences
• Seek options, opportunities to develop or use skills
• Seek reciprocal, collaborative, inclusive relationships
• Seek to build social networks & connectedness
• Seek organisations, causes, in places, at times that suit them

The challenge

• Leverage motivations, differences & benefits
• Address real & perceived barriers

FINDING VOLUNTEERS

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@volunteeringvic

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RETAINING VOLUNTEERS