Volunteering WA’s Volunteer Management Topic Series provides volunteer managers with a source of advice and resources to assist best practice and volunteer management excellence.
This month we look at how your organisation can become more inclusive and support volunteers with disability by adjusting your recruitment and environment to provide people with disability the opportunity to volunteer with you.
New small grants program for volunteer organisations announced
The Australian Government Department Social Services announced funding for volunteer involving organisations through its ‘Strong and Resilient Communities Activity (SARC) - Community Support - Small Grants for Volunteer Involving Organisations’ program.
Small volunteer involving organisations will be able to apply for grants ($10,000 - $20,000) for one-off, time limited projects that build volunteer management capability, and help the organisation to support the social and economic participation of vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
Expressions of interest open on 18 September 2024.
To learn more about eligibility, applications and more, click on the button below.
Fostering inclusion for volunteers with disability
Creating the right environment that is inclusive and supportive of volunteers with disability is very important. There are resources you can access to help your team understand disability, become more inclusive and grow their disability awareness.
No one person is the same and no one disability is the same, which is really important to recognise.
Recruiting volunteers with disability
The National Standards for Volunteer Involvementinclude Standard 4 – Recruitment is equitable and diversity is valued, which assists organisations to build diversity, inclusivity and accessibility principles into their recruitment activities.
Everyone has something to give and anyone can be a volunteer. Recruiting volunteers with disability may only require a few adjustments for your organisation, it’s all about asking the person what they need and not making assumptions.
Volunteering can play an important role in the lives of people with disability offering them opportunities for social, economic and cultural inclusion. It can also offer them self-empowerment and pathways to paid employment.
By accessing the right resources you need to get started you can begin to engage volunteers with disability and unlock the potential of this diverse, motivated and resourceful group of people.
Volunteer mentors
You can consider training volunteer mentors to provide support to new volunteers as they settle into their new role and there is an online course available to provide them with the knowledge they need.
Key things to remember
Everyone communicates differently. All disabilities are different so it’s important to understand which method of communication works best for each volunteer or volunteer manager. Communicate directly, and if relevant ask if they would like their support worker involved.
Don’t make assumptions. Ask the person what they need, nobody understands their disability better than they do.
Set yourself up for success. Make sure the volunteer manager or coordinator working with volunteers has the skills to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
It’s a journey. Just like any volunteer, engaging volunteers with disability takes time and investment. Don’t measure quantity of volunteers as success, but instead focus on ensuring each person has a positive experience that benefits them and your organisation.
There is a wealth of knowledge, support and resources available to you through Volunteering WA. Each month we bring you a short bio on a different staff member so you can get to know the whole team.
Jan Lucas
Engagement Manager – Volunteer Management
Meet Jan
As Engagement Manager, Jan supports volunteer involving organisations in the development and delivery of projects aimed at building the capacity of volunteer managers to engage volunteers more effectively. With an extensive background in volunteer management and project coordination, Jan brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for connections to the Volunteering WA team.
We are here to help!
Volunteering WA is here to support you! Send your enquiries to VIOHelp@volunteeringwa.org.au and one of our friendly team members will get back to you.
This newsletter is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, no guarantee is given nor responsibility taken by Volunteering WA for errors or omissions.
You are receiving this, because your organisation, is registered as an Affiliate or Regional Affiliate Member of Volunteering WA and/or associated with the Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) program, and you are identified as the main contact for volunteering matters
Volunteering WA empowers people and communities to enrich Western Australia.
Volunteering WA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and to other Aboriginal people and communities across Western Australia where we work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Volunteering WA, Level 1, 3 Loftus Street, West Leederville, WA 6007, Australia, +61 8 9482 4333
