Staff Training

JLGC Staff Internship

JUNE 2004 – Volunteering in Wollongong

By Atsuko Kawamura

In June, I visited Wollongong City Council for my 5-day internship. I have been seconded from Kawasaki City , which is one of the sister cities of Wollongong , Australia 's steel city. Kawasaki City was the core of the industrial zone supporting Japanese industry in the post World War 2 growth period. Both of these cities have tried to change their public images- which for a long time have been known as “industrial and polluted” because of the steel industries. Wollongong City now identifies itself for it's strong “educational industry', while Kawasaki has come to be known as the “City of Music ”.

This was my forth visit to Wollongong so I was quite familiar with the area and had already visited the city council, library and gallery. I had also visited many beautiful sightseeing spots in central Wollongong . So on this occasion I skipped the usual tourist spots in favour of visiting somewhere I could get some general information regarding my topic of research: The Volunteering System in Australia . That is why I visited the following spots.

My first 2 days were spent at Volunteering Illawarra. The volunteer centre covers the whole Illawarra region, including the Wollongong City Council area. It is a kind of one-stop service for volunteers. The Centre is open from Monday to Thursday, so the workers there are not full time. In going there I realised there were different kinds of working styles for volunteers. At the centre they train people who are interested in starting voluntary work and also those who are already volunteers. They also help match volunteers with appropriate jobs. There are many internet sites to help people find voluntary work. I am told that the reasons why Australian people volunteer to do unpaid work are to gain greater “work experience” and to “meet people”. Meeting people is also a common reason why many Japanese volunteer their time, however, the “work experience” aspect is not taken into consideration. I always thought that “work” meant paid work and did not include unpaid work. I attended a seminar called “ Volunteerng - is it for me? ” and at last I understood the idea that volunteering is a form of work. The seminar was held for those interested in joining a voluntary work group. It gave me some ideas on what type of voluntary work is available, the kinds of volunteers which are needed and how volunteers are protected by insurance.

On my third day, I visited the Sublime Point Day Club. There I met many elderly people who provide care to others. They manage a respite care service in the Anglican Church and hold meetings every Wednesday. The volunteers and those people in need of care are transported by bus from their home to the church. A chorus group sometimes visits to make the day more enjoyable. Afterwards, the time is spent chatting, playing card games and bingo. Both the volunteers and the people in care share the daily expenses. They pay $5 for the day which includes return transportation, morning tea and lunch.

For the last 2 days of my internship, I was under the care of the Wollongong Botanical Gardens. I had heard about the Bushcare Programme in Wollongong and the Wollongong Botanical Gardens' volunteers group called “Friends”. The Wollongong Botanical Garden is a very beautiful place. It is situated next to the University of Wollongong and is a popular wedding venue. The Manor House, which is heritage listed, is nestled in the southwestern corner of the garden. Throughout the year, various celebrations are held there. The garden is also home to the Conservatorium of Music. As we walked around the area, we could hear the music. Also located Inside the Gardens is t he Garden's Education Centre which provides regular educational forums and school holiday activities for children. I visited the Garden's Education Centre to learn more on how the environment and nature is taught to children. Although this topic was not directly related to volunteer work, it was of interest to me. I realised once again the different kinds of working styles available.

The Wollongong Local Government Area is responsible for over 5000 ha of natural area on community land. The Bushcare Program began in 1994 with 6 groups and has now expanded to include 42 different sites. The expected outcomes of the Bushcare program are:

*	the development of an attractive natural environment for local residents to use and enjoy ; • the regeneration of specific plant communities and the reversal of the decline in local biodiversity ;
*	an increase in community understanding of and responsibility for the environment ;
*	the prevention or reduction of the long-term costs to Council and other urban authorities from the degradation of natural areas.

I found that the volunteers for the Bushcare program were quite different to other types of volunteers because they had a stronger commitment to their neighbourhood and surrounding environments. As residents are directly influenced by their surroundings, such as overgrown bushlands, etc, they feel more obliged to join the volunteering program and become a member. The types of satisfaction and motivation are different. I was happy that I could experience two types of voluntary work. The Bushcare program is not only for the neighbourhood but also for the wider community such as cooperate citizens. Being environmentally friendly and informed on a green lifestyle is healthy for our overall well being.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude the staff of Wollongong City Council and those from the various volunteer organisations involved in coordinating my internship. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to learning more about the volunteering system in Australia .

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