Community Engagement Action Plan

8/16/2019 Community Engagement Action Plan

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Community Engagement Action Plan

The following guide is to help you identify and research suitable opportunities for the Community Engagement component of

your program, specically ones that link to your personal interests, skills and occupational style. Adopting a proactive

positive mindset, and being organised in your search for an opportunity, are important aspects of your own development andthe leadership !ourney the program o"ers you. As you work through the following instructions, ll out the ‘My Plan’

template at the end of this document.

Step1: What matters to me?

#e$ecting on the kinds of social causes or issues that you care about is a great place to start in deciding what to do for your

Community Engagement.

%our turn& #ead through the themes below and mark any which resonate with you with a tick. 'otice any that may have

personal interest or relevance, make you think, or stir some emotion in you. Transfer the causes you have identied to therst column of the ‘My Plan’ template at the end of this document.

Care for the elderly (amily )upport #efugee *igrant )upportAnimal +elfare Environment

Conservation

ay -esbian rights

Emergency isaster

relief

)ocial /ustice the -aw Arts, 0eritage Culture

isability )upport 0uman #ights Access to Education0ealth, #ecreation

(itness

0elping the homeless 1ther&

*ental 0ealth Child %outh )upport

'ow try and describe why these issue2s3 matter to you. +hy do you feel strongly4 +hy and how could the situation be

improved4 Try and form some opinions around the issues.


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Step 2: Identifying organisations

+ithin )ydney alone there are hundreds of di"erent organisations working to combat each of the social issues above. (or

e5ample if you care about arts culture, you could volunteer in a museum, a public gallery, on a community arts programs,

at an arts event, or with the local or city council etc. +ithin these areas we could then research to nd specic galleries,

museums or events in our neighbourhood.

Your turn& 6rainstorm all the di"erent types of organisations, groups or services working towards the social causes you have

identied above. Then use the tips below to identify specic organisations in your local area, and nd their website. Then

transfer the details to the 7My Plan’ template at the end of this document. 8se the example below as a guide.

!P"#

• o a google search using the key words from the social causes that you identied above e.g. 7animal care Sydney’ ,

7animal rescue Sydney’ • )earch from over 9:: di"erent charities across )ydney using the 7o ;olunteer< website& http&==govolunteer.com.au=

2>2?3)2vt:s@mnomd!Ba:aror!sfc33=1rganisation=)earch#esults 2narrow the search according to the causes that

interest you and your area of )ydney3• 8se the $ommunity Partner %irectory in the resources section of the -P website to nd organisations that students

of the program have previously volunteered with, in your areas of interests and accessible locations around )ydney.• Think about your own network . oes anyone work or volunteer or have e5perience in your elds of interest4 +ho do

they know4

• )earch one of many online not for prot directories to identify organisations o"ering community services in your

area. e.g. http&==www.probonoaustralia.com.au=directory and http&==www.connectingup.org=directory=nonprot

• 8se https&==student.unsw.edu.au=advantage to nd volunteering opportunities within 8')+ in your interest area. Talk

to them about the program

&xample#

$auses ! identied

a'o(e

ypes of

organisations

"pecic organisations)contacts *e'site

http://govolunteer.com.au/(X(1)S(vt0s4mnomdj3za50arorjsfc))/Organisation/SearchResultshttp://govolunteer.com.au/(X(1)S(vt0s4mnomdj3za50arorjsfc))/Organisation/SearchResultshttp://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/directoryhttp://www.connectingup.org/directory/nonprofithttps://student.unsw.edu.au/advantagehttp://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/directoryhttp://www.connectingup.org/directory/nonprofithttps://student.unsw.edu.au/advantagehttp://govolunteer.com.au/(X(1)S(vt0s4mnomdj3za50arorjsfc))/Organisation/SearchResultshttp://govolunteer.com.au/(X(1)S(vt0s4mnomdj3za50arorjsfc))/Organisation/SearchResults


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e.g. Animal cruelty/care Animal Rights organisations

