BOOMING Recruiting – a hands-on, practical resource booklet to boost volunteering numbers has been launched as part of National Volunteer Week.
The booklet is the culmination of nearly three years research by Dr Judy Esmond who was commissioned by the State Government to explore how to best help organisations engage and retain volunteers.
Innovative marketing means devised and trialled by Western Australian volunteers are just one of the fruits it contains.
The booklet includes valuable information gathered through a series of workshops conducted over a nine-month period.
That information was developed into new programs that were trialled to attract baby boomer volunteers.
Community Development Minister Sheila McHale said the workshops involved 21 volunteer organisations and more than 13,000 volunteers across the State.
"Some of the recruiting strategies devised and ‘road-tested’ included the use of promotional bumper stickers, t-shirts, recruitment flyers and online marketing," she said.
"These groups again donated their time and energy to a valuable project and it is staggering to realise that WA’s volunteers contribute more than 70 million hours a year to the community and an estimated $800 million through their time, skills and service."
Ms McHale also launched a special WA volunteering Topic Sheet – part of a "Volunteering in WA" series and based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
Interesting facts include:
- Volunteer rates are highest for people who are working;
- Helping others and personal/family involvement are the most common reasons for volunteering, while social contact rates highly with those who are not working;
- Sport and recreation attracts the highest number of volunteers, particularly in the 18 to 54 year age group while community welfare is more popular for those aged 55 and over; and
- The most common activity for volunteers is in the area of fundraising, followed by teaching, providing information and management/committee work.
Booming Recruiting and the Government’s Valuing Volunteers policy document can be obtained at www.volunteering.communitydevelopment.wa.gov.au or by phoning Cal Wellings on 9220 1151.