Volunteer Experiences of a School-Based Volunteer Program

IF 1.4 4区医学 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Health Promotion Journal of Australia Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI:10.1002/hpja.956

Sharyn Burns, Hanna Saltis, Jacqueline Hendriks, Jenny Tohotoa, Christina Pollard

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Issue Addressed

Individuals engage in volunteer activities due to a range of intrinsic, extrinsic, and altruistic factors; and this can have a positive impact on their subjective wellbeing. Within a school context, mentoring programs can connect adult volunteers with students, to provide social and/or academic support; however, evaluation data related to these programs is limited and often focused on student perspectives. This paper explores EdConnect volunteers' perspective on volunteering in primary and secondary schools in Western Australia and Victoria.

Methods

A mixed methods evaluation framework utilised surveys (n = 380) and telephone interviews (n = 22) with Edconnect Mentor and/or Learning Support volunteers.

Results

Most survey respondents reported that volunteering enhanced their sense of community, mental wellbeing, physical health, had helped them to develop new skills. Recurrent themes related to (a) Structural impacts of motivations; and (b) Motivations and inter-and intrapersonal impacts of volunteering were identified. Various factors impacted the volunteer experience, including volunteer roles and responsibilities, volunteer qualities, school support and training opportunities. Key motivating factors for volunteering were a desire to give back to society, helping students and staff, and contributing to student social, emotional, and academic outcomes.

Conclusion

Volunteers identified a range of academic, social, emotional, and behavioural gains for the students they supported; as well as range of personal benefits for themselves. Despite the positive impact that a school-based mentoring program can have for key stakeholders, challenges to program implementation do exist and require careful management.

So What?

School-based mentoring programs are an efficacious way to strengthen partnerships between schools and their local community, with positive benefits for the school, the students, and the adult volunteers. They also contribute to the notion of a ‘school as a community hub’.

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一个校本志愿者项目的志愿者经历

个人参与志愿者活动是由于一系列内在的、外在的和利他的因素；这对他们的主观幸福感有积极的影响。在学校环境中，辅导项目可以将成年志愿者与学生联系起来，提供社会和/或学术支持；然而，与这些项目相关的评估数据是有限的，而且往往集中在学生的观点上。本文探讨了EdConnect志愿者对西澳大利亚州和维多利亚州中小学志愿服务的看法。方法采用混合方法评估框架，对Edconnect导师和/或学习支持志愿者进行调查（n = 380）和电话访谈（n = 22）。结果大多数受访者表示，志愿服务增强了他们的社区意识、心理健康、身体健康，并帮助他们发展了新技能。与(a)动机的结构影响有关的经常性主题；(b)确定了志愿活动的动机和人与人之间和人与人之间的影响。影响志愿者体验的因素有很多，包括志愿者角色和职责、志愿者素质、学校支持和培训机会。志愿服务的主要激励因素是希望回馈社会，帮助学生和教职员工，并为学生的社会、情感和学术成果做出贡献。志愿者为他们支持的学生确定了一系列学术、社会、情感和行为方面的收益；以及一系列的个人利益。尽管以学校为基础的指导计划可以对主要利益相关者产生积极影响，但计划实施的挑战确实存在，需要仔细管理。那又怎样?以学校为基础的辅导项目是加强学校和当地社区之间伙伴关系的有效途径，对学校、学生和成年志愿者都有积极的好处。它们还促进了“学校作为社区中心”的概念。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Health Promotion Journal of Australia PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

3.10

自引率

10.50%

发文量

115

期刊介绍： The purpose of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia is to facilitate communication between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers involved in health promotion activities. Preference for publication is given to practical examples of policies, theories, strategies and programs which utilise educational, organisational, economic and/or environmental approaches to health promotion. The journal also publishes brief reports discussing programs, professional viewpoints, and guidelines for practice or evaluation methodology. The journal features articles, brief reports, editorials, perspectives, "of interest", viewpoints, book reviews and letters.