Page 2156 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2018
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18 February 2018 and was conducted in partnership with Volunteering and Contact ACT.
Consultation was facilitated through a paper which included eight proposed actions for discussion. An online survey received 174 responses. The eight actions in the consultation paper received 78 per cent approval from the respondents, and the two most popular actions identified in both the survey and quick poll were: to provide volunteer-involving organisations with access to resources to facilitate effective, safe and sustainable volunteer involvement; and to encourage collaboration to link people with meaningful volunteering opportunities. These actions have been captured in the action plan.
The Community Services Directorate is the lead agency for implementation of the action plan and will work with other ACT government directorates and other stakeholders to implement its actions. The actions provide opportunities for improved coordination and collaboration, including an ACT government volunteering webpage. The webpage will provide a central location that includes links to volunteering news and opportunities across directorates; some free resources, such as position descriptions and a volunteer agreement; and a link to Volunteering and Contact for more resources and support.
The outcomes in the action plan have corresponding milestones to help measure the effectiveness of the actions. As the action plan is implemented, baseline data will be gathered to assist in developing future outcome indicators. All directorates will be required to report annually on their progress in implementing actions, and their input will contribute to an annual ministerial statement.
The overall rate of volunteering in the ACT is about 37 per cent, which is high compared to most jurisdictions. People volunteer for a range of organisations, including education, sport and recreation, welfare and community, religious and emergency services organisations.
A number of vital services and programs across the ACT government rely on the tireless and skilled contribution of volunteers. ACT Health has over 440 volunteers who contribute to the delivery of a range of client services and support the patient journey through the healthcare system, including within the emergency department, intensive care unit, cancer services, paediatrics, speech pathology, and auxiliary services. Volunteers also provide wayfinding assistance across the hospital campus, participate in the prevent alcohol and risk-related trauma in youth program, and provide justice of the peace services.
Volunteers play an integral part in the delivery of environmental programs coordinated by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, including Waterwatch and the parks and conservation service ParkCare program. ParkCare facilitates community volunteer engagement in land management, wildlife programs and visitor services. ParkCare volunteers carry out a broad range of activities across our parks and reserves and contribute an average of 22,000 hours of volunteering each year.
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