Valuing the volunteer: National seminar looks at working abroad

Nov 28, 2005

As generous and rewarding as it is, volunteering to work abroad has become a contentious and complex issue for host societies, volunteers and volunteer agencies.

A timely national workshop at the University of Wollongong last week (24-25 November) assessed the issues that are having an impact on volunteering in the Asia Pacific region such as defence and security, globalisation, gender inequality, religious extremism and the social impact of natural disasters.

The seminar aimed to analyse the nature and character of long-term community based volunteer abroad programs and the role they have in contributing to Australia's regional linkages in the Asia Pacific region. It featured speakers from UOW, Australian universities and organisations including PALMS Australia, Australian Volunteers International and OzQuest.

“Since 2001 the Australian government has recognised the importance of volunteer abroad programs in this new international environment,” said workshop convener, Dr Tim Scrase from UOW's Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS).

“It has developed a series of Ministerial statements titled 'Volunteers and the Aid Program' and has identified the eradication of poverty, institutional strengthening and building community participation as the key priorities in Australian aid.”

The seminar was supported and funded by the ARC Asia Pacific Futures Research Network (APFRN) and CAPSTRANS in the Faculty of Arts.

Speakers addressed questions such as:

* What issues do volunteer agencies, the Australian government and host communities believe will enhance the role of volunteer abroad programs now and into the future?

* In terms of training, what skills, competencies and knowledge do Australian volunteers need in order to be prepared for future overseas placements in Asia Pacific countries?

* How do Australian volunteers in Asia Pacific marginal communities contribute to regional stability through community capacity building?

"It was a great way to bring together a number of academics to discuss the challenges associated with the role of volunteers in the current political and social climate," said Dr Scrase.

"Reports and academic publications on the conference will also be published next year."