November 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Willing to Work Inquiry ..... 2

Welfare Reform ............... 2

Engaging Millennials ......... 3

Intergenerational

volunteers ......................... 3

Important Dates ................ 3

Migrants and refugees ..... 4

Students and industry

need each other …………….4

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

• Welfare reform bill could

affect volunteer numbers.

• Millennials will be 50% of

the global workforce by

2020.

• Engage volunteers from

different generations.

• Migrants and refugees as

volunteers helps them to

learn about their new

community.

Elahe wanted to develop her technical skills and gain some local work

experience. She started volunteering as a project officer/junior business analyst

seven months ago. Elahe then mover into using her skills at the IT desk for a

community organisation. Elahe started her volunteer work two days a week,

but soon increased this. She says her role has been challenging and she has

learned something new every day. Volunteering has also helped her to improve

her English. Elahe has found increased fulfilment and happiness, saying that

“doing volunteering that you find interesting can be a relaxing, energising

escape from day-to-day routine of life. It is such a great feeling when you do

something for the community.”

When asked if she would change anything about volunteering, Elahe

emphasised she would like to see “more opportunity for professional people, so

that the community can benefit from their skills.”

“I dedicate my time as much as I can and do my best to produce a quality

outcome.” Elahe’s dedication had definitely paid off; she has been offered a

paid position due to her hard work, skills and abilities which she says she was

able to perfect through volunteering.

Flexible Living Volunteering Service

Level 1, 3912 Pacific Hwy

Loganholme QLD 4129

Telephone: 0429 935 259

“Volunteer work

helps me to expand

my network and

boost my social

skills”

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Email: volunteer@flexiliving.org.au Telephone: 0429 935 052 Website: www.flexilivingvolunteer.org.au

Proudly supporting Aged and Disability organisations in the

Logan and Beaudesert regions.

“Labour force participation rates for older people and people with a disability remain far to low”

WELFARE REFORM PROPOSAL OVERLOOKS VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

DID YOU KNOW Volunteering can be an effective way to engage in society, acting as a pathway to employment, encouraging economic participation, building key work skills, and keeping people healthy and active.

WILLING TO WORK NATIONAL INQUIRY REPORT

CURRENT NEWS

2

The right to work is a fundamental human right, but one that far too many older people and

people with a disability in Australia do not enjoy. The inquired found that too many people

are shut out of work because of underlying assumptions, stereotypes or myths associated

with their age or disability. People who are willing to work but are denied the opportunity

are also denied the personal and social benefits—of dignity, independence, a sense of

purpose and the social connectedness—that work brings.

The Aged and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, the Hon Susan Ryan AO, reports that “from a broader

economic perspective, employment discrimination is also a huge waster of human capital.” The Willing to Work

Inquiry followed on from Australia’s first national prevalence survey of age discrimination in the workplace which

was conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2015. That survey revealed more than a quarter of

Australians aged 50 years and over had experienced age discrimination in the workplace during the past two

years. One third were aware of other people in the same age range experiencing discrimination because of their

age. Of great concern, a third of those who had experienced age discrimination gave up looking for work. It is

unthinkable that people who lose their jobs in their 50s may live up to another forty years without paid

employment. To read the full report, go to the Australian Human Rights Commission website

Volunteering Australia appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Community

Affairs Inquiry into the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017

in Melbourne, where we voiced strong opposition to the proposed change to Annual

Activity Requirements for people on income support aged 55 to 59. The proposed

amendment seeks to force people aged 55 to 59 on income support to cease half of their

activity requirement currently met through volunteering, in favour of job search or

another job-related activity, like Work for the Dole.

Volunteering Australia is concerned that the proposed tightening of the activity requirements in Schedule 9 of the

Bill could move people away from volunteering positions, which will have a profound impact on the volunteering

sector.

Volunteering Australia CEO Adrienne Picone said, “The tightening of the activity requirements will do little to

improve the job prospects of older Australians, who are an already disadvantaged and discriminated group in the

labour market. The barriers to employment are multiplied if you are an older jobseeker with a disability, from a CALD

background, are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or have a mental illness.”

