Wheatbelt Better Connections

Volunteering is strongly recognised as a key factor in the building and maintenance of strong viable communities, especially in regional and remote communities. The Wheatbelt Development Commission provided funding to Volunteering WA to undertake the Better Connections Project. This project aimed to help strengthen community volunteering in the region.

In 2008 16 self selected Wheatbelt communities took part in this project via a survey for volunteers to undertake, community engagement forums and community training sessions.

Project reports & resources

Along with the final project report Better Connections: Wheatbelt Volunteering, Volunteering WA also partnered with Edith Cowan University to produce a companion research report by Dr Megan Paull entitled Barriers to volunteering by newcomers in Wheatbelt towns in Western Australia.

Furthermore in response to the final report Volunteering WA produced Better Connections Volunteering in the Wheatbelt: A Resource for Community Organisations. The resource consists of handy hints for regional and rural community organisations and features positive case studies of Wheatbelt communities who are getting it right.

 

Better Connections: Wheatbelt Volunteering Barriers to volunteering by newcomers in Wheatbelt towns in Western Australia  Better Connections Volunteering in the Wheatbelt: A Resource for Community Organisations

These are available for download by clicking on the links below.

Better Connections: Wheatbelt Volunteering report

Barriers to volunteering by newcomers in Wheatbelt towns in Western Australia

Better Connections Volunteering in the Wheatbelt: A Resource for Community Organisations

 

Key findings

  1. Many volunteers in Wheatbelt community towns report concern for the future of their organisations with regard to volunteer efforts. Many stress over a lack of volunteers expressing interest in being involved and staying involved in the management of organisations.
     
  2. Lack of numbers – vicious cycle – because fewer volunteers means heavier workload and the thought of heavy workloads influences the ability to attract volunteers.
     
  3. Many Wheatbelt community organisations were concerned about the “red tape” they have to go through to remain viable or host programs and events.
     
  4. Delivery of awareness-raising training and education on issues relating to volunteer recruitment, retention and reward is important to rural and regional communities. It is important, however, to find innovative and effective strategies to engage community organisation members to attend training.
     
  5. Local government agencies play a vital role in supporting volunteer efforts within rural and remote communities. There appears to be a direct relationship between the perceived support community organisations receive from their local shire and the satisfaction levels of volunteers.

Three focus areas were identified to address the way forward:

  1. Delivery of training, education and support for community members
  2. Promotion of the importance of volunteering in the rural setting
  3. Supporting community organisations at ground level
    - Facilitating volunteer uptake
    - Engaging rural businesses and staff
    - Facilitating collaborative practice/operations
    - Facilitating co-location

To address these focus areas thirteen recommendations have been developed. These strategies can be found in the final report.