Volunteering Queensland is delivering the Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) on behalf of the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services (DSS). The objective of the VMA is to increase opportunities for people to participate in the social and economic life of their community through volunteering.
The focus of the VMA is:
- The delivery of online services in volunteer management to build the capacity of volunteer-involving organisations and volunteer managers
- The breaking down of barriers to volunteering faced by identified cohorts:
- First Nations Peoples
- Newly Arrived Migrants
- People with Disability
- Vulnerable Women
- Young People aged 12-18; and
- Unemployed people
- An increase in service coverage across regional, rural, and remote areas
Overview
To deliver program outcomes, Volunteering Queensland is partnering with organisations on projects that will provide advice, support and resources to enable volunteering among members of identified groups. The projects and partnerships aim to build the capacity of volunteer managers and volunteer-involving organisations to better engage these volunteers in a meaningful and respectful manner.
Project proposals are being sought from the sector annually. Volunteering Queensland will review the efficacy and outcomes of Projects and Partnerships before calling for the next round of proposals, and any necessary adjustments to the program will be made.
If you are interested in partnering with Volunteering Queensland to break down the barriers to volunteering for the identified groups, please contact vma@volunteeringqld.org.au
The volunteering peak bodies
This report highlights the impacts, partnerships and successes of the Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) program around Australia
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Projects 2022-2023
Volunteering North Queensland Inc. | Townsville
Develop the capacity of volunteer involving organisations in the Townsville region to attract, recruit, retain and manage volunteers from identified priority groups (First Nations, People with Disability and Newly Arrived Migrants).
Completed 30 Sep 2023- See summary report here
3rd Space | Fortitude Valley
Strengthen cultural safety and build capacity within the organisation to become an attractive organisation to recruit and retain First Nations volunteers. Completion expected December 2023.
Completed 31 Dec 2023- See summary report here
Not for Profit House | Gladstone
Reduce barriers that mitigate the opportunity for community members from specific priority groups to volunteer in their community (First Nations, People with Disability, Newly Arrived Migrants).
Completed 31 Dec 2023- See summary report here
Port Douglas Community Services Network Inc. | Douglas Shire
Develop the capacity of volunteer involving organisations in Douglas Shire to attract, recruit, retain and manage volunteers from the identified priority groups (First Nations, People with Disability, Newly Arrived Migrants, and Young People aged 12-18).
Completed 31 Dec 2023- See summary report here
Inala Elders Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corp. | Inala
A pilot project to deliver wide-ranging and open-ended projects to explore possibilities and existing community strengths involving giving of time, skills and consideration of First Nations volunteering models.
Completed 31 Dec 2023- See summary report here
See the video “We just call it helping” Volunteering on the view of First Nations People
Projects 2023-2024
National Student Volunteer Week 2023
The pilot student advocate program was initiated to amplify the reach of Volunteering Queensland in promoting and educating students around the country. 61 applications were received, and 39 student advocates were appointed representing 11 universities, 14 High Schools and 1 college.
Completed August 2023- See summary report here
On 19 October 2023, Volunteering Queensland hosted a Showcase and Networking event with
the aim to promote and share the experiences of the projects funded with the VMA program
Completed 19 Oct 2023 – See summary report here
Creative Broadcasters Limited-4ZZZ
Increase the representation of people with disabilities on the radio, making it easier for them to volunteer at the station and offering specialised broadcast training and support to them to achieve their goals.
Completed 30 Jun 2024 – See summary report here
Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre | Fraser Coast
Develop and deliver a series of resources to address inclusive recruitment and socialisation for the Fraser Coast communities and volunteer organisations, especially in priority areas such as CALD.
Completed 30 Jun 2024 – See summary report here
See Cultural Diversity Training here
See Volunteer Stories here
Projects 2024-2025
Non for Profit House | Gladstone
This project aims to eliminate barriers to volunteering by addressing both ends of the process. On one side, it involves working closely with individuals on a case-by-case basis to identify their interests and match them with organizations ready to welcome them as volunteers. On the other side, it involves collaborating with volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs) to prepare them to embrace volunteers by addressing the barriers identified in the first stage of the project.
Completed 30th June 2024- See summary report here
Port Douglas Community Services Network Inc. | Douglas Shire
The project will continue to build the capacity of volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) to attract, recruit, retain and manage volunteers from the identified priority groups, focusing on vulnerable women (the priority cohort).
Completion expected Dec 2024- Grant $81.499.00
Inala Elders Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corp. | Inala
This stage of the project will implementing a community-wide volunteer drive. This involves understanding and addressing barriers to volunteering, conducting training and capacity building opportunities for community members and organisations and the development of resources to support partner volunteer involving organisations growing their volunteer engagement capacity.
Completion expected May 2025- Grant $150,818.00
National Student Volunteer Week 2024
The student advocate program was initiated to amplify the reach of Volunteering Queensland in promoting and educating students around the country. 51 applications were received, and 38 student advocates were appointed representing 18 universities, 9 High Schools and 1 college.
Completed August 2024 – See the summary report here.
Partnerships
Volunteering Queensland also partners with a number of organisations in the design and delivery of best-practice volunteer management tools, training, resources and support. Partnerships include:
Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN)
This project aims to eliminate barriers to volunteering by addressing both ends of the process. On one side, it involves working closely with individuals on a case-by-case basis to identify their interests and match them with organizations ready to welcome them as volunteers. On the other side, it involves collaborating with volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs) to prepare them to embrace volunteers by addressing the barriers identified in the first stage of the project.
Completed May 2022- See summary report here
Multicultural Australia
Delivery of a roundtable with people with lived experience, service providers and peak bodies to understand barriers to and opportunities for volunteering for newly arrived migrants.
Completed Jul 2022- See summary report here
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Delivery of a roundtable with people with lived experience, service providers and peak bodies to understand barriers to and opportunities for volunteering for First Nations People.
Completed Mar 2023- See summary report here
Cox & Collaborators
Design and delivery of an online tool to provide starting-level information about questions regarding roles on small volunteer, not-for-profit organisations boards and committees.
Completed Feb 2023- Cost: $ 96,800.00
Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN)
Design and delivery of a resource guide for volunteer involving organisations to recruit and retain people with disabilities as volunteers in their organisation. Find the resource here.
Completed Oct 2023- Cost: $32,910.00
Empower Autism
Design and delivery on a resource guide for volunteer involving organisations to recruit and retain people with autism as volunteers in their organisation. Find the resources here.
Completed Oct 2023- Cost: $81,223.42
SBS
Provide online training for VIOs* that want to learn how to build inclusion into their volunteering programs and organisation with SBS Inclusion online training. Find the resource here
Ongoing Partnership
Cost Year 1 $3,328 – Cost Year 2 $2800 (Until Oct 2024)
*We are funded to provide free access to these modules for people who are working/volunteering in not-for-profit organisations in Queensland that engage volunteers in their work.
Your Mob
For VIOs* that want to better understand Indigenous culture and engage more appropriately with Indigenous Australians, allowing a level of cultural safety and awareness in their workplaces and volunteering environments. Find the resource here
Ongoing partnership- Cost $999 annually (Until Nov 2024)
*We are funded to provide free access to these modules for people who are working/volunteering in not-for-profit organisations in Queensland that engage volunteers in their work *
Knowledge base
Find the answers to your volunteer management questions on our new, centralised knowledge platform. Browse topical articles, e-learning guides, videos, templates, resources and discussion forums.
This program is funded by the Department of Social Services through the Volunteering Management Activity.
