Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Volunteers

1. Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Volunteers

2. What we will cover Cultural diversity Benefits for volunteers? Why diversify? Simple recruitment method Video References and further reading

3. What is culture? Culture is the set of shared meanings or the ways people [learn] to be (behave,act, respond) ... Culture becomes the filter through which people interpret reality and perceive their future.

4. The culture iceburg • http://www.asiaeducation.edu.au/default.asp

5. Normal to us vs foreign to others

6. Selected countries of birth, proportion of recent arrivals and longer-standing migrants by birth countryhttp://www.abs.gov.au/

7. Languages spoken at home by recent arrivals • http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3101.0

8. Organisations 3 reasons for existing: • Develop goods and/or services • Market and deliver them • Deal with the issues of client satisfaction

9. How do you know if … • you’re reaching people who could use your services/goods? • you’re are meeting the needs of your clients? • they value what you provide?

10. What does your community look like?

11. State Library of WA Simple recruitment strategy

12. Advertisement CALD Recruitment Volunteer You will • value and embrace diversity • have contacts with CALD organisations • be aware of culturally appropriate behaviour when communicating with these groups • be comfortable making presentations • be creative in suggesting recruitment methods

13. To recruit, go where they are. Adult Migrant English Classes Public libraries Health centres Laundromats Adult education colleges Places of worship

14. Creating Positions for CALD Volunteers Is the position suited to the level of English? Will it satisfy the needs of the volunteer? Can you partner volunteers with a friend or another experienced volunteer?

15. What is your recruitment message? Improve your English Gain experience Learn about Australian workplace culture No experience needed CALD volunteers are encouraged to apply

16. Interviews Chat Greeting Explain your role Clarify the work is not paid Emphasise benefits Ask questions to check understanding It’s okay to say no

17. Training Visual materials Demonstrations Avoid information overload Ask questions to gauge understanding Provide written instructions to take away

18. Some things to remember Use simple language Avoid jargon & slang Reduce your paperwork Speak slowly Wait for responses Write details for clarification Different communication styles Cultural awareness training Language skills vs intelligence

19. Other Benefits to Organisation Highly skilled volunteers Highly motivated Greater pool of volunteers to recruit from Word of mouth recruitment Involvement from new segments of the community

20. Beth Israel Medical Centre 40% of the 5,000 babies born annually are of Chinese descent. See diversity as essential to their ability to best meet their clients’ needs http://chpnyc.org/diversity%20sp11%20final.pdf

21. Video • http://youtu.be/55WfbVfhx7E (2 mins)

22. Visas Volunteer work on a Visitor Visa (8101)must be • Of a benefit to the community • For a NFP • For no financial benefit (board & Lodging ok) • Tasks that would not otherwise be undertaken by a resident for wages • In a designated position • Be short term < 3 mths 457 visas allow work but not necessarily volunteering Dept Immigration & Immigration will determine on a case by case basis phone 131 1881 http://www.immi.gov.au/

23. Communication Styles Volunteering WA A common purpose: formal volunteering and cultural diversity / Fran Robinson http://wws.peacecorps.gov/wws/educators/enrichment/culturematters/guide.pdf

24. Engaging CALD VolunteersReferences • Time and space orientation - http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA437579 • Department of Social Inclusion http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/about/what-social-inclusion • Australian Bureau of Statistics - http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3101.0 • McClelland’s Need Theory - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_theory • Volunteering WA A common purpose: formal volunteering and cultural diversity / Fran Robinson • Volunteering Australia Practical Guide to Involving Volunteers from Diverse CALD Backgrounds inYour Organisation 2011 http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/Publications/Best-practice/Practical-Guide-to-Involving-Volunteers-from-Diverse-Cultural-and-Language-Backgrounds-in-Your-Organisation.asp • Destination Diversity http://chpnyc.org/diversity%20sp11%20final.pdf • Culture iceburg http://www.asiaeducation.edu.au/default.asp • Beth Israel Hospital http://chpnyc.org/diversity%20sp11%20final.pdf

25. Further reading • Office of Multicultural Interests. Culture and religion information sheets http://omi.wa.gov.au/omi_guidelines.cfm • Culture Matters Trainer’s Guide http://wws.peacecorps.gov/wws/educators/enrichment/culturematters/guide.pdf • Dept Immigration & Citizenship Looking for a rewarding experience • http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/delivering-assistance/volunteers/become-volunteer-brochure.pdf • NY Public Library http://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/volunteer-nypl Mary Doyle Team Leader Volunteers: Client Services T (08) 9427 3327 F (08) 9427 3256 E mary.doyle@slwa.wa.gov.au @mazd018