Technology is important in ensuring volunteers and organisations remain informed, connected, and can access the support they need. The Volunteer Involving Organisation Online Accessibility Survey, conducted in 2023, highlighted issues in the capability of individuals to access materials to support volunteers based on many factors.

This article offers practical tips and advice on how organisations can build their digital capacity and capability to better support volunteering in their communities.

Step 1: Assess your capability

Knowing where you stand is the first essential step in your journey to increase your online accessibility. This step will help inform consecutive steps by informing you of where your knowledge gaps are, equipment and unmet needs.

Quick action: 

Conduct an audit or assessment of your current infrastructure, capability and needs by taking the Digital Capability Quiz through the Digital Transformation Hub: https://digitaltransformation.org.au/survey

Step 2: Increase your knowledge through free resources and training

Once you have identified areas you’d like to increase your knowledge in, there are a range of quality free or low cost training sessions targeted to increasing the knowledge and capacity of not for profit organisations.

Free and low cost resources and training:

• Connecting Up for free webinars, on demand courses and recordings targeted to increasing digital literacy for not for profits: https://www.connectingup.org/
  
• Techsoup: https://techsoup-au.course.tc/
  
• National Knowledge Base access a range of Digital Literacy topics specific to volunteering: https://volunteering.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/folders/51000257917

Quick action:

Kick off increasing your digital literacy with a few essential on demand free webinars: 

• Cyber Security: Essentials for NFP Staff
  
• Cyber security risks and incident response

Step 3: Access grants and utilise free resources for any unmet digital needs in your organisation

The Volunteer Involving Organisation Online Accessibility report identified time and money as two of the biggest barriers to volunteer involving organisations increasing their digital capability and capacity. This section highlights some quick wins you can access remove those barriers.

• Investigate grant opportunities to support digital inclusion for NFPs such as:
  • Microsoft 365 NFP Grants to save on Microsoft solutions: https://nonprofit.microsoft.com/en-us/getting-started
  • Telstra Connected Communities: https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/telstra-connected-communities-program/
  • Building Digital Skills Grant: https://www.beconnectednetwork.org.au/grant-program/building-digital-skills-grants
  • Smarty Grants: https://www.smartygrants.com.au/
  • Google also offers grants to support digital marketing: https://www.google.com/grants/
    

• Access discounted software licences, webinars and tech support through ConnectingUp: https://www.connectingup.org/learn/articles/connecting-up-donations-discounts-program-overview
  
  
• No time? Don’t have the budget for getting someone in to drive your digital journey? Consider advertising for a Skilled Volunteer to assist in driving this agenda forward, when you do this, ensure that the role aligns with the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.
  
• Get creative with equipment
  • Consider public spaces that may have the technology, connectivity, or support to meet digital needs (e.g., libraries or neighbourhood centres).
  • Approach organisations who re-purpose technology from big business or government such as: Qld Community Foundation.

Quick action:

Jump on and check if you are eligible for the Microsoft 365 NFP grants to save heaps! 

https://nonprofit.microsoft.com/en-us/getting-started

Step 4: Access Digital Volunteer Management Solutions to ensure you are streamlining your volunteer management processes

Now that you have the foundations for the organisation sorted it is time to take a look specifically at your volunteering programs.

• Consider investing in a Volunteer Management System. Find options at: https://volunteeringgateway.org.au/technology
  
• Utilise online spaces to be able to reach more volunteers and connect with them using products such as Microsoft Teams (free training on this from Connecting Up here and on the Knowledge Base Microsoft 101: National Knowledge Base) 
  
• Connect with your State of Territory Peak body for volunteering for guidance.

Quick action: 

Streamlining your volunteer management practices from position design, recruitment, selection, training and general volunteer management can be a huge time saver! 

Check out all of the options: https://volunteeringgateway.org.au/technology

Discover more about digital inclusion for Australia Volunteer Involving Organisations in the VIO Online Accessibility Survey Report: https://volunteering.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/51000361454-volunteer-involving-organisations-online-accessibility-survey

Acknowledgement

This resource has been developed under the National Volunteer Management Activity project.