NSW HACC Volunteer staff survey key findings
NSW HACC Volunteer Staff Survey: Key Findings
Ageing, Disability and Home Care Department of Family and Community Services NSW September 2011 Draft
This report has been developed by Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADHC), Department of Family and Community Services NSW using material prepared for ADHC by Age Communications Pty Ltd and Tribe Research. It has been made possible by the cooperation of a wide range of people within the Home and Community Care (HACC) sector and the many volunteer staff who participated in the survey on which this report is based. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, ADHC makes no representation, expressly or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the materials or any information contained in or pertaining to this publication. The views and information presented in this report are not intended as a statement of ADHC policy and do not necessarily, or at all, reflect the views held by ADHC, the NSW Government or the Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services. © Ageing Disability and Home Care, Department of Family and Community Services NSW, 2011. This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process without written permission from ADHC.
Updated September 2011
Contents 1 2
Introduction ......................................................................................................3 About the survey respondents........................................................................4 2.1 Gender of respondents .............................................................................4 2.2 Age of respondents ...................................................................................4 2.3 Cultural background of respondents .........................................................4 2.4 Location of respondents............................................................................5 2.5 Employment status of respondents...........................................................5 3 About the volunteers .......................................................................................7 3.1 What are the main reasons for volunteering? ...........................................7 4 About the service provider and the volunteer ...............................................9 4.1 Where do volunteers work within the organisation?..................................9 4.2 How long have volunteers worked for the HACC service? .......................9 4.3 How many service providers do volunteers work for?.............................10 4.4 What type of training has been provided to volunteers? .........................11 4.5 How much time per week do volunteers work?.......................................11 4.6 What are the future plans of volunteers? ................................................12 5 Perceptions of volunteer work ......................................................................13 5.1 How do volunteers feel about their work? ...............................................13 5.2 What else would help volunteers? ..........................................................14 6 Recruiting and retaining volunteers .............................................................15 6.1 How do volunteers find out about volunteer opportunities? ....................15 6.2 Volunteers as a recruitment source ........................................................16 Appendix A HACC Volunteer Survey.....................................................................18
Updated September 2011
1
Introduction
The Home and Community Care (HACC) Volunteer Staff Survey was conducted by Age Communications Pty Ltd and Tribe Research in November-December 2009. It is one of three surveys undertaken as part of the NSW HACC Workforce Project. Volunteers across all HACC service types were invited to participate. A total of 1850 volunteers in HACC services responded to the survey. See Appendix A to view the HACC Volunteer Survey Questionnaire. The survey gathered the following information: ■ demographic information about the volunteer respondents ■ type of volunteer work ■ future intentions of volunteers. The survey also collected information on reasons for volunteering and the perspectives of volunteers. The information on reasons for volunteering is highlighted in Section 2, and the information on volunteer perspectives is highlighted in Section 4.
Explanatory note for interpreting findings This review of the HACC workforce utilises quantitative and qualitative information collected through a survey of HACC volunteers. Participation in this survey was voluntary and therefore the information collected is not comprehensive. Whilst the responses and findings are likely to be indicative of HACC workforce trends; caution should be used in interpreting the results and findings contained within this report. These results are presented within the context of this report. Please note: Percentages sometimes add up to more than 100% as for some questions respondents could indicate multiple responses. Percentages sometimes add up to less than 100% as non-respondents have not been included. The statistical analysis of results has led to detailed percentage figures with decimal places. The percentage figures are not significant to decimal places and should be interpreted as providing qualitative figures for comparison rather than quantitative measurements. Decimal figures of 0.5 and more are rounded up to the nearest whole number. Note: The abbreviation AB is used in some tables to refer to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. This abbreviation is only used in data tables where space is limited and use of the full term is impractical.
Updated September 2011
2
About the survey respondents
2.1
Gender of respondents
A total of 1850 volunteers in HACC responded to the survey and the majority of the respondents (65%) were female.
2.2
Age of respondents
The majority of the respondents (81%) were aged over 55 years. Only 4% of the volunteers were aged less than 35 years.
