Challenge your perspective; Change your world!
Supported Volunteering – ordinary experiences in ordinary settings
Supported Volunteering is a referral programme for people who experience mental illness and
would like to try voluntary work as part of their recovery. (Recovery is defined as being in a
state of relative control of one’s life in the presence or absence of the symptoms of mental
illness and recognises the importance of spiritual, mental, family and physical health in
achieving this.) This programme offers additional support to volunteers within the frame-work
of Volunteering Otago's core services which are to match people who want to volunteer with
organisations needing volunteers for specific tasks. Support is available to help people find
appropriate voluntary work however the volunteer is encouraged to be as independent as
possible. Respect is given to the fact that people are in mental health recovery and our main
objective is to work collaboratively to find the best way for a person to access volunteer
opportunities.
Supported Volunteering does not obligate the volunteer to commit to any volunteer
placement; it only offers the opportunity to do so. Involvement with Supported Volunteering
remains optional and all prospective volunteers may access volunteer opportunities via
Volunteering Otago’s general services if they wish. Volunteers may exit the programme at
any time.
How to join the programme:
1. Referral through a mental health worker (GP, PDN, Community Mental Health Team or
other Mental Health Service Provider etc.)
2. By directly contacting the Supported Volunteering Coordinator at the volunteer centre
How it works:
The Coordinator, the potential volunteer and their mental health support person meet to
discuss the programme and how it might meet the needs of the volunteer and to complete
the enrolment forms. (Forms can be obtained in advance and filled in beforehand.) This
creates the agreement between the volunteer, their mental health support person and the
coordinator to share relevant information and work together as a team.
The Supported Volunteering Coordinator is available to:
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Discuss what a person wants to do, what skills they have or might wish to gain,
volunteer opportunities of interest and any concerns or needs the person might have.
Arrange for initial interview or negotiate a site visit, make enquiries about the position.
Maintain contact with the volunteer during the process of seeking voluntary work, and
while they are volunteering.
Liaise with the placement organisation’s volunteer coordinator as needed.
Have ongoing contact with the volunteer’s mental health support person (PDN, OT, GP,
community support worker etc.)
It is not the Coordinator's role to pursue volunteers who do not attend scheduled
meetings or placements or to find opportunities for volunteers.
To support the decisions made by the volunteer.
Volunteering Otago, Level 1, Dunedin Community House, 283 Moray Place, Dunedin 9016
Phone: 03-471-6206 Toll free: 0800-865-268 Email: volunteerotago@gmail.com
www.volunteeringotago.org.nz
Supported Volunteering can offer volunteers:
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The opportunity to begin to think in terms of possibility – can’s rather than can’t’s
Help to identify marketable skills and experience
Discussion around what is expected by organisations seeking volunteers
A chance to consider what is involved in a formal interview
Understanding of the selection process of organisations seeking volunteers
Support to understand the reasons for which one might be rejected; understanding
what rejection means and how to manage it
Recognition of the holistic nature of the journey to wellness including the four
dimensions of Maori health and in particular the link between spiritual health/taha
wairua and the emotional and mental wellbeing of the individual/taha hinengaro
A chance to practise interview skills and filling out forms
A practical guide to selecting volunteer opportunities matching skills and experience
with the requirements of organisations seeking volunteers
A sounding board for concerns, fears and questions
Unbiased support with no predetermined outcomes or objectives
Advice on how to present oneself – what to say, what not to say
An opportunity to discuss Police Checks, criminal history etc. in relation to applying for
volunteer work
Recognition of their uniqueness
Recognition of their right to have hope
Empowerment, self-discovery and mana (personal authority/standing)
The opportunity to develop coping strategies in ‘real life’ situations
There is no limit to how long a volunteer may remain on the Supported Volunteering
Programme provided they remain in periodic contact with the Coordinator and continue to
meet the programme’s criteria.
From time to time for whatever reason volunteers may enter a ‘temporary hold’ period for up
to one year. This could be at their own request or that of their mental health support person
or in the event that the Supported Volunteering Coordinator deems them to be temporarily
‘out of sync’ with the programme. If all contact lapses for a period of one year while on hold
the volunteer will be exited from the programme and moved to the general (unsupported)
volunteer services of Volunteering Otago.
Volunteers may choose to leave the programme at any stage and for any reason and may
return at any time providing they continue to meet the programme's criteria.
Volunteers may be dismissed from the programme and moved to the general volunteer
services of Volunteering Otago in the event that they are no longer receiving mental health
support, they are clearly unwell, they become abusive or violent, there has been no contact
with the volunteer or their mental health support person for two years or for any other reason
that signifies they no longer meet the Supported Volunteering criteria.
Where ever possible, the volunteer and their mental health support person will be notified of
any changes to the volunteer’s status within Supported Volunteering.
Claire van Loon Sim
Supported Volunteering Coordinator
(03) 471 6202
community.volunteeringotago@gmail.com
Volunteering Otago, Level 1, Dunedin Community House, 283 Moray Place, Dunedin 9016
Phone: 03-471-6206 Toll free: 0800-865-268 Email: volunteerotago@gmail.com
www.volunteeringotago.org.nz