MACHS

COMMON GROUND CONFERENCE

WORKSHOP: F6 - Community Volunteering

Presenters: Kay Hefferon, Philip Crouch

Facilitator: Vicky

Scribe : Les Page

2001 is the International Year of the Volunteer and this workshop will focus on positive aspects of what being a volunteer really means, and how volunteering for men in particular can increase personal confidence, skills, interpersonal communication, the ‘feel good’ aspect of contributing to southern community area. Drawing from the diversity of personal experiences of males who are actively involved in ranges from driving, gardening, to political and social activism

• 100% non-profit organising involved with Volunteer Resource Centre
• 54% women and 45% men do voluntary work
• People volunteer for many different reasons
• There are many volunteer activities to perform
• You have to prepare to be a volunteer by accessing your abilities
• People get into volunteering for many different reasons, e.g. Health, Unemployment
• Self esteem, knowledge, confidence, improve education and skills
• You choose how, when, where and what you decide is your choice
• Friendships can be formed with people and other volunteers
• Volunteering is rewarding
• Volunteers do work that no one knows about

• Awareness
• Accessibility
• Information available
• Recognition from minority groups
• Recognition for volunteers of minority groups
• Discussion paper from Government for recognition for formal and informal volunteering available at Fleurieu Volunteer Resource Centre before 25.05.01
• To be political – Volunteers as a political lobby
• Recognition that volunteers be more broadly recognised by the wide community
• That men’s workers are volunteers who provide an important social, community, supportive role on behalf of the wider community
• Men become confident in encouraging other men, mates, friends about the value of volunteering
• To become more socially and politically active
• That Centrelink send people for volunteering only to organisations that have insurance cover for volunteers or to a Volunteer Resource Centre in their local area