The role of the volunteer: promoting and celebrating diversity through active community engagement

#SDGAction42374

Description

Volunteering Services Australia (VSA) and International Day of People with Disabilities Social Enterprise Fund (IDPWDSEF) promotes the recognition and celebration of diversity in all its forms through continued active community engagement initiatives. Such initiatives are underpinned by volunteer citizens who champion the celebration of the UN's International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD) within and across communities - early learning centres, schools, organisations, NGOs, NFPs and all levels of government. Promotion of IDPWD in this way provides foundations for discourse within and across community stakeholders regarding diversity, inclusion, discrimination, and economic empowerment of people living with a disability.

Expected Impact

This initiative: 
 
- Creates opportunities for skills development for volunteers in alignment with workforce objectives under Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). In effect, this provides a pathway through which future disability services professionals, and people living with a disability in particular, become 'workforce ready' to ultimately invest their skills, resources and attitudes in application to the implementation of the NDIS; 
 
- Promotes discourse within and across communities relative to matters of inclusion, diversity, discrimination, the systemic and historic treatment of people with a disability, biopsychosocial paradigms and the ICF, the economic independence and empowerment of people living with a disability, and so on. The active community engagement which underpins this promotion is twofold: 1) educators/ organisations/ NGOs/ NFPs/ government stakeholders are encouraged and supported to use IDPWD as a day of learning and reflection; and 2) volunteers themselves become agents for change within their own communities and social networks. Community engagement undertaken in this way and with these messages is an impactful mechanism for change, and capitalises upon the positive politicisation of disability services as well as corporate social responsibility agendas of organisations; 
 
- Promotes the NDIS as a 'once in a lifetime' social revolution which both champions the rights of people living with a disability to be the experts in their own lives, and empowers them to do so. 
 
The promoting of the IDPWD Social Enterprise Fund across corporate and social environments builds organic opportunities for people living with a disability and their supporters to seek capital funding and mentoring support to develop, commence or expand their social enterprise initiative. 
 
IDPWDSEF funds capital items, start-up costs, growth funding, and business mentorship (including marketing/ business plans, social media platform development, and so on) to cooperatives, social enterprises and microbusinesses which meet the Fund's social objectives. IDPWDSEF mandates the inclusion of social outcomes and social impact evaluations within all supported social enterprises, and utilises partnerships with academic research and evaluation partners to achieve this objective. The fund bears the cost and publication of all evaluative measures. 
 
To support the creation of the social enterprises/ microbusinesses, IDPWDSEF engages volunteer business mentors (industry experts), undergraduate and postgraduate business/ allied health students (through tertiary partnerships) to support the development of the initiatives. Additionally, IDPWDSEF funds the establishment of co-design and human-centred design forums and opportunities which feature people with lived experience of disability and their families, carers and supporters.

Capacity

The growth of social enterprises which exist for the economic empowerment and financial independence of people living with a disability will build the capacity of people living with a disability to enhance skill development across contexts. Such skill development may be supported (i.e. development of enterprises which employ people living with a disability and which align with the IDPWDSEF's social objectives) or may be independent (i.e. people living with a disability who will be business owners/ operators in their own right). 
 
A medium to long-term objective of IDPWDSEF is to support people living with a disability to become registered providers of support under the NDIS. Doing so will, in addition to actualising opportunities for self-employment, also create opportunities whereby the richness of lived experiences can be invested into the service delivery landscape of the NDIS. As opportunities for power transferral and knowledge transferral are actualised, it is hypothesised that the fundamental pillars of the NDIS, being choice and control, will be further enabled for people living with a disability, and to a more considerable and sustainable extent. 
 
Critically, and as previously discussed, social capital will be built through engagement of volunteers both initially (i.e. through active community engagement initiatives) and throughout (i.e. through business mentoring/ coaching/ consultation, through social outcome/ impact evaluations and through participation in inclusive co-design/ human-centred design groups). In this way, volunteerism is seen to be a pivotal element in the efficacy and sustainability of the initiative. 
 
It is at this point that the elements of the initiative converge into order: 
- Community stakeholders (e.g. schools, corporates, NGOs, NFPs and government) are engaged and supported to actively consider and reflect upon disability, inclusion, discrimination and empowerment within their own contexts; 
- People living with a disability are materially supported to develop opportunities for self economic empowerment as well as to exert choice and control under the NDIS, and 
- Social capital is built and utilised through engagement of volunteers who support each of the preceding elements. This social capital is seen to be cyclical given that such volunteers will comprise the future disability services workforce.

Governed

Both VSA and IDPWDSEF are registered charities within Australia, and are each governed by independent and volunteer Boards of Directors. Each organisation is regulated under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Charities and Not For Profits Commission (ACNC). Each organisation maintains DGR endorsement from the Australia Taxation Office (ATO). 
 
The IDPWDSEF Board of Directors oversee the Social Enterprise Grant program which exists to fund social enterprises, cooperatives and other initiatives which: 
- Are owned and operated by people living with a disability, or 
- Employ >50% of people living with a disability, or 
- Exist solely to promote the economic independence and financial empowerment of people living with a disability in Australia. 
 
Under a formal partnership arrangement, VSA is contracted to IDPWDSEF to undertake community consultation and engagement initiatives which focus both on the Social Enterprise Grants program in addition to promoting celebration of IDPWD within communities, workplaces and schools.

