Volunteering is currently undergoing an exciting and innovative review in the Central Goldfields Shire, culminating in a significant forum early next year to obtain community input.
Over the past six months, Council has been working in partnership with the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre to review the Volunteer Strategy and Action Plan and determine a refreshed approach to volunteering locally.
Developed together in partnership with the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre and adopted by Council in 2021, the purpose of Council’s Strategy and Action Plan was to usher a new era of volunteering in the Central Goldfields championed by the Resource Centre.
Following a successful two years, the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre acknowledged it was struggling with resources and approached Council for support.
They had outgrown their original auspicing arrangement with the Maryborough Community House and at the same time the Federal Government’s National Strategy for Volunteering 2023- 2033 was released. The National Strategy detailed the changing context of volunteering in Australia and provides an opportunity to adopt and implement its key learnings.
The call for support from the Maryborough Resource Centre resulted in the formation of the Volunteer Stewarding Group. Made up Council staff and members of the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre the group has been working closely and meeting weekly to determine where to from here.
One of the first actions was to better understand the what the volunteering needs were and what the barriers to volunteering were.
Throughout July, the wider community was invited to share their thoughts on volunteering in the Shire – including those who don’t currently volunteer.
More than 75 responses were received which told us there was a need to:
- Reshape the public perception of volunteering
- Make volunteering accessible and inclusive
- Help people who are at risk of social isolation to benefit from volunteering opportunities
- Focus on the volunteer experience
- Adapt to the changing needs of volunteering
- Recognise the inherent value of volunteering
- Commit to strategic investment
(More detail on the above is provided in appendix one).
Next, the Stewarding Group is planning to host a Community Volunteering Forum during National Volunteer Week next year. Made possible with funding through a Victorian Government grant, the purpose of the forum is to invite the wider community to help shape what comes next.
The Stewarding Group is currently talking to government organisations and local stakeholders and community groups to find out how we can ensure the Forum can bring maximum value to our community.
Central Goldfields Shire Councillor Anna De Villiers said it was really pleasing to see how the stewarding group had come together to address a nation-wide problem in our local context.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a proactive, engaged group of residents that make up the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre. We congratulate them for their contribution of the past two and a half years and their efforts and openness as we work with them to determine what the Resource Centre looks like moving forward.
“I feel really optimistic about the work that has been done to date, we are much clearer now about what is needed to help change the volunteering landscape locally and the forum next year will allow us to build on this further.”
Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre member Faye Pyke said volunteers were critical to small communities like the Central Goldfields.
“We’ve actually got a high percentage of volunteers in our Shire – which is great, but we still need more.
“We know that volunteering can mean different things to everyone. It could be walking the neighbours dog or helping in a group or doing a shift at the canteen during football and netball season. Whatever it might be – volunteering can bring a lot of joy. For me personally it contributes so much to my overall well-being.
“On behalf of the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre we thank Council for their support as we continue to work together to refresh our approach to volunteering.
Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre member Jeff Hoober said they had been thrilled with the support of the Maryborough Community House over the past few years.
“We’d like to acknowledge their ongoing contribution and we look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.”
Maryborough Community House Jeannie Clark said they had been pleased to be part of the initial development of the project work of Maryborough Volunteer Resource.
“We look forward to supporting the future growth of these endeavours to strengthen local volunteering.”
Appendix 1: Survey Key Findings – in more detail
Reshape the public perception of volunteering
- Improve visibility and communications with potential volunteers
- Promoting how individuals benefit from volunteering
- Ensure volunteers have clear advice around time and resource commitments required
Make volunteering accessible and inclusive
- Understand and work with volunteers learning styles
- Effectively match volunteers skill sets with volunteering tasks
- Provide skill development for volunteers
- Provide supported volunteer roles
Help people who are at risk of social isolation to benefit from volunteering
Focus on the volunteer experience
- Ensure volunteers feel safe and valued in their role
- Clear communication to the volunteers about the impact of their contribution
- Provide volunteers with social experiences
Adapt to changing needs of volunteers
- Move away from committee models and towards project based approaches
- Make volunteering efficient and easy to participate in by reducing unnecessary meetings and red tape
Recognise the inherent value of volunteering
- Offer incentives to volunteers regularly
- Promote the value of volunteers in the community
Commit to strategic investment
