Media Release by The Hon Julie Bishop MP

Toolkit to encourage more diversity in volunteering

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator Nigel Scullion, Minister for Community Services

An Australian Government funded resource kit will help to encourage more Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds to participate in volunteering in the wider community.

The Minister for Community Services, Senator Nigel Scullion, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues, Julie Bishop, and Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Teresa Gambaro, today released Practical Guide – Involving Volunteers from Diverse Cultural and Language Backgrounds in Your Organisations, produced by Volunteering Australia.

“This online kit will assist not-for-profit organisations to engage volunteers from diverse cultural backgrounds and provide more culturally sensitive services,” Senator Scullion said.

“These resources will assist organisations to recruit volunteers, increase cross-cultural awareness and build relationships across community groups and their organisations.”

Minister Bishop said it would also help not-for-profit organisations increase volunteer numbers by becoming aware of the issues specific to women and people from culturally diverse communities.

“Women from culturally diverse backgrounds are keen to volunteer, become engaged in the community and contribute to our society,” Minister Bishop said.

“The Government commissioned $197 000 to the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Implementation Project to produce three resources, including the online kit, a training manual for not-for-profit organisations, as well as a research paper on the barriers people face including lack of recognition and options with whom to volunteer,” Ms Gambaro said.

“Through these resources, people from diverse cultural backgrounds will gain enormously by gaining the skills and knowledge to educate their own communities about volunteer organisations and services, as well as receiving recognition for their contributions to the community.

“The Australian Government values the contributions all volunteers make, and encourages organisations to make the most of these new resources, which is creating more opportunities for all Australians to participate in their local community,” Senator Scullion said.

For a copy of the resources, visit Volunteering Australia’s website Volunteering Australia or by calling 03 9820 4100.