8. What skills do volunteers have? Topic menu Next > < Back Other Web/IT Strategy/Mentor Media/PR/Comms Marketing Legal/Governance Human Resources General/Admin Fundraising/goods Event Management Design/Production Accounting/Finance Skill categories
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13. 3. Obtaining a volunteer Over the next pages, you will see the next steps in the process of obtaining a volunteer. Don’t forget, when filling in your submission, you want to ensure potential volunteers are inspired by your organisation and the role, and how they will make a difference. Topic menu Next > < Back
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22. More information can be found at www.goodcompany.com.au For assistance please contact us: [email_address] Melbourne: 03 9603 3533 Sydney: 02 8094 7554 Perth: 08 9449 6124
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Notas do Editor
Video notes goodcompany is a not-for-profit organisation working to create an Australia where professional workers volunteer their skills to organisations that strengthen our communities. goodcompany started in Melbourne in 2001 and expanded to Sydney in 2003 and Perth in 2009 with plans to move into other states in the future. With a small team of less than 3 FTE staff, goodcompany is able to work with hundreds of community groups and thousands of professionals due to a web-based matching tool/service and email newsletter and communications. Our work is possible because of our own skilled volunteers. We have a 25-person Board of Directors and state-based committees, who are leading individuals from diverse professional and community backgrounds. They broaden our expertise and support us with events, marketing and other operations. goodcompany has thousands of registered volunteers and works with hundreds of community organisations and groups, as well as offering skilled volunteering services to its corporate clients. Since 2001 we have facilitated more than 2000 skilled volunteer project outcomes, worth over $12 million to the community. Each dollar that goes through goodcompany’s innovative model generates $8 worth of pro bono services to the community sector. Founded when young professionals wanted to donate their skills to the community but didn’t the time or connections to find the right project. We are now the leading skilled volunteering service and trusted partner for many community organisations that recognise pro bono services not only save them money, but build their capacity and help them better achieve their objectives.
Video notes goodcompany relies on the support of…..
Video notes goodcompany utilises the internet, email and face-to-face interactions to successfully match professional skills with community needs. By using our online matching service, representatives of a registered community group can login to the goodcompany website and submit a skilled volunteer project. Once approved for publishing by goodcompany, the public and our registered volunteers can search for projects by skill category and location. Registered volunteers, and corporate partner employees via goodcompany, can apply for those that they are interested in. Goodcompany’s processes allow community groups and volunteers to track, monitor and report on the project activity. goodcompany hold different events throughout the year where groups can network with volunteers and secure their help through face-to-face interaction. Events help to raise awareness and educate groups and volunteers about the opportunities and challenges of skilled volunteering. By coming along to our Community Group workshops, attendees can learn explore how to effectively utilise skilled volunteers in their organisation, meet other community groups, ask questions and get tips and tools to get the most out of skilled volunteering and goodcompany’s services. Through e-newsletters, groups will receive updates on opportunities, event invitations, articles and reminds to submit new volunteer projects. We encourage community groups to suggest content and try to profile volunteering projects You will also be able to invite your volunteers to attend our regular information sessions.
Video notes (for this whole topic) Most people give something back to the community by donating money. Our volunteers however, have chosen to give something much more valuable, their skills and experience. They have registered on our website because they want to make a positive contribution to the community. A typical goodcompany volunteer is an individual, they are not sponsored by their employer. In fact, many of the volunteers are actually self employed. Our volunteers generally work full-time and are likely to be professionals. However, we may also come across small professional groups, part-time or contract workers who want to volunteer their time. A growing number of Corporate companies offer volunteering opportunities through their intranet, and often offer paid volunteer leave. Many of our volunteers fall into this category. These volunteers may have no experience in skilled volunteering and may be cautious about long term commitments and large projects. Our volunteers are generally time-poor and are looking for a one-off project. On average, they will tend to look for new volunteering opportunities every 1 to 2 months. So what are our volunteers looking for? They are looking for a project that sounds interesting, and provides quite a bit of detail about the task and what is expected of them. So the key for you is to make your project sound fantastic! Our volunteers are also wanting to apply their own skills, whether it be skills they already use in their careers or skills from a hobby outside of work. They are looking to give back to the community, so what better way than to use their own knowledge and expertise! It is important that there is open and timely communication between you and the volunteer, and that you give the volunteer an indication of how long you think the project will take.
Video notes ‘ So what types of projects can you request? There are quite a wide range of different opportunities.’ (Display each category on a slide with examples being talked to) Accounting and Finance ‘ Do you need help with book keeping, asset management or drafting a business plan? Design/Production ‘ How about assistance with the design of a brochure or a photographer to take photos at your next event?’ Event Management ‘ You could use a volunteer to help with the planning, direction, execution and running of your next event’ Fundraising/Goods ‘ Do you need help with a fundraising strategy or finding some second hand furniture from a company?’ Human Resources ‘ How about advice on HR processes and policies, training, or advice from someone in a health service like a social worker?’ Legal/Governance ‘ Could you use a volunteer to advise on tax status or a board review?’ Marketing ‘ How about assistance with a marketing campaign?’ Media/PR/Comms ‘ Do you need help drafting press releases or interviewing techniques?’ Strategy/Mentoring Could you use some help with developing your company’s long term vision, or finding a business mentor?’ Web/IT ‘ How about a redesign of your website or IT advice?’ goodcompany has volunteers in all these skills!
