Government launches NSW Volunteering Strategy
The Centre for Volunteering | 14 May 2012
CEO of The Centre for Volunteering, Lynne Dalton congratulates the NSW Government on the initiatives as outlined the Strategy released today by the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, Minister for Communities and Citizenship and Member for Ryde.
The Hon Victor Dominello MP, launched the NSW Government's highly anticipated Volunteering Strategy, at The Centre for Volunteering's National Volunteer Week launch morning tea this morning at Parliament House.
"I am extremely pleased that the NSW Government has recognised that volunteers in NSW have very little protection in the workplace when it comes to their rights as workers," Ms Dalton said. "The issue of volunteers' rights and their expectation to be treated with fairness, equity and respect is an issue that is growing daily as volunteers these days are now expecting appropriate management and supervision of their work in their roles as volunteers."
Another initiative included in the strategy that The Centre has been lobbying for for some time is affordable and timely access to Criminal Record checks for those organisations who are required by legislation to undertake such checks. "I can almost hear the cheers of gratitude from the many organisations that have rung The Centre over the past few years urging a solution to the problem of Criminal Record Check access," said Ms Dalton.
Ms Dalton went on to congratulate the further initiatives as outlined in the Government's Volunteering strategy including the need to encourage training and education options for the volunteering sector through a number of pathways to further education, particularly via Recognition of Prior Learning. "As a registered training organisation The Centre has adopted a very proactive approach to offering educational outcomes to students who are highly skilled but lacking in formal qualifications," Ms Dalton said.
The introduction of Timebanking for the community sector is a project unique to NSW and the Minister is to be congratulated on his initiative in making NSW the leader in establishing the program in Australia, Ms Dalton said. Ms Dalton went on to explain that time banking sets up a system for community members and volunteer groups to "trade" volunteer services and The Centre looks forward to further details about the trail Timebanking program which is to commence initially in regional areas.
"All in all, these announcements are great news for volunteers and the voluntary sector and will have a positive impact on communities both now and into the future." said Ms Dalton.
What is the Strategy?
The NSW Volunteering Strategy provides the framework for the development of the sector in NSW for the next decade.
Focus
- Making it easier to volunteer
- Supporting organisations that utilise volunteers
- Recognising and celebrating volunteering
- Improved support for corporate volunteering
- Volunteering creates pathways to participation, education/training and employment.
The strategy is the product of extensive consultation with volunteers across NSW, the organisations they work with, and the peak bodies which represent those organisations.
Areas of concern
- In some areas demand for services is increasing while volunteer numbers decline.
- Some volunteer organisations need support for management.
- Some organisations need improved access to training.
- How to take advantage of new technologies such as social media.
- How best to recognise the work volunteers do in the broader community.
