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RE063-NOTFORPROFIT_280x210_V3.indd 1
20/11/09 2:23:56 PM
T
he good news is that there are people out there who want
to give their time and skill and put them to good use.
According to a report from Volunteering Australia, 34 per
cent of the adult population in Australia is engaged in some
sort of volunteer activity.
But the problem faced by many organisations is not the lack of people
wanting to volunteer; it's the inability to manage and make best use of
them through a strong volunteer program.
Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Home is an aged care facility with a
Foundation which provides the home with the additional financial
support necessary to continue to deliver the highest standards of care
for the aged community, including the financially disadvantaged who
otherwise could not be able to afford to be at the Home.
Our Volunteer program helps enable Montefiore to improve the
Quality of Life for our Residents and is an area of the Foundation that
recently has gone from strength to strength. We have now more than
410 members of the community volunteering at the Home, some of
whom have volunteered for decades and who have family members
who also volunteer at the home.
but why does our volunteering Program
work so successfully for us?
time and resources:
In order to have a successful program there
needs to be resources allocated to it. We have two dedicated staff
members to manage volunteers and our program. They work with the
rest of the Foundation team to ensure that the Volunteers Program is
part of the overall strategy.
training and orientation:
Our Volunteer Management team has
worked closely with our Learning and Development department to
develop a strong training and orientation program. This educates
our volunteers about the organisation and also covers all the issues,
practical and emotional, necessary for them to carry out their roles
effectively. This training ensures that they are well prepared for
interaction with the residents, that they are familiar with the activities
provided and that the Home complies with the high accreditation
standards required of an aged care facility. The training does not stop
there though; we give our volunteers opportunity for further education
throughout their time as a volunteer at Montefiore which enables them
to be the best volunteer that they can be.
assigning a role:
We match volunteers with a role that they are suited
to. When a new volunteer enrols with us we ensure that we discover
their talents and experience and match them with a role that suits
them and gives both us and the volunteer most value. Some of our
volunteer roles are more specialist (for example Russian Speakers
to communicate with our Russian Residents or an art teacher to take
a class) while some are more general in terms of skill set. What is
important is that our Montefiore volunteers will have a strong sense of
fulfilment and job satisfaction.
recognising their contribution:
We take pride in our wonderful
volunteers and are so grateful for what they do for us. Recognition is
very important and takes investment of time. Everyone is grateful for
help and the support of volunteers but it's important to never be too
under resourced or too busy to say thank you. Our volunteer `Thank
you' functions are one way in which we show our appreciation and
also provide a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to meet each
other and network. These don't have to be lavish expensive affairs. A
simple morning tea is sufficient to bring all of the volunteers together
and thank them. In addition to specific thank you functions you can
show your appreciation every day by communicating regularly, by
remembering birthdays and special occasions and simply by saying
`thank you' at the end of their volunteering shift.
Measuring value of the volunteers:
Without measuring the value
of our volunteers we cannot fully incorporate them as part of our
strategic plan and justify investment in the program. The key to this is
first of all being organised. We ensure that volunteer hours are logged
and tallied and that this is regularly analysed.
Listening to volunteers:
We encourage feedback from our volunteers
and give them opportunity to give feedback on how they feel about
their role and experiences through Volunteer Satisfaction Surveys.
This means we can continually learn from them and improve.
ensuring a rewarding and positive experience:
Always remember
that volunteering is not only a gain for your organisation but should
also have personal gain for the volunteer. It has been recognised by
experts that volunteering can be a contributor to personal happiness.
Australian clinical and academic psychologist Dr. Timothy Sharp
says, "Happiness is not just about feeling good; it's also about doing
good. People who're more generous, more altruistic, volunteer more
and those who are more considerate of others are also more likely to
be happier and healthier."
For our volunteers the experience of volunteering and enhancing
the quality of life of our residents is one of the motivators of
volunteering and why they return. Volunteering should be a
special experience for the volunteer so think about what personal
fulfilment they gain from it.
It is important for your program development that all of your
volunteers have a positive volunteering experience. Not just to
keep the volunteers that you have, but to recruit more. Studies from
Volunteering Australia show that almost two thirds of those who
became involved in volunteering in the last ten years did so because
they were asked by someone or because they knew someone involved.
By giving investment and consideration to your volunteers and the
program you will be able to reap the rewards as we do. Our volunteers
play such a valued role in enhancing quality of life for our residents
and are so meaningful and vital to our organisation. n
Katie Holmes is Communications Manager for Sir Moses Montefiore
Jewish Home. The Montefiore Home is an aged care home for more
than 740 Residents, more than 30% of which are concessional and
cannot afford to pay the cost of their care. Our growing volunteer force
of 540 help to support the Montefiore mission to enhance quality of life
for our frail aged. www.montefiorehome.com.au
VOLuNteerS
Why the
Montefiore Volunteer Program
Works so Well for us!
In today's financial climate it is more important than ever for not-for-profits to utilise skills of volunteers.
Some people may not be able to afford to give their money but perhaps they can give their time.