Preparation:

You should receive correspondence from your chosen charity or not-for-profit, outlining what to expect on the day of your Corporate Volunteering Day.  You may have forms or an induction to complete, so ensure you leave yourself plenty of time in the morning to get there on time.

Time:

You're donating your valuable time, so it's important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. It's important to make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit and to communicate with the people you're working with in the volunteer organisation.

Ask questions:

You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. If you have any questions, be sure to speak up. Some questions you might like to ask your volunteer coordinator include time commitment expectations, if there's any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions during your experience.

Expectations:

Make sure you know what's expected. Before starting, ensure you are comfortable with the organisation, know what is expected, and understand the time commitment. Consider starting small so that you don't over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed.

Speak up:

Don't be afraid to make a change. Speak up if your experience isn't what you expected. Don't force yourself into a bad fit. Talk to the organisation about changing your focus or consider looking for another match.

Enjoy yourself!:

Most importantly, make sure you're having fun! The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organisation. If you're not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you're performing? The people you're working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and familiar? Pinpointing what's bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

Share your experience:

Make sure you take a camera along to take lots of photos to remember and share your experience with others. Contact volunteering@mq.edu.au when you've finished your volunteer activity so that your day can be included with other experiences.

HR staff pulling out unwanted weeds during their Bushcare@MQ volunteer day