What is your role at Vinnies NSW?  Vinnies NSW Youth Engagement Team Leader

How long have you been with Vinnies?  Five years

What are the key responsibilities within your role?

• Provide operational and resourcing support to a network of Vinnies Schools & Youth staff across NSW
• Provide operational and resourcing support to the NSW Youth Committee and act as the point of connection between the Committee and other parts of the Society (e.g. Schools & Youth Staff, Member and Volunteer Engagement Team, Policy and Advocacy Team)
• Develop and implement strategic plans and goals for School and Youth Engagement across NSW. This includes, but is not limited to, recruiting and retaining new volunteers aged between 2-35 years, providing educational and formational opportunities to young people, identifying opportunities for young people to become involved with the Society, design and deliver Youth initiatives, programs and events and modify depending on community needs and service standards that best cater to the people we assist
• Sit on the National Spirit of Youth Standing Committee and transfer information from NSW to national counterparts as well as help organise and implement national Vinnies Schools & Youth initiatives

How do you work with volunteers within your role?

• Speak to them regularly and listen to their feedback about the Youth initiatives, programs and events that we run. As a result of this, I aspire to foster a culture of improvement and empowerment by implementing their suggestions and allowing them to have a direct say in programs that impact them or that they participate in
• Invite them to Society events and external events that pertain to the role and areas of interest that they are involved in within the Society
• Promote new initiatives, campaigns and events that come up within the Society
• Collaborate with them to produce news stories and collateral that showcases the wonderful works that they are involved in

How can volunteers get involved with corporate volunteering at Vinnies?

Vinnies Youth Members range from 2-35 years in age. They are involved in many volunteer programs including, but not limited to, Buddies Days, Green Team, Homework Help, Gift From the Heart, Listening Ear, Social and Affordable Housing Tenant Engagement and Vinnies Vans. To find out more about how you can become involved with a Vinnies program, please visit: https://youthnsw.vinnies.org.au/bethechange/