Australian research recognises volunteering as a pathway to employment
The 2010 National Survey of Volunteering Issues, carried out by Volunteering Australia, found that 83% of volunteers say their work as a volunteer increased their sense of belonging to their community. The survey highlights the important role volunteering plays in providing opportunities for people to learn and gain skills useful for paid employment.
Eighty percent of respondents say their volunteering provided them with opportunities to learn, and 26% say training they received as part of their voluntary work helped them acquire an accreditation/qualification. Nearly one in five (18%) respondents say they gained skills useful for current or future paid employment.
The survey covered other topics relevant to volunteering such as volunteer involvement in decision making of organisations, impact of volunteering on social inclusion, barriers in volunteering, voluntary boards, and job satisfaction of volunteers.
To read the key findings of the Australian National Survey on Volunteering Issues 2010 visit: http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?article_id=4183&nav_cat_id=-1&nav_top_id=-1