Read more on Volunteering Australia’s submission addressing the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare

Reform) Bill 2017.

ENGAGING MILLENIALS

INTERGENERATIONAL VOLUNTEERING

IMPORTANT DATES

International Volunteer

Manager’s Day

5 November

International Volunteer’s Day

5 December

TRENDS IN VOLUNTEERING

3

By 2020 Millennials will account for over 50% of the global workforce, forcing

organisations to shape up if they hope to attract the best and brightest of this

generation. They no longer see themselves staying with one employer or even in

one profession. Millennials' approach to work translates directly to their desired

experiences when undertaking volunteer work, presenting a challenge for volunteer

organisations who will have to alter their practice in order to attract Millennial

volunteers.

Volunteering presents an opportunity for those Millennials looking to develop their

professional skills. This becomes increasingly relevant in the case of students who

look to volunteering as a means to develop both soft and hard professional skills.

Traditionally volunteer roles have been resigned to auxiliary tasks with work

deemed more important, interesting and valuable reserved for paid employees.

Managers remain sceptical about the ability of volunteers to undertake more

complex work or projects, instead choosing to forgo them if there is not capacity

among paid staff. However this represents a missed opportunity. Millennial

volunteers represent a unique resource as their technological aptitude makes them

highly adept at sourcing and understanding information. This makes them well

positioned to undertake complex projects or tasks.

To read the full report, go to Volunteering Queensland to see how to engage

Millennial Volunteers.

Intergenerational volunteering doesn't just happen. It requires an

understanding of the unique differences between each generation. Each

generation has markedly different needs, motivations and expectations

about volunteering, so an understanding of these differences can help

you to engage volunteers from different generations .

Intergenerational volunteering requires a commitment from everyone in the organisation to enable older and

younger individuals to volunteer effectively. Settings, structures and systems within the organisation may need to be

redeveloped in order to cater for diversity and allow volunteering to flourish. The operative word in an ‘age’ friendly

social, physical and community organisation is “enablement”.

So, ask yourself, does your organisation enable volunteers of differencing life stages to be actively involved in

volunteering opportunities and projects? If yes, find more information on intergenerational volunteers by reading

Volunteering Queensland’s factsheets.

VOLUNTEERING CAN HELP MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

TRENDS [cont’d]

Email: volunteer@flexiliving.org.au Telephone: 0429 935 052 Website: www.flexilivingvolunteer.org.au

STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY NEED EACH OTHER

For migrants and refugees who have recently arrived in Australia volunteering can help them to learn about their

new community life and to make connections as they settle into the country. It is ideal for helping them make

new friendships, share their skills and help people in need, it also provides opportunities to:

gain experience within the community;

develop their knowledge and social connections;

understand our work environment;

develop English language skills;

source support networks; and

build contacts for employment opportunities.

Some people who have recently arrived in Australia could have specialist qualifications however, this may not

help them to find a volunteer role in their field of expertise. For example, to date there have been limited

volunteering opportunities available in the fields of information technology, engineering and accounting. Others

have reported that even though they have a high level of English reading and writing, their conversational English

makes it difficult to perform some roles as does an understanding of the Australian culture.

Volunteering can help migrants and refugees—new or established in the community—to make connections as

they settle into their new home. For further information, visit Volunteer Queensland’s website.

Students who are studying in the community services sector quite often have to do a vocational placement as part

of their course requirements. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, vocational placements providing students

with the opportunity to apply theory and skills they learned while studying in a professional workplace. A

vocational work placement is any structured, assessable workplace learning that prepares students by:

Helping students link knowledge and skills with jobs;

Helps students to better understand theory they have learnt by putting it into practice;

Give the students hands-on experience in the workplace; and

Be an assessable part of the student’s course.

Instead of just observing what goes on, students are given the opportunity to undertake practical tasks to

demonstrate skills related to their program under the supervision of a workplace supervisor. Students can gain the

skills they need to transition successfully from study to work, wile giving industry the opportunity to enrich

student learning experiences and increase the number of work-ready graduates. For further information read our

brochure on Workplace Learning.