Volunteering Illawarra is a Council operated community service offering volunteers:

• information on volunteering
• volunteer vacancies in the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama local government areas
• ongoing volunteer support, advice and referral 
• access to subsidised training 
• support and training for community-based management committees
• corporate volunteering opportunities.

Volunteering Illawarra offers non-profit community organisations:

• free volunteer recruitment and referral
• discounted fees for training provided through the Community Development and Training Program for member organisations.

Volunteering Illawarra has it's own website full of information for you. The website can be found at www.volunteeringillawarra.org.au

State of Volunteering in the Illawarra Project

Volunteering Illawarra is managing a project titled ‘State of Volunteering in the Illawarra’. The project aims to investigate the similarities and differences of volunteer needs between the not-for-profit sectors in relation to the changing landscape of volunteering and volunteer management.

Project Objectives

1.       To identify the different sectors volunteer needs.

2.       To identify organisational readiness for the generational change.

3.       To identify the volunteer management challenges.

Research Deliverables

• The report will provide outcomes against stated objectives and recommendations in relation to volunteer management.
• Your input will assist Volunteering Illawarra in reassessing its services and better support the volunteer sector with their volunteer needs.
• Your input will assist NFP organisations to be ready for the generational change occurring.

 Research Method

• Survey completed by Volunteer Managers and Volunteer Coordinators.
• Focus Groups with Volunteer Managers and Volunteer Coordinators by sector seeking more in-depth enquiry on issues identified in the survey.

Schedule

• The survey is open from 19 September 2011 to 4 October 2011.
• The Focus Groups are expected from 24 October to 4 November 2011 (TBC).
• The Final Report is anticipated to be complete in December 2011 .

Your time commitment

We are asking you to complete the survey and also be part of a focus group.

1. Survey –takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes
2. The focus groups take about 1 ½  to 2 hours. Focus Groups will be between 5 to 7   persons per group. Please express your interest by contacting Claudia on the details below. 

Contact

Claudia Perry-Beltrame (part-time)
Research and Project Manager
Email: cperrybeltrame@wollongong.nsw.gov.au 

You can also contact Volunteering Illawarra on (02) 4227 7163 and leave a message.