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:

  • 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.

Supported Volunteeringcan offer volunteers:

  • 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 SimSupported Volunteering Coordinator

(03) 471

VolunteeringOtago,Level1,DunedinCommunityHouse,283MorayPlace,Dunedin9016

Phone:03-471-6206 Toll free:0800-865-268Email: