Watch the event recording
Event description
Volunteering and internships are a common way for those wanting a career in the aid and development to get a start. Australian volunteers have been giving time, money, skills and experience to help others across a range of countries for the past 60 years. Done well, volunteering benefits both the volunteer and the communities they serve, and builds enduring friendships. Currently overseas volunteering is curtailed by COVID-19, but there are still opportunities to meaningfully support in-country programs from Australia.
Come along to Women in Aid & Development’s next event to hear from speakers who are responsible for developing and funding volunteer programs, and those who have experience volunteering overseas and in Australia.
Find out how you can be engaged in meaningful volunteering, and the importance of avoiding short term unskilled or orphanage volunteering or ‘voluntourism’ that puts vulnerable children and communities at risk. Our speakers will also share how their experiences have shaped their career in the aid and development sector.
As usual, the night will involve a relaxed chat, with questions to follow and an excellent opportunity to network.
Everyone is welcome, so please share the event with your friends and colleagues.
Cost: $20 - Non-members $10 - Students and unwaged Free - Members of Women in Aid & Development
Guest speakers
Karen Flanagan AM
Karen is one of Australia’s foremost child protection advocates and as a qualified social worker has 37 years clinical, managerial, training and research experience in child protection and safeguarding. She specialises in prevention and response to child sexual abuse and designed award winning therapeutic programs for victim/survivors and perpetrators of sexual violence.
In 2010 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “Service to the community in the area of Child Protection through contributions to policy and program development and legislative reform”.
Karen is Save the Children’s Principal Advisor for Child Protection and leads on the provision of technical support, program design and capacity building for staff and partners nationally and internationally, helping ensure children are kept safe and protected from harm in all aspects of Save the Children's work. She has also authored several journal articles, edited and published in a recent book on modern slavery and developed resources and toolkits on a range of child protection and child rights issues.
Claire McClelland
Claire started her early career in Cultural Heritage before transitioning to Communications and Marketing. After a number of years working as a consultant, Claire found her true home in the not-for-profit sector, and has developed a breadth and depth of experience across a range of areas, including communication, partnerships, program support, and fundraising.
Claire worked as the Engagement Manager for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation in Melbourne before transitioning to AVI to take on the role of the Communications Manager for the Australian Volunteers Program.
Since 2018, she has been devoted to promoting the program’s brand, broadening awareness of the program both in Australia and overseas, and increasing stakeholder engagement. A recent convert to international development, Claire is enjoying the many challenges on offer and is driven by a passion to learn and do better.