So why not kill two birds with one stone and volunteer your professional skills with a local charity?
“’Gaps’ between employment on a resume – no matter how valid the reason – will not send the same message as someone who has utilized that time to ‘give back’ to the community – showing initiative and genuine thoughtfulness,” says Roger Hilton, Principal of ProSource Australia (NFP) Recruitment in North Sydney. “Also, volunteering is an excellent way for people wishing to enter the not-for-profit industry without previous experience.”
Given the rising costs of everyday living and interest rates, many Northern Beaches based charities are struggling to meet increased demand for services with their existing resources.
“A donation of your time or money can make a big difference,” says Delene Evans, General Manager of Australian Doctors International, a medical aid charity based in Manly.
“For example, few people could afford to donate $1,000, yet volunteering with us for one or two months as a marketing or sponsorship consultant could yield even better benefits.”
And of course the hours are usually completely flexible, with the office nearby and some charities will even allow you to work from home.
Volunteer opportunities can range from administrative support to more specialised roles such as marketing or business development. This can be helpful for back-to-work mums seeking experience, professionals keen to expand their skills/area of expertise, and even energetic retirees who are ‘bored’ with retirement.
“Volunteering is an extremely rewarding experience and I recommend it to anyone,” says George McLelland, a 70-year-old retired chartered accountant who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2008 for his volunteer work with Rotary Club of Manly, Australian Doctors International, Rotarians Against Malaria, Hope for the Children Foundation, and a number of other local community groups.
So whether you’re in between jobs or simply have some extra time on your hands, volunteering is one way to share and improve your professional skills and make a difference.
Some Northern Beaches based charities in need of volunteers include:
• Manly-based Australian Doctors International is working to improve the health of people in PNG and needs support with business development, policy development for government accreditation, grant writing for funding proposals, fundraising/sponsorship, marketing/communications, journalism, research and office administration. For those more adventurous, it is also seeking doctors and a nurse/health administrator to work in Papua New Guinea in 2010. Tel. 0408 288 115 or www.adi.org.au
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