Beyond the International Year of Volunteers
15 October 2001 at 1:10 pm
Much of the focus so far in this International Year of Volunteers has rightly been on recognising and celebrating the efforts of Australian volunteers. But what does the future hold?
The National Community Council of Advice is keen to ensure that at the end of the year some worthwhile legacies remain.
With this in mind, the NCCA is developing a national agenda on volunteering called “Beyond the International Year of Volunteers” which will be presented to the Federal Government on December 5th – International Volunteer Day!
The co-chair of the National Community Council of Advice and CEO of Volunteering Australia, Sha Cordingly says to obtain broad community input the Council conducted a series of consultation forums around Australia with some 200 Not for Profit organisations and their volunteers.
As well Cordingly says a short questionnaire was sent out to 15,000 organisations asking the sector to consider the key issues affecting volunteers and volunteering and to identify some of the issues that need to be addressed.
The NCCA says responses to the questionnaire came flooding in right up to the October 5th deadline.
Cordingly says that while a draft report will be presented to the National Agenda on Volunteering IYV Conference in Melbourne between October 21-23 for discussion, already the major issue that keeps appearing is one of insurance for volunteers.
She says this appears to be causing the greatest area of concern for the sector, particularly in the wake of the HIH insurance collapse.
Other areas include legislative issues of health and safety, as well as the ongoing issue of recruitment.
She says the Melbourne conference will consider the draft report and allow for any ‘tweaking’ that may be necessary before the final document is presented to the government.
Cordingly says the final report will identify the outcomes needed to address all the issues raised and will propose strategies for achieving these outcomes.
Pro Bono Australia will provide details of the draft report in our next edition. If you would like to comment on the questionnaire or your views on what legacy should remain from the IYV why not join our on-line Forum at probonoaustralia.com.au.
