Volunteers
Introduction
Volunteering in Local Government
Volunteers connect closely with local communities to help build vibrant places to live, work and play. Many council programs and services would not be provided without the support of volunteers.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life - business people, community leaders, students, parents and retirees. Whether you want to help others, gain valuable experience, share your own skills or make new friends we may have just the right thing for you.
There is a huge variety of volunteering roles which can be flexible according to your availability, skills and interests. Help for a day at a special event, be part of a project for a few weeks or contribute to a longer term service.
Councils support volunteering to:
- develop and strengthen the links between councils and their communities
- provide personal development opportunities for individuals
- tap into the skills, experience, talents, energies, ideas and knowledge of people in our communities
- enable councils to extend and expand services.
A volunteer is a person who:
- benefits the community, council and themselves by participating in volunteer programs
- provides their services of their own free will
- does not receive any monetary reward (out of pocket expenses are not regarded as monetary reward)
- complements, but does not replace or threaten the livelihood of paid workers.
What's in it for you?
- share your own knowledge and skills with others
- meet new people and expand your networks
- be involved in activities and programs that make a real difference to your local communities
- gain new skills and experience in an area of interest that can create a pathway to employment.
A copy of the report titled Volunteering in Local Government a way for the Future - A Strategic Management Framework for Volunteer Engagement in LG can be found by clicking here.
Hear about the stories of volunteers in councils around the state by following the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDygvliAUFE
To find out more, contact your local council SA Councils - General Contact Details 
(36 kb)
Volunteering Strategy for South Australia 2014
The Volunteering Strategy for South Australia articulates a vision for volunteering that is distinctly South Australian and one that reflects our unique social and economic way of life.
The Volunteering Strategy for South Australia was launched February 2014; it was developed through a partnership between Volunteering SA&NT, the State Government, the Local Government Association and Business SA and as such is a collaborative blue-print for action that sets in place the vision for volunteering in South Australia until 2020.
The Strategy aims to improve the experience of volunteers, enhance outcomes for volunteer involving organisations, and help meet the target set in South Australia’s Strategic Plan to maintain a volunteer participation rate of 70% or better.
More information and a copy of the Volunteering Strategy for South Australia can be accessed by clicking here.
Local Government Volunteer Managers Network
Introduction
The Local Government Volunteer Managers Network (LGVMN) was established in 2004 to support Local Government staff involved in the leadership, management and coordination of volunteers.
The Network includes over 40 volunteer leaders and managers from the majority of Local Government volunteer programs across South Australia.
Network Objectives
- Raise the professional profile of Volunteer Leaders and Managers in Local Government.
- Facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience in volunteer management through peer support, professional development and networking opportunities.
- Develop partnering opportunities across Councils for the advancement of best practice in volunteer management.
- Identify and respond to new and emerging volunteering trends in our communities.
- Promote standardisation of core volunteer management policies, procedures and practices across Councils.
- Promote, advocate and lobby for volunteerism and the development of the profession of Volunteer Management.
For the Terms of Reference for the Network click here, and for the Work Group Summary click here.
For further information please contact the Network Chair, Mr Mike Feszczak on 8384 0574 or email micfes@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au.
Local Government Volunteer Passport System
The aim of the Local Government Volunteer Passport System Project was to develop a passport system that would reduce the barriers to volunteer movement across Local Government in South Australia with particular reference to volunteer emergency recovery support.
The three main issues identified during the project were:
- the lack of clarity about the role of local government volunteers in emergency recovery;
- the diversity in volunteer registration and induction practices across Councils in South Australia; and
- the need for a sustainable system to manage a passport system.
The full report of the project can be accessed by clicking here.
Councils were given the opportunity of participating in an enterprise hosting agreement that gave them access to the Volunteer Squared Software package. The four year licensing opportunity expired in August 2013. Twenty-five Councils have taken up this offer and have formed a user group for the system.
Councils wishing to use the system after this date will need to make their own commercial arrangements with the supplier at: http://www.betterimpact.com.au/. Details of the system are available on this website.
Use of a common volunteer management system across many Councils has encouraged networking and sharing of information. This has enabled an informal passport system to evolve through inter-Council cooperation.
Technical details for the software package are available at these links: technical backgrounder and security overview.
Local Government Volunteer Online Orientation Project
The Local Government Volunteer Online Orientation Project is completed. Funding was granted through the Local Government Research and Development Scheme to assess and adapt the on-line system developed by the City of Charles Sturt and to make it available for release to other Councils in South Australia. LGA Circular 36.11 and LGA Circular 41.7 provide further background information on this project.
Click here
(324 kb) to view a report on the Project.
Further research documents on the value of on-line learning are available from the e3learning website.
Resources
Volunteer Workforce Health and Safety Training Framework
Volunteer Workforce Health and Safety Framework 2014(2077 kb)
Volunteer Management Toolkit
A comprehensive toolkit to support the development and maintenance of effective Local Government volunteering programs. The toolkit provides information on good practice principles and practices for the effective functioning of volunteers alongside paid staff, and is a handy reference for relevant legislative and other requirements, and offer models / templates for local application.
LGA MLS Volunteer Manual "Covering All Bases"
To access a copy of you will need to go to the LGA Secure Website, a link for which can be found on the bottom right hand corner of the LGA Home page. When you click on the link you will be asked for a user name and password. If you don't know the user name and password they are usually administered by the Council CEO's PA.
Go to: Mutual Liability Scheme => Manuals and Checklists => LGA MLS Resources for Volunteer Management
