Organisation : Victoria Walks
Location : Melbourne, VIC Regional
Time required : 1-2 hours per month
Duration of project : 3 years
Sector : Government, Health – General, Media, Other, Sport & Recreation, Women
Application closing date : 3 Dec, 2021
About the role
The Board is particularly interested in adding skills or expertise in the following areas:
- Digital and social media and communications – assist building a thriving walking community and extend our digital reach, including commercial partnerships for Walking Maps.
- Corporate connections – use networks to engage the business sector in walking and achieve financial diversification that helps us invest in technology, organisational growth, and increases our capacity and capability.
- Senior government relations – assist in purposeful and prioritised engagement to maximise our impact to bring about meaningful action and investment in walking from government.
- Program & event development – assist the organisation to explore, scope and pursue revenue sources from philanthropy, business and government that align with our purpose and impact.
About the organisation
Victoria Walks is an evidence-based health promotion charity, leading the move for walkable communities and investment in walking in Australia since 2009. We work primarily in Victoria, but increasingly nationally and internationally, to enable all types of walking – recreational, incidental and transport related.
Our vision – Healthier, connected communities through more people walking more every day.
Our purpose – To influence investment and inspire more people to walk more every day.
Our role – To facilitate and inspire more walking throughout the community; to capture, translate and promote evidence on the impact and value of walking; and to be a trusted expert, positively influencing decision-makers.
Our new Strategic Plan sets out our agenda until 2025 and the outcomes we seek:
Increased walking participation – We see more people walking more every day throughout the community.
Demonstrable investment – Meaningful action and investment from government at all levels and decision-makers throughout the community.
We released our first Impact Report in 2021 to begin the process of demonstrating the positive impact of our activities (earlier Report Cards).
Victoria Walks receives funding from the Victoria Government (VicHealth) to improve the physical health of Victorians and a range of smaller grants and fee-for service activities (such as, undertaking research, assessing walkability, and mapping and promoting walks).
Victoria Walks’ Official Supporter Program (associate members) has attracted 17 councils and one peak body as paid supporters as well as four Corporate Supporters.
The organisation has a strong social and digital media presence and is building a thriving walking community. Victoria Walks’ Facebook Page has well in excess of 100,000 followers, of whom over 80% are female and it’s Walking Maps website attracts over a million visits a year (60% female).
Victoria Walks has: hosted conferences; been invited to keynote national and international conferences; made influential submissions and position statements; and is sought after for comment and expert opinion on walking and walkability related issues withing Victoria and across Australia.
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this volunteering opportunity.
Please quote in application: Victoria Walks is seeking new board members via Pro Bono Australia.
