SkillShare

Proudly supported by Oxfam Australia

Online Volunteer and Monitor Induction

 SkillShare Induction
 Introduction
 History
 Proudly supported by Oxfam Australia
 SkillShare Management Team
 Building the SkillShare profile
 Not-For-Profit organisations we support
 Requests SkillShare chooses not to support
 Becoming a SkillShare Volunteer
 Becoming a SkillShare Monitor
 SkillShare Volunteer rights
 SkillShare Volunteer obligations
 SkillShare Volunteer insurance
 Applying for a new Project
 SkillShare Project process
 Barriers to successfully completing Projects
 Project status updates
 Joining the SkillShare Management Team
 Management Team contacts
 Thank-you
Introduction

SkillShare matches skilled Volunteers with Not-For-Profits to complete

Projects which have a defined capacity building objective and scope
and a defined duration.

SkillShare is managed by a small group of dedicated Volunteers, with

the support of Oxfam Australia.

All SkillShare Volunteers must successfully complete our Induction

process, prior to being considered for placement on a Project.

Every SkillShare Project is assisted by a Monitor. This role ensures the

Project runs smoothly and that both the Volunteer and Not-For-Profit
are satisfied with the placement.
History
Oxfam SkillShare was established in 1999, under Community Aid
Abroad, which was later renamed Oxfam Australia. The program
was established in Melbourne by a group of Community Aid
Abroad volunteers who had participated in a Community
Leadership Program.

The group had two broad aims:

o to provide an avenue for Oxfam Australia supporters and other like-
minded people to support community development and activities
aimed at achieving social justice, welfare and environmental
benefits.
o to support local grass roots community organisations working in areas
which Oxfam Australia is philosophically linked.

SkillShare has assisted over 100 Not-For-Profit organisations with the

professional skills and experience of over 150 skilled Volunteers.
Proudly supported by Oxfam Australia

SkillShare team members are committed to supporting Oxfam’s core

vision of a world without poverty. Similarly, our values are:
 empowering
 passionate
 inclusive
 ingeniuous
 authoritative.

SkillShare is funded by Oxfam Australia and receives ongoing support

as required. SkillShare is promoted on the Oxfam Australia website and
this generates a lot of awareness of the program.

SkillShare Management Team meetings and events are conducted at

Oxfam Australia Headquarters in Carlton.
SkillShare Management Team

 SkillShare Management Team members are volunteers and report

to the National Volunteer Coordinator at Oxfam Australia, via the
SkillShare Team Leader.
 The SkillShare Management Team is ultimately responsible for the
day to day management and strategic growth of the program.
 They play a vital role in overseeing and managing operational
decisions, promoting and marketing the scheme, recruiting,
screening and approving Volunteers and Project requests and
building ongoing relationships with Volunteers and Not-For-Profit
organisations.
 Each Managment Team member is responsible for a specific area,
in which they have many years experience in. These roles
include:
 Team Leader
 Marketing and Communications Coordinator
 Client Coordinator
 Project Coordinator
 Volunteer Coordinator
Building the SkillShare profile

The Management Team are always looking for new ways to build the
Profile of SkillShare, and to attract new Volunteers and Not-For-Profit
organisations. Some of the key groups we have ongoing relationships
with include:

• Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS)

• SEEK Volunteering
• Volunteering Victoria
• ProBono Australia
• Victorian Government’s volunteering website

We are always open to feedback on suggestions from our Volunteers

on new opportunities!
Not-For-Profit organisations we support
 Any Not-For-Profit organisation in or around Melbourne can register
online to work with SkillShare.
 They are not required to hold deductible gift recipient (DGR) status.
 They must have a capacity building Project which a skilled Volunteer
can assist them to complete.
 The SkillShare Client Coordinator discusses all Project requests with
the specific Not-For-Profit to scope out the request and to ensure:
 it meets a capacity building objective – a major key element for
the request to proceed.
 the Not-For-Profit understands our structure and how we can
assist.
 the Not-For-Profit is committed to completing the Project and
providing ongoing support to our Volunteers during their Project.
Requests SkillShare chooses not to support
SkillShare is focused on building the capacity of the Not-For-Profits we
support. Therefore there are activities which SkillShare Volunteers will
not be asked complete. Such activities include:
 work which is clearly part of the day-to-day operation of Not-For-Profits.
 any direct lobbying for, or to, governments or other organisations.
 providing assistance to profit making organisations.
 acting directly as a fundraiser.
 advancing an organisation’s religious beliefs.
 providing performance evaluation on specific individuals.
 where the intention is to simply use the Oxfam name to lend weight to
decisions already made or to advance the reputation of the organisation.
 where Oxfam Australia’s reputation or integrity may be placed in jeopardy.
 where staff and/or board members are not in agreement with the Project
objectives.
Becoming a SkillShare Volunteer
 All SkillShare Volunteers must have at least five years professional
experience.

The Volunteer recruitment and induction process is as follows:

1. Online registration – which takes about five minutes. You are
encouraged to upload your resume so the MT can understand your
professional skills and experience.

2. A short telephone interview with our Volunteer Coordinator – this

allows SkillShare to determine your suitability for the program.

3. Online Induction – which will take about 30 minutes. You are

currently completely this, and successful completion is a program
requirement to join the program.

