Masterclass for education providers // Gold Coast, July 2012

Volunteering Qld has been conducting research to learn more about how to best engage international students as volunteers. As a result, Volunteering Qld presented the 'International Students as Volunteers Masterclass' which offered tips for universities on how to support international students to volunteer, including: 

• The needs, benefits, and concerns for international students around volunteering
• Increasing opportunities for international students to volunteer
• Working effectively with community organisations to support student volunteering

Masterclass for education providers // Brisbane, July 2012

Volunteering Qld has been conducting research to learn more about how to best engage international students as volunteers. As a result, Volunteering Qld presented the 'International Students as Volunteers Masterclass' which offered tips for universities on how to support international students to volunteer, including: 

• The needs, benefits, and concerns for international students around volunteering
• Increasing opportunities for international students to volunteer
• Working effectively with community organisations to support student volunteering

Masterclass for nonprofit organisations // Brisbane, May 2012

The ‘Involving International Students as Volunteers Masterclass’ offered tips on how to work with international student volunteers in the Queensland community, including:

• Induction and orientation
• Cultural competence and communication
• Meaningful engagement
• Realising potential

The masterclass was held at the Volunteering Qld office and 12 participants attended the free 3 hour session. They represented a varied cross section of volunteer involving organisations including: Qld Police Service, Mater Health Services, Multicultural Development Association, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Children's Health Foundation Qld, The Pyjama Foundation, Tenpin Bowling Association of Qld, UnitingCare Community, Griffith University and University of Queensland.

The masterclass covered best practices for working with international students as volunteers and a project planning tool aimed at helping organiations to design projects for international students to volunteer with. The participants commented that the research was useful, excellent ideas for making students comfortable and working with their strengths were presented, topics such as how different cultures impact on personality and how to best communicate were relevant, and overall the masterclass offered a great networking opportunity to share experiences. 

Masterclass for nonprofit organisations // Gold Coast, May 2012

The ‘Involving International Students as Volunteers Masterclass’ was held during National Volunteer Week and offered tips on how to work with international student volunteers in the Queensland community, including:

• Induction and orientation
• Cultural competence and communication
• Meaningful engagement
• Realising potential

The masterclass was graciously hosted in the new Volunteering Gold Coast premises (2074 Gold Coast Highway, Miami Qld 4220) and 10 participants attended the free 3 hour session. They represented a diverse cross section of local Gold Coast organisations including: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Rotary, FSG, Gold Coast Sailing, Star Gardens, Crossing Divides and the Palm Beach Youth Music Venture.

The masterclass covered best practices for working with international students as volunteers and a project planning tool aimed at helping organiations to design projects for international students to volunteer with. The participants discussed their challenges and came to the conclusion that any organisation, however large or small, could benefit greatly from working with international students as volunteers provided they went about it smartly – in a way that was practical and beneficial for both parties.