Looking at different ways volunteer roles can be done and considering how tasks can be broken down, can make your opportunities more accessible and give a volunteer the opportunity to build skills as their confidence grows. Exploring how to create customised volunteer roles that are tailored from individual tasks to meet your organisation’s needs but also consider the interests of prospective volunteers will also help to break down barriers for people with disabilities.
You could consider building a partnership with a local disability support organisation to offer volunteer opportunities for the people they work with to make your volunteer roles more accessible.
Breaking down these barriers and being more inclusive means ensuring accessibility considers those volunteers who may require a Support Worker and understanding the role of this Support Worker is crucial to ensure a successful volunteer experience that is beneficial to all involved.
Key considerations
Understand the Support Worker’s role: They are there to support the volunteer’s participation, not to undertake the role themselves. Their role is to provide assistance and support when needed while helping the volunteer remain as independent as possible.
Provide meaningful volunteer opportunities: Your organisation remains responsible for providing a genuine volunteer role, appropriate supervision and an inclusive environment the volunteer can contribute in successfully.
Build a collaborative partnership: A successful volunteer experience relies on clear communication and a good working relationship between the organisation, the volunteer and the support worker. This will ensure everyone understands their role and responsibilities from the beginning and ensures good outcomes for both your organisation and the volunteer.
Support independence: The support worker is there to assist not to take over so the volunteer can build their confidence, skills and participation.
Be clear about support needs: Discuss support requirements before the volunteer starts so supervisors understand how best to communicates, provide instructions and create a welcoming and positive experience for the volunteer.
Maintain volunteer supervision: Your organisation provides the volunteer opportunity and is still responsible for supervising the volunteer role. The support worker is there to provide individual support when needed to help the volunteer participate successfully and confidently.
Create an inclusive environment: Recognise that some volunteers may require additional supports to participate successfully. Being responsive and flexible to individual needs will help create a positive experience for everyone involved.
A support worker can make or break a volunteer experience for both your organisation and the individual volunteering so taking the time to understand this role is beneficial for everyone involved.
Opportunities
By understanding the role of a Support Worker and providing opportunities for people with disability your organisation will benefit from:
Diverse Perspectives: You’ll tap into unique lived experiences and fresh ideas for problem-solving.
Improved Accessibility: Your organisation will learn how to be even more accessible and welcoming for everyone.
Stronger Culture: You’ll foster an inclusive environment and demonstrates a commitment to social responsibility.
Community Trust: Your organisation will build a positive reputation by reflecting the true diversity of the Australian public (where roughly 1 in 5 people live with a disability).