Age of respondents ■ >65 years (46%) ■ 55-65 years (35%) ■ 45-54 years (10%) ■ 35-44 years (5%) ■ 25-34 years (3%) ■ 65 years (43% female; 53% male) ■ 55-65 years (34% female; 40% male) ■ 45-54 years (12% female; 5% male) ■ 35-44 years (7% female; 2% male) ■ 25-34 years (3% female; 1% male) ■ 65 years 0.7
55–64 years 1.2
45–54 years 6.4
35–44 years 4.4
25–34 years 4.5
65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
5 years (44%) ■ 2-5 years (24%) ■ 1-2 years (16%) ■ 5 years (45% female; 41% male) ■ 2-5 years (22% female; 28% male) ■ 1-2 years (16% female; 15% male) ■ 65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
5 years
62
32
32
15
14
0
2–5 years
21
29
24
19
21
33
1–2 years
11
20
18
24
18
22
5 years – 26% AB; 44% Non-AB ■ 2-5 years – 32% AB; 24% Non-AB ■ 1-2 years – 23% AB; 16% Non-AB ■ 5 years – 35% CALD; 45% Non- CALD ■ 2-5 years – 24% CALD; 24% Non- CALD ■ 1-2 years – 18% CALD; 15% Non- CALD ■ 65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
3 days per week - 7% Male respondents were more likely to volunteer for longer periods of time than female respondents – with 49% of male respondents working for more than 1 day per week, compared with 34% of female respondents. Time spent volunteering per week by gender ■ ½ day per week - 44% female; 30% male ■ ½-1 day per week - 22% female; 21% male ■ 1-3 days per week - 28% female; 40% male 3
Respondents could select multiple responses.
Page 11 of 23
■ >3 days per week - 6% female; 9% male Younger respondents, aged less than 25 years, were most likely to volunteer for half a day per week (63%), whilst respondents aged from 55–64 years (43%) were most likely to volunteer from 1–3 days per week. Time spent volunteering per week by age (table) Time spent volunteering per week
% >65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
3 days per week
7
8
9
7
9
0
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander respondents were more likely than non-indigenous respondents to volunteer for longer periods; with 17% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander respondents and 7% of non-Indigenous respondents volunteering for more than 3 days per week. Time spent volunteering per week by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status ■ ½ day per week – 23% AB; 40%; Non-AB ■ ½ - 1 day per week – 27% AB; 22%; Non-AB ■ 1-3 days per week – 33% AB; 32% Non-AB ■ >3 days per week – 17% AB; 7% Non-AB Non-CALD respondents (33%) were slightly more likely than respondents with a CALD background (26%) to volunteer from 1–3 days per week. Time spent volunteering per week by CALD status ■ ½ day per week – 43% CALD; 39%; Non- CALD ■ ½ - 1 day per week – 24% CALD; 21%; Non- CALD ■ 1-3 days per week – 26% CALD; 33% Non- CALD ■ >3 days per week –7% CALD; 7% Non- CALD
4.6
What are the future plans of volunteers?
When asked about their future plans, the majority of respondents 4 (91%) reported they were likely to maintain their current level of volunteering over the next 12 months.
Future plans of volunteers ■ Maintain current levels of volunteering (91%) ■ Increase levels of volunteering (14%) ■ Seek different volunteering opportunities (6%) ■ Seek paid employment (4%) 4
Respondents could provide multiple responses.
Page 12 of 23
■ Less volunteering (1%) ■ Cease volunteering (1%)
5
Perceptions of volunteer work
5.1
How do volunteers feel about their work?
When asked about how they viewed their work with the service provider, the majority of respondents reported 5 (92%) they enjoyed their work and found it very satisfying. Over half also reported that they felt part of a team (52%). Only 1% of volunteers reported they found volunteering difficult or costly. Perceptions of volunteering ■ Enjoyed their volunteer work and found it satisfying (92%) ■ Felt like part of a team (52%) ■ Would do more if asked (20%) ■ Reported they were learning new skills (18%) ■ Felt their skills could be better used (4%) ■ Found volunteering difficult or costly (1%) When perceptions of volunteering were assessed by gender, female respondents (20%) were slightly more likely than male respondents (14%) to report that they were learning new skills. Younger respondents, aged less than 35 years were also more likely than older volunteers to report they were learning new skills.
5
Responses total more than 100% as this was a multiple choice question.
