Background
Volunteering Queensland was incorporated in 1982 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 as the peak body for volunteering in Queensland representing the interests of volunteers and community organisations.
Volunteering Queensland is funded by Federal and State grants as well as through the provision of services, projects, programs and initiatives, education and training, volunteer event management contracts, and financial membership.
Volunteering Queensland is governed by a voluntary Board made up of eight (8) elected individuals representing a wide range of community sectors and professional backgrounds. Volunteering Queensland works with a team of approximately eighty (80) volunteers and eighteen (18) paid staff, depending on the number of funded projects and programs, to achieve its organisational goals and strategies.
Vision
- We believe individuals have the right to participate freely in Australian society through the act of volunteering and that volunteering complements but in no way substitutes paid work.
- We are committed to raising the profile and esteem of volunteering as a vital force within the community.
- We are committed to the development of professional standards of service which recognise the importance of effective management which supports voluntary effort.
- We are committed to enhancing the status of the association as a peak body for volunteering in Queensland.
Mission
Volunteering Queensland works to encourage, recognise, promote and advocate for voluntary participation to benefit the individual and community.
Pathway Forward [Strategic Overview]
Aim
As a peak body for volunteering in Queensland, Volunteering Queensland exists to:
- Encourage people to participate in community activities through volunteering;
- Enable volunteers and community organisations to develop the structure, skills and capacity to better the quality of volunteering for the benefit of the community;
- Engage in advocacy and policy development and partnerships with government, corporate and other institutions and organisations on issues relevant to volunteering.
Key Objectives
Connect People with Community Activities
Volunteering Queensland provides people with easy access to a wide variety of opportunities to connect to their community through voluntary activities. Volunteering Queensland will:
- Connect people with volunteer opportunities via a centralised recruitment and linking service, individual interviews, searchable database listings and more;
- Link people, businesses, community organisations, statutory bodies and institutions, and resources through the innovative use of technology;
- Promote participation in community wide events such as sporting, environmental, and cultural events, festivals, fundraising activities;
- Promote community events and volunteer opportunities related to these events and activities;
- Design programs targeted for special populations of volunteers including families, youth, seniors, culturally and ethnic diverse, people from indigenous backgrounds, corporate employees, job seekers, people with different abilities or support needs; and creating news ways to engage the not engaged;
- Involve volunteers in ongoing sustainable volunteer programs coordinated by Volunteering Queensland such as mentoring or tutoring programs;
- Promote short-term project based volunteer opportunities through web sites and community media; and
- Develop and distribute educational and resource materials to assist community groups to engage with the diverse population of intergenerational volunteers.
Building the Capacity for Effective Engagement
Volunteering Queensland builds the capacity of community organisations who work with volunteers to recruit, manage and retain volunteers. Volunteering Queensland will:
- Provide volunteer management training, consultations and direct support to community organisations;
- Provide volunteer management resources and information through newsletters, network forums, and online;
- Provide support to volunteer leaders, managers and coordinators through network groups, peer support, forums and resource sharing;
- Provide training, support and consultation to community management committees and boards;
- Research issues and trends in relation to community and volunteering and circulate to volunteer organisations, government and the broader community;
- Provide individual support and mentoring for volunteer leaders, managers and coordinators to develop their volunteer programs to reflect the diversity and flexibility of potential volunteers;
- Develop and support specialised programs and projects for community participation focusing on areas such as working with people with cultural and ethnic diverse backgrounds; people with different abilities; youth; seniors; corporates; students; and job seekers;
- Assist communities to map, record and utilise the assets and capabilities that exist within their own local area, as well as provide opportunities for greater participation.
Promote Volunteering
Volunteering Queensland raises public awareness of the importance of volunteering in community life, encourages people to volunteer, provides information about volunteering, and recognises the contributions of volunteers. Volunteering Queensland will:
- Initiate and support media campaigns to promote volunteering through radio, newspapers, public service advertisements, a national toll-free number, and more;
- Recruit volunteers and raise awareness of volunteering through strategies such as guest speakers, volunteer displays and expos, and local shopping centre mobile referral services;
- Create opportunities for public acknowledgement of volunteers and volunteer teams through award programs, National Volunteer Week and International Volunteer Day (5th December) activities and a variety of informal recognition efforts;
- Educate policy makers and community leaders about the importance of volunteering;
- Provide an interactive website, which provides information, resources and referral to a broad range of community agencies;
- Develop and implement a series of promotional strategies to raise the profile of volunteering throughout Queensland.
Participate in Strategic Initiatives that Mobilise Volunteers to meet Local Community Needs.
Volunteering Queensland will:
- Serve as a facilitator for community action. Volunteering Queensland works through local partnerships and collaborations with businesses, local community groups, schools, and community leaders to identify needs and initiate volunteer response.
- Initiate and facilitate summits and planning workshops for broad community involvement on issues regarding local community capacities, opportunities and challenges. Volunteering Queensland provides training, support and consultations with a variety of stakeholders to encourage the development of community partnerships.
- Impact on community issues by providing volunteer service programs focused on specific target groups, such as youth, seniors, unemployed people, people with different abilities, indigenous people, people from different cultural groups or youth at risk.
- Initiate and support communities recording local histories of community participation, through a variety of mediums and approaches.
- Provide Community Action Leadership Programs assisting community leaders in the skills of networking, facilitating community action and developing effective organisations.
