Self-determination in practice at the 2023 National Volunteering Conference
The recent 2023 National Volunteering Conference, The Future is Now, was held on Ngunnawal Ngambri Country. Community First Development Volunteer Coordinator, Aimee Bacchetto and Strategic Projects Manager, Ginibi Robinson presented to a highly engaged audience.
The conference brought together over 800 (500 face to face and 300 online) not-for-profit peak bodies, volunteer management professionals, government and corporate representatives, academics and researchers, and volunteers to address emerging issues within the volunteering space and as part of the conference, launch Australia’s first National Strategy for Volunteering in ten years. The conference was dedicated to fostering an inclusive and open discussion on the future of volunteering and highlighted practical and innovative approaches to reimagine volunteering in Australia.
Our presentation, Volunteering Alongside Self-Determining First Nations Communities, outlined our principles of engaging with First Nations’ communities: by invitation with self-determining relationships led by communities at the core of every collaboration and connection, including obligations to and relationships with Country.
Our engagements are always founded on communities self-determining what is important to them and how each connection and engagement will proceed. This approach is fluid and non-linear and yet still meets shared goals and aspirations. Following the presentation we had further conversations and received validation from participants about the power and significance of our core principle, self-determination and how this works in building strong relationships between the volunteer, community and community development officers.
We shared powerful feedback from First Nations’ communities we have relationships with, about the volunteer qualities that are important to communities as part of building strong relationships, and how we incorporate this feedback into how we induct volunteers.
Our session was shared with Jenna Chia from Volunteering Victoria who spoke about their journey with First Nations’ communities in Victoria and the findings from their research about First Nations’ volunteering, the power of language and how volunteering is perceived and interpreted. Their observations included volunteering as a cultural obligation and responsibility and just a part of being in community, an interconnected kinship relationship. The language of volunteering as a formal construct and western paradigm was not identified with by Victorian First Nations’ communities, along with systemic barriers including racism and mainstream assumptions.
We look forward to continuing to share our Community Development work, the self-determining voices of the communities we engage with and the power of interconnected and culturally responsive volunteer relationships, strengthening connections and relationships, and making new ones from this and future volunteering conferences.
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First Nations focus, 2023 National Volunteering Conference presenters. L-R, Ricky Spencer (sociologist) Victoria, Jenna Chia, Senior Engagement & Indigenous Programs Officer Volunteering Victoria, Ginibi Robinson Community First Development, Aimee Bacchetto, Community First Development, Heba Al Adawy, Policy Officer, Volunteering Australia and session Chair.
