Employee Volunteers Program
The Employee Volunteer initiative is part of the Toyota Community Spirit Program.
The program is being piloted in the City of Hobsons Bay, the location of Toyota's manufacturing plant with a view to expanding the program to other localities.
The program matches Toyota volunteers with local community groups requiring assistance with a specific project or task.
Sharing knowledge, experience and expertise, the aim is to transfer knowledge and skills so that the group develops the capacity to undertake the task in the longer term.
The program has two models:
Model 1: Volunteering in Action
Model 1 matches individual employees with one local group requiring assistance with a particular skill or task
In August 2001, the Hobsons Bay City Council invited a number of community groups to nominate specific projects suitable for the pilot phase and Toyota identified volunteers to participate.
Local groups currently participating include community houses, environmental groups and local festival committees. Projects range from strategic planning, production of information materials and presentations and safety audits.
Hobsons Bay City Council acts as the point of contact for local groups and Toyota identifies and liaises with the volunteers.
Model 2: Skill Sharing Workshops
Model 2 matches individual employees or external subject experts with a number of local groups with the same identified skill or training need through a skills sharing workshop format
When piloting Model 1 of the Employee Volunteer program, it became apparent that many local groups had similar training needs. Hobsons Bay Council conducted further research with a wider number of groups to identify local training needs and priorities. Using these responses a series of workshops was developed using Toyota presenters as well as external subject experts.
A series of 16 training workshops covering seven topics provided information and developed skills in submission writing, identifying funding and sponsorship opportunities, public relations, recruiting members and running committees.
