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PrintThe Skills Sharing Scheme
The Skills Sharing Scheme is part of Oxfam Australia's domestic program. The scheme is an opportunity for you to share your skills with small non-government organisations and community groups in Melbourne, and to play an active part in achieving social justice in Australia. We already have a number of volunteers on our database but the scheme is growing and we have a need for people with skills listed on our membership form.
Increasingly Oxfam Australia is conscious of the general community's strong interest in finding meaningful involvement in the broader social issues that confront us, such as the environment, racism and poverty. For many supporters it is frustrating that they cannot be more directly involved and connected with Oxfam Australia's work.
The Skills Sharing Scheme provides assistance to community-based or not-for-profit groups in Melbourne in areas such as:
- Development of strategic and business plans review and development of organisational goals, objectives and strategies
- Review and development of organisational processes and procedures
- Initial set-up of systems e.g. accounting, information technology legal and management advice
- One-off research, project management and/or submission preparation
- Targeted training
- Event co-ordination
- Marketing and fundraising advice
The scheme has two primary objectives:
- To assist community organisations by sharing needed skills, organised around specific projects planned by the community group
- To provide a broader range of opportunities for people to participate in social change by acting as skilled volunteers able to strengthen community organisations
The scheme is managed by a team of volunteer members of Oxfam Australia. The role of the Skills Sharing Scheme management team is to identify and respond to the needs of community organisations, and match this with volunteers who might offer anything from help with marketing or legal advice to support in areas such as website development or financial planning. The management team recruits volunteers, runs an induction program, allocates volunteers to organisations, and manages the volunteers, ensuring quality control, accountability and consistency with the Oxfam Australia approach. Currently volunteers are working in organisations dealing with areas such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare, the environment, community housing and community counselling.
If you are with a Melbourne-based, non-profit organisation and would like assistance from the Skills Sharing Scheme, contact us.