Once you successfully complete these steps,

the Volunteer Coordinator will confirm you are a
SkillShare Volunteer.
Becoming a SkillShare Monitor
 All SkillShare Monitors are inducted as Volunteers, and therefore
must have at least five years professional experience.
 The role of Monitor is to ensure each Project runs smoothly
according to the Project Agreement and the expectations of all are
managed during Project completion.
 SkillShare Monitors represent the face of SkillShare with the
Volunteer and Not-For-Profit, and along with the Management Team,
is responsible for maintaining SkillShare’s standards.
 If there is more than one Volunteer assigned to a Project, the Monitor
is the central contact for all.
 All Monitors are required to report regularly to the SkillShare Project
Coordinator during the completion of each Project.
 They share best practice and key learnings to assist with SkillShare’s
strategic growth.
SkillShare Volunteer rights
 To leave the program at any time and resign from an active Project.
 For all Management Team members to be available to discuss
Volunteer feedback. Email contact details are listed on our website.
 To be offered the opportunity to become a SkillShare Monitor if you
have the relevant skills and experience.
SkillShare Volunteer obligations
 To be honest when communicating with Not-For-Profit groups,
Monitors and Management Team members.
 To complete allocated Projects as per Project Agreement, and if this
is unable to be achieved to promptly advise the relevant Monitor or
Management Team member.
SkillShare Volunteer insurance
SkillShare is supported by Oxfam Australia Insurance cover, taking into account:
 SkillShare takes great care when selecting Volunteers and sights the professional
experience of all Volunteers. However, SkillShare does not guarantee, and takes
no responsibility for, the skills or character of any SkillShare Volunteer.
 If required, SkillShare will complete a Police Check for specific Volunteers in
relation to a specific Project, when requested by the Not-For-Profit. SkillShare
will discuss this specific requirement with relevant Volunteers. 
 SkillShare expressly disclaims any liability in negligence or otherwise in relation
to any advice provided by a SkillShare Volunteer, or in relation to any other action
undertaken by a SkillShare Volunteer while assisting the Not-For-Profit.
  All Not-For-Profits undertake to independently assess any advice given by a
SkillShare Volunteer to the Not-For-Profit, and accepts full responsibility for any
actions taken by the Not-For-Profit in reliance on such advice.
Applying for a new Project
 We encourage you to regularly visit www.shareyourskills.org to view
the latest Projects for which we are recruiting Volunteers.

 Once you have successfully completed our Induction process, you

will be able to apply online for these Projects, as long as you are
logged in.

 The SkillShare Project Coordinator may contact you directly to

discuss specific Project opportunities, and if you are available, based
on the professional skills you list at the time of initial online
registration.
SkillShare Project process
o Not-For-Profit contacts SkillShare
Not-For-Profits will ordinarily contact a member of the SkillShare
Management Team to discuss their Project request. If this request is within
our SkillShare scope, the Not-For-Profit will be asked to register their group
and their Project on our website.
Projects can be proposed online by Not-For-Profits once they are registered.
o Project creation
The SkillShare Client Coordinator works with the Not-For-Profit to scope their
Project, including key objectives, key timeframes. This ensures that the NFP
is fully aware of how SkillShare can assist and to clarify and confirm key
objectives.
o Volunteer and Monitor selection
Once the Project is created, the Client Coordinator advises other MT
members of the new Project. The Marketing Coordinator will advertise the
specific Volunteer role on our website and, based on the specific timeframes,
our Project Coordinator may proactively contact Volunteer and Monitors with
suitable skills to check their availability.
SkillShare Project process – cont.
 Initial Volunteer meeting
A pre-commencement meeting is arranged by the Project
Coordinator with the allocated Monitor and Volunteer. The purpose is
introduce all parties and provide Project background and initial
Project information to both parties.

 Project Team Meeting

The Project Coordinator arranges an in-person meeting with the
Monitor, Volunteer and Not-For-Profit to finalise the scope of the
Project and ensure all parties understand and agree on Project
requirements.

o Project Team Agreement

Following the Team Meeting, the Monitor will complete the Project
Contract and forward to the Volunteer and Not-For-Profit for
approval. This process ensures each party is able to agree with the
Project, and then get started as agreed!
Barriers to successfully completing Projects
Some SkillShare Projects will not be able to be completed.
Some reasons why this may take place include:
 Project is too large or too time-consuming to be completed within
agreed time-frames.
 Volunteer or Monitor circumstances change.
 the Not-For-Profit advises SkillShare they are not getting what they
hoped for from the engagement (e.g. the scope is not being met)
 personality conflict.
 The Not-For-Profit organises volunteer support from another
organisation or similar.

If you have any questions or concerns about a Project you are working
on, we encourage honest and timely communication with your Monitor
and/or SkillShare Management Team.
Project status updates
 SkillShare Volunteers are required to provide regular Project updates
to the Monitor.

 SkillShare Monitors provide regular Project updates to the SkillShare

Project Coordinator.

 The frequency and format of this feedback depends on the individual

Project, however is generally completed on email on a monthly basis.

 At the conclusion of each Project, the Volunteer, Monitor and Not-

For-Profit are requested to complete an online Evaluation. The
feedback collected during this will assist with the ongoing development
of SkillShare.
Joining the SkillShare Management Team
 If you are interested in joining our Management Team, please let us
know!

 All Management Team members are Volunteers, who joined the

SkillShare exactly the same way as you are now.

 Management Team members typically have a few more years of

professional experience and be able to offer their strategic planning
skills and experience.
Management Team Contacts
 Team Leader Narelle Sheahan 0410 525 228

 Project Coordinator Silvia Carbone 0418 592 899

Thank you
 The SkillShare Management Team would like to thank youu for
joining our team.

 We look forward to working with you to share your professional skills

and experience!

 We hope you enjoy your SkillShare experience as much as the

Management Team do.