Page 13 of 23
Perceptions of volunteering by age (table) Perceptions of volunteering
% >65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
Ageing, Disability and Home Care Department of Family and Community Services NSW September 2011 Draft
This report has been developed by Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADHC), Department of Family and Community Services NSW using material prepared for ADHC by Age Communications Pty Ltd and Tribe Research. It has been made possible by the cooperation of a wide range of people within the Home and Community Care (HACC) sector and the many volunteer staff who participated in the survey on which this report is based. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, ADHC makes no representation, expressly or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the materials or any information contained in or pertaining to this publication. The views and information presented in this report are not intended as a statement of ADHC policy and do not necessarily, or at all, reflect the views held by ADHC, the NSW Government or the Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services. © Ageing Disability and Home Care, Department of Family and Community Services NSW, 2011. This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process without written permission from ADHC.
Updated September 2011
Contents 1 2
Introduction ......................................................................................................3 About the survey respondents........................................................................4 2.1 Gender of respondents .............................................................................4 2.2 Age of respondents ...................................................................................4 2.3 Cultural background of respondents .........................................................4 2.4 Location of respondents............................................................................5 2.5 Employment status of respondents...........................................................5 3 About the volunteers .......................................................................................7 3.1 What are the main reasons for volunteering? ...........................................7 4 About the service provider and the volunteer ...............................................9 4.1 Where do volunteers work within the organisation?..................................9 4.2 How long have volunteers worked for the HACC service? .......................9 4.3 How many service providers do volunteers work for?.............................10 4.4 What type of training has been provided to volunteers? .........................11 4.5 How much time per week do volunteers work?.......................................11 4.6 What are the future plans of volunteers? ................................................12 5 Perceptions of volunteer work ......................................................................13 5.1 How do volunteers feel about their work? ...............................................13 5.2 What else would help volunteers? ..........................................................14 6 Recruiting and retaining volunteers .............................................................15 6.1 How do volunteers find out about volunteer opportunities? ....................15 6.2 Volunteers as a recruitment source ........................................................16 Appendix A HACC Volunteer Survey.....................................................................18
Updated September 2011
1
Introduction
The Home and Community Care (HACC) Volunteer Staff Survey was conducted by Age Communications Pty Ltd and Tribe Research in November-December 2009. It is one of three surveys undertaken as part of the NSW HACC Workforce Project. Volunteers across all HACC service types were invited to participate. A total of 1850 volunteers in HACC services responded to the survey. See Appendix A to view the HACC Volunteer Survey Questionnaire. The survey gathered the following information: ■ demographic information about the volunteer respondents ■ type of volunteer work ■ future intentions of volunteers. The survey also collected information on reasons for volunteering and the perspectives of volunteers. The information on reasons for volunteering is highlighted in Section 2, and the information on volunteer perspectives is highlighted in Section 4.
Explanatory note for interpreting findings This review of the HACC workforce utilises quantitative and qualitative information collected through a survey of HACC volunteers. Participation in this survey was voluntary and therefore the information collected is not comprehensive. Whilst the responses and findings are likely to be indicative of HACC workforce trends; caution should be used in interpreting the results and findings contained within this report. These results are presented within the context of this report. Please note: Percentages sometimes add up to more than 100% as for some questions respondents could indicate multiple responses. Percentages sometimes add up to less than 100% as non-respondents have not been included. The statistical analysis of results has led to detailed percentage figures with decimal places. The percentage figures are not significant to decimal places and should be interpreted as providing qualitative figures for comparison rather than quantitative measurements. Decimal figures of 0.5 and more are rounded up to the nearest whole number. Note: The abbreviation AB is used in some tables to refer to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. This abbreviation is only used in data tables where space is limited and use of the full term is impractical.
Updated September 2011
2
About the survey respondents
2.1
Gender of respondents
A total of 1850 volunteers in HACC responded to the survey and the majority of the respondents (65%) were female.
2.2
Age of respondents
The majority of the respondents (81%) were aged over 55 years. Only 4% of the volunteers were aged less than 35 years.
