Girl Guides Push for Volunteer Agenda
9 July 2013 at 10:33 am
Girl Guides Australia has produced a position statement for the upcoming Federal Election calling on policymakers to assist volunteer organisations to develop workforce planning and development practices for the future.
The statement also asks for a skills policy to consider better supporting the development of skills needed for large, community based, Not for Profits.
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The five page statement called 'Building Australia and Contributing to a Better Tomorrow' calls for better resourcing for volunteers and Volunteer Utilising Organisations (VSO) by:
• Providing opportunities in grant funding for support to be provided for volunteer travel and accommodation
• Giving genuine recognition of volunteer management being a necessary expense item in funding submissions and funding allocations
The statement, which is signed off by all State Commissioners, State Executive Officers, the Chief Commissioner of Australia and National Executive Officer, has been sent out to some 250 leaders across Australia and contains 14 key action points.
The statement says a workforce development plan for the future of volunteering should include:
• Developing career pathways for young people in volunteering who want to take
leadership positions and give back to the community
• Creating sustainable organisational development practices for VUOs to build
their resilience during a time of change in volunteerism
• Create greater cohesion between the development of skills in volunteer work
and paid opportunities – create greater recognition of the economic benefit of
volunteer work to national productivity
The statement calls on policymakers to create leadership pathways for girls and young women to develop and prepare for future female role models.
“Involve our young people in decision making of their local area – they are the ones that know what needs to happen now and for their future.Practical goals and outcomes can come from young people talking to young people about change,” the statement said.
