Have you thought about doing some volunteer work? Volunteering is a great way to give back, contribute to your community, and stay connected to others, especially if you’re retired or now working part time. It can also be very rewarding if you find the right organisation and opportunity.
A survey done by SEEK Volunteer however found that around a third of people who would like to volunteer don’t know how to get started, and what to consider when looking for volunteering opportunities. Nevertheless, a key to getting the most out of volunteering is to know what has to be factored into your decision to do it.
So how do you get started with volunteering, and what do you need to bear in mind when looking for your ideal volunteering work?
What Is Volunteering?
Volunteering is the act of giving your time, energy and skills to help in a cause or organization without expecting payment or any other form of compensation. It is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and at the same time feel the satisfaction of contributing to something that has meaning for you
Benefits Of Volunteering
Volunteering has a number of benefits. It:
- Gives you the opportunity to make a positive contribution to your community.
- Helps develop social skills.
- Helps build character and boost self-confidence.
- Helps you learn more about yourself.
- Provides the satisfaction of being part of a team.
- Is a great way to meet new people.
- Helps you learn new skills, gain valuable experience, and expand your horizons.
How to Get Started With Volunteering
Volunteering is something you should enjoy doing. Something you benefit from as well as something that benefits others. Often though the biggest hurdle to getting started is not knowing HOW to! With that in mind, we thought we’d put together some helpful tips about how to get started with volunteering.
Determine Your Area Of Interest
What are you interested in? There’s no point in volunteering to do something you’re not interested in or don’t care about. For a start, you’ll find it hard to stay motivated. That in turn may mean you don’t provide as much value to the organisation or group as you should.
This doesn’t have to be something you do currently. It could be something you’ve always wanted to do. One of those interests you’ve promised yourself you’ll do “when you get more time.” So think about things like:
- Your favorite causes
- Your main hobbies and interests
- The types of tasks you like doing. Organising things? Paperwork? Talking to the public? Crunching numbers? Delving into legal matters? Baking? Coaching and teaching?
- The things you’d like to change or improve. Reduce our environmental impact? Work with homeless youth? Foster an animal or care for injured wildlife? Help emergency services?
Determine Your Availability – How Much Time Do You (Genuinely) Have To Commit?
Realistically assess your available time. Be upfront about it, both with yourself and with the organisation. If you can only spare a few hours a week, don’t commit to a whole day, or days!
Research Volunteer Opportunities
This is probably where most people come unstuck in their efforts to start volunteering. They simply don’t know where to start looking for volunteer opportunities. There are however quite a few resources you can tap into.
- Check sites that list volunteer opportunities i.e. SEEK Volunteer, GoVolunteer
- Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities advertised on local community boards or in newspapers.
- Ask at work about employee volunteer programs. Many companies run charitable programs as a way of giving back to the communities in which they operate. Most also encourage their staff to get involved as volunteers.
- Ask your friends and co-workers if they know of any organisations that need volunteers.
- Join local interest groups on social media because they’ll often announce when they need volunteers.
Reach Out To Potential Organizations
Consider approaching your local non-profit sector (NFP) organisations. Many volunteering opportunities are actually within this sector but they may not be advertised because NFP organisations often rely on word of mouth. So research your local not for profit and charitable organisations and call around to see if they are in need of an extra pair of hands. Many are!
Contact your local TAFE, school, or university to see if they have any volunteer programs that you can participate in.
However, keep in mind that NFPs are typically run by volunteers just like you so you may not get a response immediately. But be patient, or be proactive and pick up the phone to follow up your initial contact.
The Volunteer Application Process
Treat and apply for advertised volunteer positions the same way you would a paid position. You’ll probably have to submit a detailed application, especially for roles that are advertised online. Describe why the volunteer position appeals to you and why you believe you’d be a good fit for the organization. Follow up if you don’t hear back.
Get any required paperwork in order – even volunteering can involve quite a bit of paperwork depending on what you’re doing (ID check, police clearance, references etc).
