Ideas for how you can participate in #NSVW20
For education providers
GIVE
- Volunteering activities: Organise for students to collaborate on meaningful activities that support the work of a volunteer organisation, such as coast or bush conservation, caring for injured animals, cooking meals for sick children and their families, or supporting the well-being of people experiencing homelessness.
- Micro-volunteering activities: Hold micro-volunteering sessions where busy students can pop in and lend a hand for a short amount of time on easy tasks, such as card making for refugees, logistic packing for charity events, preparing care parcels, or arts and craftwork. These small actions can have a big impact on the larger community.
- Inter-institutional activities: Work together with other education providers to organise a group volunteering activity where students can make new friends while they make a difference.
- Tokens of appreciation: A heartfelt thank you, thoughtful gift, memorabilia to cherish, or versatile vouchers. A simple act of kindness is a great way to show student volunteers your gratitude.
- Be an ambassador: Share student volunteering messages online with the hashtag #SVW2021. You could profile an inspiring student, create a video about your volunteer program, give a shout-out to available opportunities, or blog about the personal and professional benefits of volunteering. You may like to use our resources.
GROW
- Host a workshop or panel: Arrange for inspiring speakers to talk to students about applying for volunteer positions, making an impact, learning from the experience, boosting employability, or exploring the current needs of the volunteering sector. You may like to invite your regional Volunteer Centre to be involved.
- Promote social justice: Facilitate important conversations that empower students to delve into the issues that face our world, such as climate change, combating racism, women’s advancement, or LGBTQIA rights. Offer avenues for how students can take action to advance these causes.
- Encourage student led initiatives: Build the capacity of students to effectively manage student led initiatives that create change on and off campus. This could involve developing their volunteer management and leadership skills.
CONNECT
- Bring students together formally: Recognise, honour and reward the achievements of student volunteers at a formal event, such as an awards ceremony. You may like to use our certificate templates.
- Connect students with volunteer organisations: A volunteer expo, networking session, presentation, or information stand. Whether it’s a short pitch or an in-depth dive, help students to learn about the array of volunteer programs available to join.
- Help students search: Provide students with ‘drop-in’ sessions where they can access one-to-one support to find a volunteer role that matches their strengths, values, interests, and career aspirations. You could also promote our volunteer opportunities where students can view and apply for available volunteering opportunities.
- Bring students together informally: Provide a space for student volunteers to connect with one another. It could be over morning tea, a barbeque, pizza lunch or a picnic. You may like to incorporate some games, icebreakers or team building activities.
For volunteer organisations
GIVE
- Say thanks informally: A handwritten letter, a personal phone call, a social media shout out, or a newsletter feature. These are all great ways to show your appreciation of student volunteers. You may like to use our social media resources.
- Say thanks formally: Hold an awards ceremony or a recognition event where student volunteers are publically acknowledged for their significant contribution. You may like to use our certificate template.
GROW
- Facilitate personal and professional development: Reflect on opportunities you can offer to student volunteers to help them reach their potential and grow into responsible and skilled young leaders.
- Hold meaningful conversations: Ask student volunteers for their feedback on how you can enhance the experience of volunteers and make your volunteer program more creative and fulfilling.
- Diversify your volunteer program: Hold a brainstorming session on the types of student volunteers you would like to attract to your organisation. Identify relevant education providers and faculties that you can reach out to.
CONNECT
- Unite over purpose: Motivate student volunteers by demonstrating the outcomes and the positive change that results from their work.
- Bring students together: Organise a social event where student volunteers can share a meal or a coffee, or have fun collaborating on a morale-boosting activity.
We also recommend you view our events page to check if there are any #SVW2021 activities where you can connect with student volunteers.
For students
GIVE
- Learn more about volunteering: Visit our volunteer page to read about the benefits of volunteering, including how it can boost your employability, as well as choosing the right role for you.
- Find a cause to contribute to: Search online to find a volunteer role where you can make a difference. You could also speak with your education provider’s careers and employment or community engagement teams. They can connect you with initiatives, clubs, and societies on campus or with nonprofit organisations.
- Create your own project: Do you have a solution to a problem that society is facing? Be a trailblazer and plan a social impact project that you can implement in your own community.
GROW
- Reflect on what you’ve learned: Has being a volunteer sharpen your skills? Has it expanded your understanding of the complex issues that affect our world? Take some time to consider how volunteering has shaped you.
- Share your ideas for improvement: Do you have feedback that could enhance the experience of volunteers? Let your volunteer organisation know your thoughts and help them make volunteering more rewarding and impactful.
CONNECT
- Participate in the #SVW2021 social media campaign: Has volunteering changed your life? Share your experience online and inspire your fellow students to give volunteering a go.
We also encourage you to have a look at our evets page to see if your education provider has any #SVW20 activities planned that you can get involved in.