This week, the NSW Government has launched a set of guidelines to make the volunteering sector more inclusive for people with disability.
The new NSW Disability Inclusion Volunteering Guidelines, launched during National Volunteer Week, aim to harness the skills of volunteers with disability.
What will the guidelines do?
The government said the guidelines will help business, government, and community groups to be more disability confident and boost the participation of people with disability in volunteering roles.
The new resource provides ideas on how organisations can improve volunteering for people with disability, through better recruitment, retention and recognition.
They are based on best practice principles that focus on accessibility, creating supportive relationships, and ongoing improvement.
How were these guidelines developed?
According to the State Government the guidelines are a key initiative under the NSW Volunteering Strategy 2020-2030 and were developed in response to NSW Volunteering Taskforce recommendations.
The Strategy aims to attract and retain volunteers across the state.
The Disability Inclusion Volunteering Guidelines also align with the NSW Disability Inclusion Plan 2021-2025, which sets out the state’s whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of people with disability.
“There’s a role for everyone in volunteer organisations, including the one in five people in NSW who have a disability,” said Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington.
“We want to ensure people with disability can share their skills, expertise and dedication for making a difference in workplaces and volunteer organisations.”
To learn more about the guidelines and how to get involved, visit the NSW Volunteering website.