Preparing To Volunteer
Before throwing your hat in the ring with an organisation, check a few things such as:
- Is the organisation or group legitimate?
- Can it provide documentary information about its values and purposes?
- Does their purpose align with your own beliefs and values?
- Are they adequately insured for public liability and volunteer personal accidents?
- Is their occupational health and safety policy adequate?
- Are its funds being used in accordance with its purpose and mission? Some big charities for example spend a lot of their funds on administration, which may not sit comfortably with you.
- Have you read all the available information/help documentation provided?
- Do you know specifically what you’ll be doing within the organisation?
- Do they have a dress code?
What to Consider About Volunteering
Now that you know ‘how’ to go about volunteering, there are a few things to bear in mind before you actually go ahead and put your hand up.
What Are Your Goals?
What do you hope to gain from volunteering? Although this sounds superfluous – surely you’re doing it to help a good cause – people have many reasons for offering to volunteer. It may be to gain experience for future job and career opportunities. It may be to hone a particular skill or learn something new. Maybe it’s just to get out and meet new people. Or help a cause they’re passionate about.
Think About Your Motivation
Goals differ from motivation. Goals provide direction. Motivation provides the energy to go after those goals.
So, what’s your ‘why’ for doing this? What is motivating you to go after your volunteering goals? Do you feel compelled to make a positive contribution to a cause you’re interested in? Do you need to learn new skills? Want to develop your career? Or has your significant other, or a family member, or a good friend, roped you into helping out with their favourite cause?
Being open about your goals and your motivation for achieving them through volunteering will help you find the right opportunity with the right organisation.
Level Of Commitment
What’s your level of commitment? Be honest with yourself and don’t commit to more than you’re prepared to give. Many organisations rely heavily on their volunteers and have the right to expect a certain level of commitment from them.
What Skills Can You Offer?
Assess your skills, knowledge, and experience. If you’ve had a long career in a particular industry, it makes sense to consider donating some of those skills to a cause or charity (accounting, law, administration, sales, coaching, cooking etc).
Location Of Volunteer Opportunity
Where is your preferred volunteer opportunity located? How much travel will be involved in your volunteering activities? Some services, like volunteer emergency workers, are expected to be available to go anywhere there is a demand for their services during an emergency. Are you prepared for that? Does your family and home situation allow you to do it?
Potential Costs Associated With Volunteering
Some potential costs of volunteering include:
- Travel
- Uniforms
- Personal equipment
Your Rights As A Volunteer
Volunteers also have certain rights by law. These include:
- A healthy and safe work environment
- Compliance with anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation
- Adequate insurance coverage
- Provision of accurate and up-to-date information about the organization
- A job description and established working hours
- Access to the organisation’s volunteer and other policies that pertain to you and your position there
- Not to be expected to take the place of paid employees during any industrial dispute
- Not being ‘hired’ to fill a position previously held by a paid employee
- Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while working for the organization
- Access to a complaints process
- Provision of all necessary training, orientation and on-boarding processes
- Compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 with respect to any of your personal and confidential information held by the organisation
The Organisation’s Rights With Respect To Its Volunteers
Conversely, organisations also have certain rights when it comes to their volunteers:
- Adherence to the organisation’s policies and procedures
- Undertake all necessary training, orientation, and on-boarding processes
- Respect for privacy and confidentiality
- Reliability, punctuality, and accountability
- Be a supportive team player
- Perform the duties provided in the job description
- Sufficient notice of any changes to availability, or if leaving
- Reporting of injuries, accidents or hazards in the workplace
- Adherence to official complaint procedures
- Request support and assistance as required
Some Final Thoughts
Participating in volunteer work can be a great way to find meaningful activities and spend your time doing something constructive. It allows you to help others and contribute to society and provide an opportunity to meet people, share your knowledge and experiences with younger generations, learn new skills, and stay active. However, knowing how to get started, and what to consider is key to getting the most out of the experience.