The effective integration of these four strategies positions Volunteering Queensland as the lead organisation for community volunteering. Volunteering Queensland facilitates volunteer action and informs leaders about volunteering.
Functional Objectives
1. Service Provision
Enable community participation by proactively meeting the needs of volunteers, organisations and the wider community. Actively promoting flexible models of voluntary participation.
2. Advocacy, Promotion and Research
Strengthen community participation in volunteering by providing advocacy, public policy development, research and promotion through effective partnerships.
3. Education and Training
Build communities, volunteers, volunteer management and governance capacity through education, training and support.
4. Resource and Information
Enhance the quality of volunteering through the provision of accessible and relevant knowledge for volunteers and community organisations, and providing assistance and information on issues and trends relating to volunteering.
5. Internal Systems
Implement and maintain a quality management system that meets Volunteering Queensland’s legal / funding compliance and aspirational requirements, and provides governance leadership and financial viability and accountability.
Services
Membership
Volunteering Queensland’s registered members include more than 700 financial and non-financial community organisations who through their membership with Volunteering Queensland are linked to the national peak body for volunteering, Volunteering Australia.
Volunteering Queensland regularly communicates with more than 2,000 community organisations through e-news, network meetings, education and training programs, recognition events and activities, projects, programs and initiatives, and web-based resources and support.
These organisations include all sectors of the community including arts, culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation, environment, emergency services, health, education, welfare services, social justice and action groups, religious, service clubs, justice, transport, and many more.
Projects, Program and Initiatives
Volunteering Queensland provides a number of web based volunteer linking services for community organisations and individuals. Volunteering Queensland initiates specific projects and programs for targeted groups such as the culturally diverse, youth, seniors, corporates, schools, homeless, and people with different abilities some of these include SkillsBank, VolBase, VolBiz, CREW [Community Response to Extreme Weather] Register, Golden Gurus, and Sports and Recreation Volunteers.
Education and Training
Volunteering Queensland is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) providing accredited, non-accredited and customised training courses and projects for clients. Volunteering Queensland provides an ongoing schedule of free essential volunteer management courses as well as fee-paying master classes and accredited training. Volunteering Queensland also facilitates monthly Volunteer Managers Network (VMN) Meetings, regular GENeR@te Forums, Business Roundtables, and sector or issue based symposiums and seminars, consultations and focus groups.
Resource Development
Volunteering Queensland’s website has many free resources which are continually developed, reviewed and updated. The website also promotes the 5 models of voluntary participation identified as informal, non-formal, social action, governance and project volunteering as well as highlights best practice examples of organisations using innovative ways of engaging with volunteers. Volunteering Queensland also provides a consultation and Help-Desk service for community organisations and volunteers.
Volunteer Recognition
Volunteering Queensland hosts a number of high profile events during National Volunteer Week (NVW) in May; International Volunteer Day (IVD) celebrated on 5 December; and the annual Volunteers' Cricket Day. Volunteering Queensland also partners with Brisbane City Council (BCC) to host events such as Homeless Connect; and with Older People Speak Out (OPSO) in supporting its National Media Awards for positive ageing stories.
Operating Principles [Core Values]
1. We Believe In Ourselves, Our Practices And Our People
This is achieved through all staff:
- Having up-to-date knowledge through orientation and ongoing education processes, and taking every opportunity to promote the Volunteering Queensland's vision, mission and goals.
2. We Are Committed To Accountability As A Measure Of Our Success
This is achieved through all staff:
- Being familiar with and committing to policies and procedures and core values.
- Participating in consultative processes.
- Using appropriate forums to discuss issues of concern.
- Being responsive and accepting of change.
3. We Value All Individuals, Acting With Dignity And Respect
This is achieved through all staff:
- Respecting people's differences and behaving in ways that are non-judgmental, avoiding criticism, not labeling, making quick assumptions or discussing confidential information.
- Being open and aware of people's different personalities, values and styles through active listening, understanding and acceptance of each other's differences.
- Displaying integrity and being accountable for our words and actions.
- Responding to each other as equals in a friendly, compassionate and respectful manner.
- Welcoming new staff and users of Volunteering Queensland's servicesin a way which creates a positive and harmonious atmosphere.
- Having a commitment to the resolution of conflict in a manner which seeks truth and understanding and which respects the rights and dignity of all concerned.
- Playing our part in ensuring the physical safety of all associated with Volunteering Queensland.
- Being aware of the Volunteering Queensland's working hours and having a commitment to punctuality.
- Receiving both formal and informal recognition for their efforts.
4. We Provide A Professional Service That Is Relevant At All Times
This is achieved through:
- Ongoing reviews of practices and responding to the changing needs of the community in regard to services provided by Volunteering Queensland.
- Using Quality Processes and Best Practice Standards to test the relevance and effectiveness of Volunteering Queensland against other similar organisations.
- Utilising the skills, experience and interests of all staff.
- Maintaining a supportive environment through teamwork, good leadership, and a sense of enjoyment, achievement and humour.
- Providing encouragement and support by supervising staff in carrying out tasks.
- Ensuring staff are properly trained to do their jobs.
- Displaying respect, integrity and honesty in all dealings with each other and users of the Volunteering Queensland's services.
5. We Foster Ongoing Learning Through Professional And Personal Development
This is achieved through:
- A commitment to regular training and mentoring opportunities.
- Frequent feedback sessions with Team Leaders to monitor individual training needs and establish a training program.