By Christine de Kock
BUSINESSES are being urged to volunteer their time to assist not-for-profit community groups as part of a new initiative being coordinated by the City of Maribyrnong.
Helen Cameron, the city’s business engagement facilitator, said the council was building on previous community volunteer initiatives with the establishment of the new project.
“We did have a business engagement program last year that was a little bit different from the one we have now,” she said.
She said previous initiatives focussed on “impact days” where volunteers from IBM, National Australia Bank, Ford and Delfin volunteered to plant trees, teach computer skills or take part in general skills sharing.
“What we are doing now is much more sustainable,” she said.
“We’re trying to get organisations or volunteers from organisations to come and work on long-term projects.”
She said the council aimed to build relationships between businesses and community groups, to the point where community groups felt comfortable enough to freely approach their corporate partner with new project.
Ms Cameron said IBM volunteers were involved in a number of initiatives in the municipality, one of the most significant was their ongoing relationship with Tweddle Child and Family Health Service.
“We’ve got an ongoing relationship with IBM,” she said. “But we don’t want to use IBM for everything all the time and wear them out.”
Andrew Hocking, community relations for IBM Australia, said the company worked closely with the municipality because the council had good “structures in place”.
“Maribyrnong City Council is well set up to work with corporates and that’s one of the key reasons we work with them,” he said.
He said there was no other council in Victoria with whom they had established a similar relationship.
He added that volunteerism was part of IBM’s corporate policy and that several volunteers who worked at the South Gate branch lived in the City of Maribyrnong.
“A lot of workers wanted to volunteer on something that contributes to their local community,” he said.
“Our research shows they wanted to work for an employer who allows them to contribute back to their local community.”
Acting mayor Michael Clarke said the focus of the business engagement program was to train participating community groups to plan and manage their projects.
“We have 14 community groups already signed up to the program and we’re now looking for more businesses to join,” he said.
“I really want to encourage businesses – especially local businesses – to contact us.
“It doesn’t have to be a big commitment of staff time. Even a few hours a month can make a lot of difference to our community.”
For more information contact Ms Cameron on 9688 0591 or email Helen.Cameron@maribyrnong.-vic.gov.au
