Juliana Collins, Community Volunteer Coordinator, Manly Council

What does your job entail?

Coordination and promotion of various voluntary programs including Bushcare, Meals on Wheels, Art Gallery, Library, Visitors Information Centre, Manly Ambassadors and other special projects. I also hope I can promote volunteerism in general within our community.

Why and how did you become a volunteer manager?

One of those things you just fall into. Once I finished uni, I knew I wanted to work in some sort of community service and I also had a passion for the environment. Before I knew it, I was looking after a Work for the Dole program and now there is no turning back. I couldn't ask for a more rewarding career.

Now I am working for Council, I am involved in a range of programs from environmental to aged care, all within my local community. I love sharing the unique enthusiasm and energy that volunteers offer. Volunteers really are very special people and if you are a coordinator you get to meet so many of them!!!!!

Please share some of the rewarding experiences you have had working with volunteers?

There are so many!! But the ones that stand out would be a volunteer who we placed in her dream role at a museum. Working in the entomology lab, she travelled twice a week from the Blue Mountains (2 hours each way) by train so she could get the practical work experience that she needed. After 12 months, she landed her dream job full-time at the museum, a shining example of handywork paying off.

Another great example would be recently holding a party for a volunteer who retired at 79 years of age from Meals on Wheels after almost 40 years of service. This is a credit to the supervisors at Meals on Wheels and a perfect illustration of the unique and special people you get to meet along the way. We celebrated her lifetime of service helping others – she has enhanced the lives of so many, yet the most modest person you will ever meet.

Do you have any examples of innovative programs and ideas for working with your volunteers?

I am also lucky in that we can offer different volunteer opportunities. Allowing volunteers to diversify their commitment is a great way to encourage volunteer retention.

A fantastic way of rewarding your volunteers is to get some corporate support and hand out thoughtful gifts such as tickets to the theatre, movies or dinner vouchers. These types of gifts allow the volunteer to share their achievement with friends or family, while providing them with a special night out at the same time.

Another idea is to get a volunteer representative committee together which will foster information sharing between managers and volunteers. This often generates some great ideas for volunteer recognition as it comes from the volunteers.

Do you network with other volunteer managers? If yes, how and what have you gained from that?

Yes, definitely. I think this is really important for sharing ideas and establishing networks within the industry – the more you know, the more you can inspire your volunteers. Networking is also important for reviving your voluntary programs, as the key to volunteer retention is sharing your ideas with other managers – really allowing you to be more dynamic and innovative.

Do you utilise the services of The Centre for Volunteering?

The Centre for Volunteering Event Volunteer database is wonderful. Being able to access such a large pool of enthusiastic event volunteers is simply priceless. I also use the general recruitment service for specific volunteer roles that we have available and also enjoy going to the Monthly Breakfast Forum, which is a great way of networking with other managers in the Sydney area.

Have you done any specific volunteer management training?

I have completed the Risk Management training and OH&S training at Conservation Volunteers Australia, which I can highly recommend for establishing safety procedures to protect volunteers. I will be undertaking training again very soon, as I think it is really important to continually update your skills, especially with the formalisation of volunteerism that we are experiencing at the moment.