Animal Shelters

Zoos & wildlife parks

Relevant Events

RS!A

Animal Rights Australia

Sydney "ogs and !ats #ome

Sydney Zoo

#eatherdale $ildlife ark

Easter Show

http&==www.rspca.org.au=

http&==www.animalsaustralia.org=

http&==sydneydogsandcatshome.org=

http://www.rspca.org.au/http://www.animalsaustralia.org/http://www.animalsaustralia.org/http://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/http://www.rspca.org.au/http://www.animalsaustralia.org/http://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/


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Step 3: Volunteer roles

)o you now have a better understanding of a social issue you care about, and hopefully a list of relevant organisations to

research further and possibly approach. 0owever in every eld there are a multitude of possible volunteering roles you could

do. Take for e5ample the eld of mental health. ;olunteering in this area could include public education, doing research,

supporting people with health issues, or fundraising, to name !ust a few areas. )o the ne5t step is to nd out more about the

range of volunteering roles each organisation is o"ering.

%our turn& #eview the website of each organisation you have identied and all of the volunteer opportunities they have

available. -ist each opportunity in the ne5t column of My Plan, with any additional comments you need to make a note of.

)ee the example below to help.

ip#

• 1pportunities are usually listed in the 7;olunteer< or 7et Dnvolved< sections of an organisations website.

&xample#

$auses

!

identied

ypes of

organisation

s

"pecic

organisations

*e'site +olunteer roles Additional

$omments deadline,

location etc.-

e.g.

Animal

cruelty/car

e

Animal Rights

organisations

Animal Shelters

Zoos & wildlife

parks

Relevant Events

RS!A

Animal Rights Australia

Sydney "ogs and !ats

#ome

Sydney Zoo

#eatherdale $ildlife

ark

Easter Show

http%//www.rspca.org.au/

http%//www.animalsaustralia.

org/

http%//sydneydogsandcatsho

me.org/

https%//taronga.org.au/how

youcan

help/volunteer/volunteer programs

'o opportunities

'o opportunities

(ennel Assistants) Event

*olunteers) Animal

+ransporters or ,outh

*olunteer

-ife Science *olunteers)

uest *olunteers) ush

regeneration) Administration*olunteers

Apply online 0y 12/32/2314

-ocation55 $ill 6 get

distressed for 0adly treated

animals5

12 month commitment 7 too

long5 -engthy and

competitive application process

Step 4: Discovering your occupational type

http://www.rspca.org.au/http://www.animalsaustralia.org/http://www.animalsaustralia.org/http://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/http://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/https://taronga.org.au/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-programshttps://taronga.org.au/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-programshttps://taronga.org.au/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-programshttps://taronga.org.au/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-programshttp://www.rspca.org.au/http://www.animalsaustralia.org/http://www.animalsaustralia.org/http://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/http://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/https://taronga.org.au/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-programshttps://taronga.org.au/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-programshttps://taronga.org.au/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-programs


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0opefully you have found a whole range of di"erent sorts of volunteer roles in your eld, even within one organisation.Perhaps you are already imagining some might be en!oyable, whilst others not so much. Ddentifying your preferredoccupational type can help you decide which of the roles above are most likely to interest you, be the most en!oyable, andhelp you develop skills and e5perience that will support your longer term career progression.


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Your turn# #ead through the following descriptions and look at the diagram to learn about the di"erent your occupational

types. +hich one ts you most closely4 2%ou may be a combination of a couple of type3

ealistic / he %oer

•

-ikes to work with animals, tools, or machines generally avoids social activities like teaching, healing, and informingothers• 0as good skills in working with tools, mechanical or electrical drawings, machines, or plants and animals• ;alues practical things you can see, touch, and use like plants and animals, tools, eFuipment, or machines and• )ees self as practical, mechanical, and realistic.

!n(estigati(e / he hinker

• -ikes to study and solve math or science problems generally avoids leading, selling, or persuading people• Ds good at understanding and solving science and math problems• ;alues science and• )ees self as precise, scientic, and intellectual.

