Sustainability of a long-term volunteer-based bird monitoring program : recruitment, retention and attrition

With an increasing demand and reliance on volunteers in a host of different sectors, the need for organisations to understand motivating factors behind volunteering, and how to retain volunteer services, is crucial. This paper examines the recruitment, retention and attrition among a group of volunteers participating in a long-term monitoring program for the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot Neophema chrysogaster. This project is one of the longest running of its type in Australia with more than 20 years of survey activities. Volunteers were most often recruited via other environmental agencies. Almost three-quarters of respondents had been involved in birdwatching or other bird monitoring activities usually in connection with conservation organisations. The modal response was an involvement of 10-20 years, with most other responses in the range 0-5 years. The majority intend to continue volunteering, but cited perceived health and time commitments as the main factors behind possible future decisions to cease volunteering. Respondents suggested improvements in the volunteer management of the program, and in particular, thought a personal \u27thank you\u27, would maintain motivation and participation

Between tradition and transition: Workers with family responsibilities. by Ilene Wolcott

This paper briefly summarizes the demographic and social changes in Australian families that have focused attention on the interconnections between work and family life

Retirement village expectations and experiences: an exploratory study

'Lifestyle' retirement villages are promoted as promising alternative accommodation for older Australians, a trend that has implications for aged care and housing policies. This paper presents the results of interviews conducted in November 2000 with 26 retirement village residents as a pilot study for a future research project. Although most respondents expressed high rates of satisfaction with village life, some were disappointed. Complaints mainly related to perceptions that the standard or provision of services and facilities expected when they had contracted to buy into the village were not being adequately met. The more serious complaints revolved around anticipated health care supports, for example, the loss of a nurse on the premises. The data raises issues of how lifestyle retirement villages fit into the continuum of care for older Australians as levels of dependency increase

Family Wellness Program Instructor Training: Evaluation Report

ANGLICARE (Diocese of Sydney) is the national provider of the Family Wellness Program in Australia. Through its Community Education and Training Unit, ANGLICARE conducts instructor training, to equip people to facilitate the Survival Skills for Healthy Families program among families, which is a Family Wellness Program. The Family Wellness suite of programs was designed to foster and promote the skills and values known to support healthy family functioning. Since their initial development, hundreds of families have participated in various versions of the program and offered confirmation of its value through their feedback. ANGLICARE Sydney is currently undertaking a process to introduce these programs into the Australian context. As a result of this initiative, a decision was made by the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) to commission an evaluation to examine the effectiveness of the Family Wellness Program Instructor Training course