Home| Idx | Terms Ref | Exc Sum | Recommendations | Chp 1 | Chp 2 | Chp 3 | Chp 4 | Chp 5 | Apx | Disclaimer | Copyright VOLUNTEERING AND UNPAID WORK PLACEMENTS AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN NSW COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE CHP 1c - BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING AND LEGITIMATE UNPAID WORK Cc BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING AND LEGITIMATE UNPAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS THIS PAGE 1.12 The Committee heard a range of evidence to the inquiry in relation to the benefits of volunteering and unpaid work to both young people and to the organisations that engage them. 1.13 Volunteering and unpaid work provides young people with the opportunity to gain experience in the workforce and develop new skills and knowledge, which in turn contributes to job and career prospects. NSW Education and Communities and Guide Dogs Australia submitted that volunteering can lead to significant personal benefits, such as a sense of achievement, better physical and mental health and wellbeing, and longer life.1 1.14 The Committee also heard that volunteering and unpaid work provides young people with opportunities to connect to, and better understand the communities in which they live and to develop supportive networks within those communities. The Multicultural Youth Affairs Network and Youth Action submitted that volunteering can promote social inclusion by, for example, providing young people from culturally diverse backgrounds with the chance to mix with young people from outside their own cultural groups, and by helping them to develop a sense of belonging and commitment to the wider community. In addition, the Committee heard that volunteering can also promote positive perceptions of young people in the community.2 1.15 Interns Australia submitted that in the right circumstances, unpaid internships can be a worthwhile tool for furthering the education of young people, providing them with experience in their chosen industry, and building the capacity of the workforce.3 1.16 The Australian Internship Industry Association submitted that unpaid work provides young people with exposure to the workplace, and allows them to experience common workplace activities such as meetings.4 Ms Sally Barker submitted that her internship in the media industry provided her with the opportunity to have a ‘commitment free trial’ of a job, priceless knowledge, experience and exposure, and the opportunity to be published.5 1 Submission 13, NSW Education and Communities, pp. 2-4 and Submission 3, Guide Dogs Australia, p. 2. 2 Mr A Cummings, Project Manager, Multicultural Youth Affairs Network, Transcript of evidence, 20 June 2014, p. 33; and Submission 11, Youth Action, p. 1. 3 Submission 12, Internships Australia, p. 4. 4 Submission 20, Australian Internship Industry Association, p. 3. 5 Submission 17 (should be 19), Ms S Barker, p. 1. This is an example of how all Committee Information like Agendas, Minutes and Reports can be "On-line" with the RUBAC TM Electronic Committee Information Management [ECIM] Process and provide Committee Metrics including Participation and Contribution eCredits Home | Idx | Terms Ref | Exc Sum | Recommendations | Chp 1 | Chp 2 | Chp 3 | Chp 4 | Chp 5 | Apx | Disclaimer | Copyright