Artistic / he $reator

• -ikes to do creative activities like art, drama, crafts, dance, music, or creative writing generally avoids highly orderedor repetitive activities

• 0as good artistic abilities G in creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art• ;alues the creative arts G like drama, music, art, or the works of creative writers and• )ees self as e5pressive, original, and independent.

"ocial / he 0elper

•

-ikes to help people e.g. teaching, nursing, giving rst aid, providing information avoids using machines, tools, oranimals to achieve a goal• Ds good at teaching, counselling, nursing, or giving information• ;alues helping people and solving social problems and• )ees self as helpful, friendly, and trustworthy.


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&nterprising / he Persuader

• -ikes to lead persuade people, to sell things and ideas generally avoids activities that reFuire careful observation scientic, analytical thinking

• Ds good at leading people and selling things or ideas• ;alues success in politics, leadership, or business and• )ees self as energetic, ambitious, and sociable.

$on(entional / he 1rganiser

• -ikes to work with numbers, records, or machines in a set, orderly way generally avoids ambiguous, unstructuredactivities

• Ds good at working with written records and numbers in a systematic, orderly way• ;alues success in business and• )ees self as orderly, and good at following a set plan.


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y !ccupational "ype is:

Step #: $reating a Shortlist)o now you know your occupational type, the ne5t step is to look back at the volunteer roles in My Plan and identify which

are most closely linked to your type. These ones are most likely to be a good t.

Test each of these options a little further by asking the following Fuestions 2of each one3&

• 0ow well do D meet the criteria for this role 2skills, e5perience etc.34

Dnterested in this activity4 Try

this more in2depth 3ui4http&==www.hopkinsmedicine.or

fac develo ment document

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/fac_development/_documents/lisa_heiser_faculty_development_handout.pdfhttp://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/fac_development/_documents/lisa_heiser_faculty_development_handout.pdfhttp://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/fac_development/_documents/lisa_heiser_faculty_development_handout.pdf


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• Are the time frame, hours, commitment and location of this role suitable for me4

• +hat value will D take away personally or professionally now and in the longer term from this e5perience4

• oes it seem fun, interesting and e5citing to me4

iscard any roles that don


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+olunteer ole and 1rg Acti(ity)ask)8ollow 9p %ue %ate(ennel Assistant at !ats and

"ogs

ook into the 6nfo session ne8t Saturday 21/11/231>

(ennel Assistant at !ats and

"ogs

?pdate resume and attend !areers and Employment appointment to get it reviewed y

@3/11/231>(ennel Assistant at !ats and

"ogs

+alk to ?ncle who works at a vet clinic to get his perspective on suita0ili ty of role 'e8t

Saturday

Step +: ,dditional Support

(inding your community engagement can be a hurdle, and sometimes nding a group of people who are in the same position,

and getting some e5tra support can really make all the di"erence.

Your turn# 6ook in and come along to one of the ;olunteering 'etwork sessions to help you with your search. %ou will get to

share ideas with others on the program, maybe even buddy up with someone else wanting to volunteer in the same area. %ouwill also hear from previous volunteers about their e5periences, and get help from sta" in where to look and how to approach

an organisation you are interested in.

Step -: &et your $ommunity .ngagement ,pproved

1f course you need to discuss the details of the -eadership Program with your supervisor. #emember they will need to keep

track of you hours and submit two short forms through *y #ecord about your placement, one at the beginning and one at the

end. %ou can


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Community Engagement Action Plan

Possi'le $ommunity &ngagement 1pportunities#

My "ocial

$auses

ypes of

organisations

"pecic

organisations

*e'site)contact

details

+olunteer oles Additional $omments


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My "hortlist#

o %o list#

+olunteer Position and1rganisation

Acti(ity)ask)8ollow 9p %ue %ate

+olunteer

Position

1rganisatio

n

*e'site 0ow to apply *hat ! can contri'ute +alue for me ating )

56


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%etails of conrmed $ommunity &ngagement opportunity#

Organisation name:Role:Start date:Supervisor name and contacts:

Documents

Community Engagement Action Plan