November 2017 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Willing to Work Inquiry ..... 2 Welfare Reform ............... 2 Engaging Millennials ......... 3 Intergeneraonal volunteers ......................... 3 Important Dates................ 3 Migrants and refugees ..... 4 Students and industry need each other …………….4 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST • Welfare reform bill could affect volunteer numbers. • Millennials will be 50% of the global workforce by 2020. • Engage volunteers from different generaons. • Migrants and refugees as volunteers helps them to learn about their new community. Elahe wanted to develop her technical skills and gain some local work experience. She started volunteering as a project officer/junior business analyst seven months ago. Elahe then mover into using her skills at the IT desk for a community organisaon. Elahe started her volunteer work two days a week, but soon increased this. She says her role has been challenging and she has learned something new every day. Volunteering has also helped her to improve her English. Elahe has found increased fulfilment and happiness, saying that “doing volunteering that you find interesng can be a relaxing, energising escape from day-to-day roune of life. It is such a great feeling when you do something for the community.” When asked if she would change anything about volunteering, Elahe emphasised she would like to see “more opportunity for professional people, so that the community can benefit from their skills.” “I dedicate my me as much as I can and do my best to produce a quality outcome.” Elahe’s dedicaon had definitely paid off; she has been offered a paid posion due to her hard work, skills and abilies which she says she was able to perfect through volunteering. Flexible Living Volunteering Service Level 1, 3912 Pacific Hwy Loganholme QLD 4129 Telephone: 0429 935 259 “Volunteer work helps me to expand my network and boost my social skills” VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Email: volunteer@flexiliving.org.au Telephone: 0429 935 052 Website: www.flexilivingvolunteer.org.au Proudly supporng Aged and Disability organisaons in the Logan and Beaudesert regions.
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November 2017
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Willing to Work Inquiry ..... 2
Welfare Reform ............... 2
Engaging Millennials ......... 3
Intergenerational
volunteers ......................... 3
Important Dates ................ 3
Migrants and refugees ..... 4
Students and industry
need each other …………….4
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
• Welfare reform bill could
affect volunteer numbers.
• Millennials will be 50% of
the global workforce by
2020.
• Engage volunteers from
different generations.
• Migrants and refugees as
volunteers helps them to
learn about their new
community.
Elahe wanted to develop her technical skills and gain some local work
experience. She started volunteering as a project officer/junior business analyst
seven months ago. Elahe then mover into using her skills at the IT desk for a
community organisation. Elahe started her volunteer work two days a week,
but soon increased this. She says her role has been challenging and she has
learned something new every day. Volunteering has also helped her to improve
her English. Elahe has found increased fulfilment and happiness, saying that
“doing volunteering that you find interesting can be a relaxing, energising
escape from day-to-day routine of life. It is such a great feeling when you do
something for the community.”
When asked if she would change anything about volunteering, Elahe
emphasised she would like to see “more opportunity for professional people, so
that the community can benefit from their skills.”
“I dedicate my time as much as I can and do my best to produce a quality
outcome.” Elahe’s dedication had definitely paid off; she has been offered a
paid position due to her hard work, skills and abilities which she says she was
DID YOU KNOW Volunteering can be an effective way to engage in society, acting as a pathway to employment, encouraging economic participation, building key work skills, and keeping people healthy and active.
WILLING TO WORK NATIONAL INQUIRY REPORT
CURRENT NEWS
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The right to work is a fundamental human right, but one that far too many older people and
people with a disability in Australia do not enjoy. The inquired found that too many people
are shut out of work because of underlying assumptions, stereotypes or myths associated
with their age or disability. People who are willing to work but are denied the opportunity
are also denied the personal and social benefits—of dignity, independence, a sense of
purpose and the social connectedness—that work brings.
The Aged and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, the Hon Susan Ryan AO, reports that “from a broader
economic perspective, employment discrimination is also a huge waster of human capital.” The Willing to Work
Inquiry followed on from Australia’s first national prevalence survey of age discrimination in the workplace which
was conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2015. That survey revealed more than a quarter of
Australians aged 50 years and over had experienced age discrimination in the workplace during the past two
years. One third were aware of other people in the same age range experiencing discrimination because of their
age. Of great concern, a third of those who had experienced age discrimination gave up looking for work. It is
unthinkable that people who lose their jobs in their 50s may live up to another forty years without paid
employment. To read the full report, go to the Australian Human Rights Commission website
Volunteering Australia appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Community
Affairs Inquiry into the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017
in Melbourne, where we voiced strong opposition to the proposed change to Annual
Activity Requirements for people on income support aged 55 to 59. The proposed
amendment seeks to force people aged 55 to 59 on income support to cease half of their
activity requirement currently met through volunteering, in favour of job search or
another job-related activity, like Work for the Dole.
Volunteering Australia is concerned that the proposed tightening of the activity requirements in Schedule 9 of the
Bill could move people away from volunteering positions, which will have a profound impact on the volunteering
sector.
Volunteering Australia CEO Adrienne Picone said, “The tightening of the activity requirements will do little to
improve the job prospects of older Australians, who are an already disadvantaged and discriminated group in the
labour market. The barriers to employment are multiplied if you are an older jobseeker with a disability, from a CALD
background, are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or have a mental illness.”
Read more on Volunteering Australia’s submission addressing the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare