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 Cj CPT 3-MEASURES TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE IN VOLUNTEERING - THIS PAGE C3 Chapter Three - Promoting and Supporting Volunteering for Young People C3 Chapter Three - Promoting and Supporting Volunteering for Young People h Introduction i Measures to promote volunteering to young people 1 Increasing awareness of Volunteering Opportunities 2 Formal Recognition of Students' Volunteering 3 Academic Rewards 4 Committee Comment - Recommendation 2 5 Committee Comment - Recommendation 3 j Measures to support young people in volunteering - THIS PAGE 1 Committee Comment - Recommendation 4 2 Recommendation 5 MEASURES TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE IN VOLUNTEERING 3.17 The Committee heard evidence on measures that are already in place, as well as suggestions for additional measures to support young peoples’ participation in volunteering activities. 3.18 In relation to existing measures to support young peoples’ volunteering, the Centre for Volunteering (the Centre) submitted that it provides a Volunteer Referral Service that links school students to volunteering opportunities. In order to ensure a good match, the Centre conducts interviews with students to discuss their motivations, skills and interests, and then identifies the volunteering opportunities that will best suit them 33 3.19 The Centre stated that it also provides an ‘Introduction to Volunteering’ seminar series to students to promote awareness among young people about volunteering opportunities 34 The Centre said that students’ feedback indicated that the seminars were informative, engaging and interesting, and that they gave them an understanding of the positive impact that volunteering can have 35 3.20 The NSW SES suggested that financial support to young volunteers is an important means of ensuring that all young people who wish to volunteer are able to do so. The organisation submitted that the requirements of a volunteering placement should not come at a cost to the volunteer, for example, if a volunteer is required to wear a uniform or use particular equipment, and that the expectation for volunteers to contribute monetarily can be a barrier to participation 36 3.21 The Committee also heard evidence about measures that could be implemented to support young people living in rural or remote areas and young people from migrant or refugee backgrounds in volunteering. 3.22 The Council submitted that, where possible, local volunteering opportunities should be developed, for example, in local schools or community organisations such as public libraries, so that young people are not required to travel outside their local communities to volunteer 37 3.23 The Council advised that the cost of transport to and from volunteering placements can also be prohibitive to young peoples’ volunteering, particularly for young people from rural and regional areas 38 This was corroborated by the Commission and NSW Volunteering, who submitted that young people living in rural or remote areas face more acute barriers to volunteering, including higher travel costs and lack of public transport 39 3.24 The Multicultural Youth Affairs Network (MYAN) stated that young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds could be supported in volunteering by relevant agencies and volunteer organisations communicating with their parents and community leaders about the wide range of volunteering opportunities that are available and how these might benefit their children. According to MYAN, there is a misconception that volunteering takes time from young peoples’ focus on their studies or getting a job. MYAN stated that community education would help families from refugee and migrant backgrounds to understand that volunteering assists young people to develop a range of skills that contribute to their employability and personal wellbeing 40 Committee comment 3.25 The Committee acknowledges the importance of matching young volunteers with opportunities that suit their motivations, skills and interests in order to ensure an ongoing commitment to volunteering. 3.26 The Committee recognises that in order to support young people to be able to volunteer, it is important to ensure that there are no barriers, financial or otherwise, preventing them from accessing volunteering opportunities. 3.27 The Committee notes that this can be a particular issue for disadvantaged and at-risk young people, young people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and young people living in regional and remote areas, as they may not have easy access to local volunteering opportunities. 3.28 For this reason the Committee recommends that the Commission develops a strategy, in consultation with young people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-English speaking backgrounds, geographically and socially isolated young people, and disadvantaged and at-risk young people to assist them to engage in volunteering activities. 3.29 The Committee further recommends the Commission, in conjunction with NSW Family and Community Services, and in consultation with other relevant NSW Government agencies, considers a scheme to assist young people with meeting the costs of volunteering activities, including the provision of free or discounted public transport to and from volunteering commitments. RECOMMENDATION 4 The Committee recommends that the Commission for Children and Young People develops a strategy, in consultation with young people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-English speaking backgrounds, geographically and socially isolated young people, and disadvantaged and at-risk young people, to assist them to engage in volunteering activities. RECOMMENDATION 5 The Committee recommends that the Commission for Children and Young People, in conjunction with NSW Family and Community Services, and in consultation with other relevant NSW Government agencies, considers a scheme to assist young people with meeting the costs of volunteering activities, including the provision of free or discounted public transport to and from volunteering commitments. 33 Submission 8, Centre for Volunteering, p. 3. 34 Submission 8 Centre for Volunteering, p. 4. 35 Centre for Volunteering, Response to questions on notice and additional questions, 17 July 2014, pp. 1-2. 36 NSW State Emergency Service, Response to questions on notice and additional questions, 9 October 2014, question 1, p. 3. 37 NSW Youth Advisory Council, Response to additional questions, 18 July 2014, question 1, p. 1. 38 NSW Youth Advisory Council, Response to additional questions, 18 July 2014, question 1, p. 2. 39 Mr S Watts, Director, NSW Volunteering, Office of Communities, NSW Education and Communities, Transcript of evidence, 20 June 2014, p. 3; and Ms J Plummer, Senior Policy Officer, Commission for Children and Young People, Transcript of evidence, 20 June 2014, p. 26. 40 Mr A Cummings, Project Manager, Multicultural Youth Affairs Network, Transcript of evidence, 20 June 2014, p. 35. k Measures to support organisations in developing volunteering opportunities for young people 1 Committee Comment - Recommendation 6 l The role of the commission for children and young people and the office of the Children’s Guardian in supporting and promoting best practice in volunteering for young people 1 Committee Comment 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