Funding Announced for 2024-25 Volunteer Projects

Organisation

Project

Albany & Regional Volunteer Service

Albany & Regional Volunteer Service proposes to further establish its 2023-24"Out of the Box Volunteering project, to focus on volunteer involving organisations engaging with people with a disability. The resources developed will be transferable to use with these people in the community and volunteering organisations will be encouraged, inspired and taught how to include people with disabilities into their organisation, processes and positions. Training and mentoring with volunteer organisations will build capacity to engage people with disabilities or mental health issues as volunteers, breaking down barriers that can also be faced by young people, women and unemployed people.

Broome CIRCLE

Circle of Inclusion – Stage 2.

This project will build on Stage 1 of the Circle of Inclusion project(to be completed by December 2024), which aims to break down barriers for people with disabilities.

A key component of this project is around accessible website access, which is a key element of digital inclusion - it ensures that everyone, irrespective of their ability, can access vital information on the internet. Unfortunately, many websites are still not accessible and most volunteering organisationss and Volunteer Resource Centres would benefit from access and support in relation to key 'Accessible Rich Internet Application's attributes and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(WCAG). WCAG website compliance is widely regarded as the industry standard for website accessibility solutions. By implementing these best practice design principles in a cost-effective manner, Volunteer Resource Centres and organisations can broaden their reach, increase the usability and inclusiveness of their websites, and show that they value equality and inclusion.

Centacare Family Services (Geraldton)

This project focuses on the youth (12-18 years) priority group with:

• Previous funding to transition and incorporate youth volunteering, as part of regular Volunteer Resource Centres volunteer services.
• Focusing on digitalising documentation and updating our websites with resources to attract all young people.
• Encouragement for stakeholders within the community to create digital roles.
• Conducting Step into Volunteering sessions that are tailored for both adults and youth.
• Encouraging schools to promote volunteerism in the school.
• Attending school expos and community events to target from ages 12 years old.

Shire of Esperance (Esperance Volunteer Resource Centre)

This project will be supporting local volunteer involving organisation through two methods:

A) Creation of video resources that:

• showcase volunteering in the region (the diversity of roles as well as the diversity of volunteers who fill them);
• act as self-paced help guides for issues and potential solutions for organisations in regional WA that reflects alignment with the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement; and
• explain aspects of the National Volunteering Strategy in bite-size sections, that volunteer managers are able to watch in their own time.

B) Access to technical and event equipment by loaning technical and event equipment to volunteer-involving organisations that enables them to promote their organisation and activities of volunteers.

Peel Volunteer Resource Centre

'Socialability' is focused on concepts such as community participation and inclusion, relationships/friendships, valued roles and lifelong learning. The purpose of Socialability is to offer all participants the opportunity to undertake volunteer roles and learn skills that would be transferrable to the workplace or other volunteer positions. As part of Socialability, people who wish to volunteer will be provided with an opportunity to build their skills, knowledge and confidence through volunteering.

The participating organisations will be provided the opportunity to build volunteer capacity and improve/develop inclusive practices through existing resources. A key principle of this project is to assist in dispelling myths and misconceptions around people from the identified priority groups.

Volunteer South West

Volunteer South West will support organisations in the region to break down barriers to recruiting volunteers from the identified priority groups.

This support will be offered to those outside of the Greater Bunbury area and within local government areas that have shown an interest in thinking and acting 'out of the box' when it comes to volunteer engagement.

Volunteer South West will undertake information sessions in broader regional areas to target volunteers who may otherwise miss out on meaningful volunteer opportunities.