Partners

Volunteering Services Australia, International Day of People with Disabilities Social Enterprise Fund

SDGS & Targets

Goal 4

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

4.1

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes

4.1.1

Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex

4.1.2

Completion rate (primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education)

4.2

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education

4.2.1

Proportion of children aged 24–59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being, by sex

4.2.2

Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex

4.3

By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university

4.3.1

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex

4.4

By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

4.4.1

Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill

4.5

By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations

4.5.1

Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict-affected, as data become available) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregated

4.6

By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy

4.6.1

Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sex

4.7

By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

4.7.1

Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education and (d) student assessment

4.a

Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all

4.a.1

Proportion of schools offering basic services, by type of service

4.b

By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries

4.b.1

Volume of official development assistance flows for scholarships by sector and type of study

4.c

By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States

4.c.1

Proportion of teachers with the minimum required qualifications, by education level

Goal 8

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

8.1

Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries

8.1.1

Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita

8.2

Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

8.2.1

Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person

8.3

Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

8.3.1

Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex

8.4

Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead

8.4.1

Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP

8.4.2

Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP

8.5

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

8.5.1

Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities

8.5.2

Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

8.6

By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

8.6.1

Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training

8.7

Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms

8.7.1

Proportion and number of children aged 5‑17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age

8.8

Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment

8.8.1

Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers, by sex and migrant status

8.8.2

Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status

8.9

By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

8.9.1

Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate

8.10

Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all

8.10.1

(a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults

8.10.2

Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider

8.a

Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries

8.a.1

Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements

8.b

By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization

8.b.1

Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy

Goal 10

Reduce inequality within and among countries

10.1

By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average

10.1.1

Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population

10.2

By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

10.2.1

Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

10.3

Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard

10.3.1

Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed within the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law

10.4

Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality

10.4.1

Labour share of GDP

10.4.2

Redistributive impact of fiscal policy

10.5

Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulations

10.5.1

Financial Soundness Indicators

10.6

Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions in order to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions

10.6.1

Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations

10.7

Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies

10.7.1

Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of montlhy income earned in country of destination

10.7.2

Number of countries with migration policies that facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people

10.7.3

Number of people who died or disappeared in the process of migration towards an international destination

10.7.4

Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of origin

10.a

Implement the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in accordance with World Trade Organization agreements

10.a.1

Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports from least developed countries and developing countries with zero-tariff

10.b

Encourage official development assistance and financial flows, including foreign direct investment, to States where the need is greatest, in particular least developed countries, African countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their national plans and programmes

10.b.1

Total resource flows for development, by recipient and donor countries and type of flow (e.g. official development assistance, foreign direct investment and other flows)

10.c

By 2030, reduce to less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5 per cent

10.c.1

Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted

Goal 3

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

3.1

By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births

3.1.1

Maternal mortality ratio

3.1.2

Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel

3.2

By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births

3.2.1

Under-five mortality rate

3.2.2

Neonatal mortality rate

3.3

By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases

3.3.1

Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations

3.3.2

Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population

3.3.3

Malaria incidence per 1,000 population

3.3.4

Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 population

3.3.5

Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases

3.4

By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

3.4.1

Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease

3.4.2

Suicide mortality rate

3.5

Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol

3.5.1

Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders

3.5.2

Alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol

3.6

By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents

3.6.1

Death rate due to road traffic injuries

3.7

By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes

3.7.1

Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods

3.7.2

Adolescent birth rate (aged 10-14 years; aged 15-19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group

3.8

Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all

3.8.1

Coverage of essential health services

3.8.2

Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income

3.9

By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination

3.9.1

Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution

3.9.2

Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)

3.9.3

Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning

3.a

Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate

3.a.1

Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older

3.b

Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all

3.b.1

Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme

3.b.2

Total net official development assistance to medical research and basic health sectors

3.b.3

Proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available and affordable on a sustainable basis

3.c

Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States

3.c.1

Health worker density and distribution

3.d

Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks

3.d.1

International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness

3.d.2

Percentage of bloodstream infections due to selected antimicrobial-resistant organisms

SDG 14 targets covered

Name	Description

Deliverables & Timeline

01 January, 1970

Minimum of five social enterprises will be funded and supported each year

01 January, 1970

That each social enterprise funded/ supported by IDPWDSEF will directly align with >1 SDG deliverable

01 January, 1970

That each social enterprise funded/ supported by IDPWDSEF will, within 12 month from commencement: 1) provide an Early Indicators Report which details SROI or alternative social impact measurement; 2) That each Report and results therein will feature commentary as to direct alignment with >1 SDG deliverable; 3) That such measurement will be conducted and reported upon in line with Australiasian Evaluation Society's standards

01 January, 1970

That each year, all evaluation reports will be submitted to the Global Registry of Voluntary Commitments & Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

Resources mobilized

Staff / Technical expertise

VSA and IDPWDSEF, all staff and Board members provide requisite skills and expertise so as to ensure efficient and effective function of the iniative.

Other, please specify

Financial expenditure will be based on the funding requirements of submissions through the fund each financial year. No maximum limit has been placed on the value of this funding

In-kind contribution

VSA and IDPWDSEF operate all components of this initiative as in-kind contribution

Partnership Progress