Age of respondents ■ >65 years (46%) ■ 55-65 years (35%) ■ 45-54 years (10%) ■ 35-44 years (5%) ■ 25-34 years (3%) ■ 65 years (43% female; 53% male) ■ 55-65 years (34% female; 40% male) ■ 45-54 years (12% female; 5% male) ■ 35-44 years (7% female; 2% male) ■ 25-34 years (3% female; 1% male) ■ 65 years 0.7
55–64 years 1.2
45–54 years 6.4
35–44 years 4.4
25–34 years 4.5
65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
5 years (44%) ■ 2-5 years (24%) ■ 1-2 years (16%) ■ 5 years (45% female; 41% male) ■ 2-5 years (22% female; 28% male) ■ 1-2 years (16% female; 15% male) ■ 65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
5 years
62
32
32
15
14
0
2–5 years
21
29
24
19
21
33
1–2 years
11
20
18
24
18
22
5 years – 26% AB; 44% Non-AB ■ 2-5 years – 32% AB; 24% Non-AB ■ 1-2 years – 23% AB; 16% Non-AB ■ 5 years – 35% CALD; 45% Non- CALD ■ 2-5 years – 24% CALD; 24% Non- CALD ■ 1-2 years – 18% CALD; 15% Non- CALD ■ 65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
3 days per week - 7% Male respondents were more likely to volunteer for longer periods of time than female respondents – with 49% of male respondents working for more than 1 day per week, compared with 34% of female respondents. Time spent volunteering per week by gender ■ ½ day per week - 44% female; 30% male ■ ½-1 day per week - 22% female; 21% male ■ 1-3 days per week - 28% female; 40% male 3
Respondents could select multiple responses.
Page 11 of 23
■ >3 days per week - 6% female; 9% male Younger respondents, aged less than 25 years, were most likely to volunteer for half a day per week (63%), whilst respondents aged from 55–64 years (43%) were most likely to volunteer from 1–3 days per week. Time spent volunteering per week by age (table) Time spent volunteering per week
% >65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
3 days per week
7
8
9
7
9
0
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander respondents were more likely than non-indigenous respondents to volunteer for longer periods; with 17% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander respondents and 7% of non-Indigenous respondents volunteering for more than 3 days per week. Time spent volunteering per week by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status ■ ½ day per week – 23% AB; 40%; Non-AB ■ ½ - 1 day per week – 27% AB; 22%; Non-AB ■ 1-3 days per week – 33% AB; 32% Non-AB ■ >3 days per week – 17% AB; 7% Non-AB Non-CALD respondents (33%) were slightly more likely than respondents with a CALD background (26%) to volunteer from 1–3 days per week. Time spent volunteering per week by CALD status ■ ½ day per week – 43% CALD; 39%; Non- CALD ■ ½ - 1 day per week – 24% CALD; 21%; Non- CALD ■ 1-3 days per week – 26% CALD; 33% Non- CALD ■ >3 days per week –7% CALD; 7% Non- CALD
4.6
What are the future plans of volunteers?
When asked about their future plans, the majority of respondents 4 (91%) reported they were likely to maintain their current level of volunteering over the next 12 months.
Future plans of volunteers ■ Maintain current levels of volunteering (91%) ■ Increase levels of volunteering (14%) ■ Seek different volunteering opportunities (6%) ■ Seek paid employment (4%) 4
Respondents could provide multiple responses.
Page 12 of 23
■ Less volunteering (1%) ■ Cease volunteering (1%)
5
Perceptions of volunteer work
5.1
How do volunteers feel about their work?
When asked about how they viewed their work with the service provider, the majority of respondents reported 5 (92%) they enjoyed their work and found it very satisfying. Over half also reported that they felt part of a team (52%). Only 1% of volunteers reported they found volunteering difficult or costly. Perceptions of volunteering ■ Enjoyed their volunteer work and found it satisfying (92%) ■ Felt like part of a team (52%) ■ Would do more if asked (20%) ■ Reported they were learning new skills (18%) ■ Felt their skills could be better used (4%) ■ Found volunteering difficult or costly (1%) When perceptions of volunteering were assessed by gender, female respondents (20%) were slightly more likely than male respondents (14%) to report that they were learning new skills. Younger respondents, aged less than 35 years were also more likely than older volunteers to report they were learning new skills.
5
Responses total more than 100% as this was a multiple choice question.
Page 13 of 23
Perceptions of volunteering by age (table) Perceptions of volunteering
% >65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
65
55–64
45–54
35–44
25–34