Video notes So you think you would like to enlist the services of goodcompany to assist you with some skilled volunteer work? Before you proceed, it is important to understand a bit more about your skill gaps and some questions you should ask yourself before you submit the project. Have a think about your strategic vision, aims and goals, and compare them to your existing operations. Then have a think about any gaps that may exist in working towards your vision, aims or goals and determine how you need to fill these gaps. Think about the people that are needed to fill these gaps, the capacity for your company to support and the resources needed. To use goodcompany, you will need to focus on the gaps that can be filled by people, as this is what we do! Have a look at the 12 categories listed in the previous topic and see if your gap fits into any of those categories. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself before submitting a project are if a skilled professional is the right person to help you fill the gap, if the project can be broken down into smaller projects or tasks, meaning you may need a few skilled volunteers with different areas of expertise, and how would you approach this project if you were paying for a contractor to do it? This is because you should be approaching the project in the same way, regardless of whether the person is being paid or is a volunteer! (Show these above questions on a slide?)
Video notes So you think you would like to enlist the services of goodcompany to assist you with some skilled volunteer work? Before you proceed, it is important to understand a bit more about your skill gaps and some questions you should ask yourself before you submit the project. Have a think about your strategic vision, aims and goals, and compare them to your existing operations. Then have a think about any gaps that may exist in working towards your vision, aims or goals and determine how you need to fill these gaps. Think about the people that are needed to fill these gaps, the capacity for your company to support and the resources needed. To use goodcompany, you will need to focus on the gaps that can be filled by people, as this is what we do! Have a look at the 12 categories listed in the previous topic and see if your gap fits into any of those categories. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself before submitting a project are if a skilled professional is the right person to help you fill the gap, if the project can be broken down into smaller projects or tasks, meaning you may need a few skilled volunteers with different areas of expertise, and how would you approach this project if you were paying for a contractor to do it? This is because you should be approaching the project in the same way, regardless of whether the person is being paid or is a volunteer! (Show these above questions on a slide?)
Video notes So you think you would like to enlist the services of goodcompany to assist you with some skilled volunteer work? Before you proceed, it is important to understand a bit more about your skill gaps and some questions you should ask yourself before you submit the project. Have a think about your strategic vision, aims and goals, and compare them to your existing operations. Then have a think about any gaps that may exist in working towards your vision, aims or goals and determine how you need to fill these gaps. Think about the people that are needed to fill these gaps, the capacity for your company to support and the resources needed. To use goodcompany, you will need to focus on the gaps that can be filled by people, as this is what we do! Have a look at the 12 categories listed in the previous topic and see if your gap fits into any of those categories. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself before submitting a project are if a skilled professional is the right person to help you fill the gap, if the project can be broken down into smaller projects or tasks, meaning you may need a few skilled volunteers with different areas of expertise, and how would you approach this project if you were paying for a contractor to do it? This is because you should be approaching the project in the same way, regardless of whether the person is being paid or is a volunteer! (Show these above questions on a slide?)
Video notes So you think you would like to enlist the services of goodcompany to assist you with some skilled volunteer work? Before you proceed, it is important to understand a bit more about your skill gaps and some questions you should ask yourself before you submit the project. Have a think about your strategic vision, aims and goals, and compare them to your existing operations. Then have a think about any gaps that may exist in working towards your vision, aims or goals and determine how you need to fill these gaps. Think about the people that are needed to fill these gaps, the capacity for your company to support and the resources needed. To use goodcompany, you will need to focus on the gaps that can be filled by people, as this is what we do! Have a look at the 12 categories listed in the previous topic and see if your gap fits into any of those categories. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself before submitting a project are if a skilled professional is the right person to help you fill the gap, if the project can be broken down into smaller projects or tasks, meaning you may need a few skilled volunteers with different areas of expertise, and how would you approach this project if you were paying for a contractor to do it? This is because you should be approaching the project in the same way, regardless of whether the person is being paid or is a volunteer! (Show these above questions on a slide?)
either in person or via phone either during meeting or otherwise via e-mails Community group’s responsibilities to the volunteer Should each of the following points when managing the volunteer experience: P roject information: Background information, clear project scope with boundaries, KPI's, expectations, deadlines, resources available, potential pitfalls, how the job will be evaluated, reporting back to goodcompany. Communication of organisations’ mission, culture, values Demonstrate that the task/activity contributes to organisation’s purpose and benefits the community. Infrastructure: allocation of adequate equipment, desks, computers, etc? Introduction to and provision of, contact details for key people in project. Suitable training/induction including relevant reporting, emergency procedures, grievance resolution, potential discrimination & abuse, building layout, and any other relevant policies. They should take care to prepare volunteers for their duties and for any physical or psychological stresses that may be involved. OH&S and working conditions: suitable hours, accommodated around work commitments. Do their current policies and procedures adequately cover volunteers? If not, what do they need to change? To provide adequate supervision, if required.
either in person or via phone either during meeting or otherwise via e-mails Community group’s responsibilities to the volunteer Should each of the following points when managing the volunteer experience: P roject information: Background information, clear project scope with boundaries, KPI's, expectations, deadlines, resources available, potential pitfalls, how the job will be evaluated, reporting back to goodcompany. Communication of organisations’ mission, culture, values Demonstrate that the task/activity contributes to organisation’s purpose and benefits the community. Infrastructure: allocation of adequate equipment, desks, computers, etc? Introduction to and provision of, contact details for key people in project. Suitable training/induction including relevant reporting, emergency procedures, grievance resolution, potential discrimination & abuse, building layout, and any other relevant policies. They should take care to prepare volunteers for their duties and for any physical or psychological stresses that may be involved. OH&S and working conditions: suitable hours, accommodated around work commitments. Do their current policies and procedures adequately cover volunteers? If not, what do they need to change? To provide adequate supervision, if required.