Ipswich City Council has cleared the way for volunteers to add immense value to community services and programs with a new easy-to-use portal.
Christina McInally is a welcome addition to the volunteer ranks at the Queens Park Environmental Education Centre.
In a role that requires knowledge of the environment and Ipswich, and people and communication skills, Ms McInally has it all.
She is the latest recruit at the EEC and brings a degree in environmental science and professional experience, as well as a love of the region where she was born and did her thesis.
After a few years at home with her children, Ms McInally said volunteering at the Education Centre was a way to be a part of something different and to get out and about during school hours.
Her children “have such a thirst for knowledge”, she said – something that she is looking forward to sharing with others at the Education Centre.
Ipswich City Council engages more than 200 volunteers across a suite of programs and activities and it’s important to connect people to the opportunities that best suit their skills, interests and time commitment.
Council’s new volunteer portal ensures prospective volunteers are matched with the right roles, and the process to apply is seamless and easy.
For registered volunteers, the portal is also a place to log their hours, update personal information and view their schedule and calendar of shifts.
As a cloud-based program, volunteers can do this on their computer, tablet or smartphone.
The portal replaces largely paper-based processes, and also brings together opportunities from different locations into one easy-to-find list.
Council community partnerships officer Miranda Reis, who works with volunteers at Queens Park, said the new platform gives volunteers the ability to be in charge.
“The Volunteer Portal allows volunteers to tell us their interests and availability, so when positions become available, we have a greater ability to search and match volunteers to positions they will enjoy,” she said.
Ms Reis said matching volunteers with the right opportunity was important so people felt valued and stayed and contributed for longer.
Opportunity knocks
Get involved in the Environmental Education Centre!
Join an enthusiastic team of volunteers who are passionate about the environment.
Be involved in the delivery of environmental education to children in the community.
Ideal for people who have great people and communication skills to interact with members of the public and the ability to make a regular commitment (weekly or fortnightly).
