Research and Policy Department report: 2008 in review

12 December 2008 | Tony Frew, The Centre for Volunteering

The Centre's Research and Policy department has been involved in a number of projects that have reached the stage of preliminary completion either through examination of available literature and/or pilot surveys. The interim reports will be made available on The Centre's website. They contain provisional details and illustrate the direction these areas of research will take in 2009.

Governance Project

Examines the status of governance in the NSW NFP sector by reviewing factors, such as:

• Aspects of good governance, e.g. strategy and direction setting, financial management skills, accountability, legal aspects
• Recruitment and retention of directors
• Time and effort required by directors
• Experience of directors and training needs
• Relationship of the executive with the board
• Relationships between board members and board members and chair
• Effective internal controls and information systems, e.g. effective chair, effective reporting, networking, measurement and evaluation

Comparisons with corporate boards and government organisations will also be considered.

Valuing and Reimbursing Volunteers Project

This project examines current mechanisms for reimbursement and valuation of volunteers in the community/welfare NFP sector.

Reimbursement considers:

• Tax & Accounting Implications;
• Payments to Volunteers
• Honoraria (reward, fee for professional services)
• Reimbursements (precise compensation)
• Allowances (predetermined amount to cover an estimated expense)
• GST (Goods and Services Tax) Rules
• Accounting implications
• Implications of claiming exemptions that may effect other standings e.g. Deductible Gift Recipient status

Community/Welfare Sector Volunteer Valuation
Many volunteers in certain sectors have a specific and common task which can facilitate the comparison with a "real job" position to provide a realistic hourly rate.

Australian corporation Pro bono volunteering measurement
Involves valuing the time spent in an unpaid activity at a "comparable" market wage.

Supply & Demand Project

Estimates the number of volunteer hours available to the not-for-profit sector (other than Sport and Recreation) in New South Wales by determining;

• The number of annual volunteer hours available (Supply)
• The number of annual hours required in NSW by the NFP sector (Demand)

HSIE CALD Prospectus

In 2008 The Centre completed and published a report on research into culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people wanting to volunteer who were also Highly Skilled but with Insufficient English (HSIE). That study was titled "Highly Skilled with Insufficient English" CALD Volunteers Utilisation Research Project. The aim of the project was to identify strategies that the not-for-profit (NFP) sector could employ to access, manage and transition HSIE CALD volunteers while gaining the advantage of their high level skill and capability.

The results of the study have provided some strategies that can be employed by organisations when using HSIE CALD volunteers.  It also recommended that a further and expanded study be conducted into the current contribution by HSIE CALD volunteers and how to harness their potential participation in the Australian volunteering field.

A prospectus has been developed and is meant for potential funding and collaborative partners wishing to be involved in a project that will undertake further limited research, develop and deliver a toolkit comprising identified strategies, training and consulting services that NFP organisations can employ to successfully utilise HSIE CALD volunteers.

For a copy of the confidential prospectus contact:
Tony Frew, Research & Policy Manager
T: 02 9261 3600
M: 043 22 9 44 66
E: tfrew@volunteering.com.au