Rising Online Volunteer Network from Down Under

Seek, an Australian online job search firm, is finding social opportunities in this economic crisis. The company, with the help of The Boston Consulting Group, is using its technology platform to match volunteer do-gooders with non-profit organizations all over the country.

Australia already has a long-established history of corporations participating in community causes but the recent scarcity of jobs, the persistent drought and the tragic bushfires that erupted earlier this year is increasing national demand to reach out. Seek Volunteer – which claims to earn no revenues for its services – seems to have come at just the right time judging by the posts on its message board.

PSFK asked a couple of questions to Katrina Ford (the one with the guitar), a college student majoring in communications at Sydney’s UTS who volunteers her time to play music in retirement homes, to learn a bit more.

So have you noticed any particular causes that are popular in Sydney?

I have known a few people who do volunteer work with Aboriginal communities. This involves learning and taking part in their cultural life for a few weeks. This raises awareness about the living conditions of Aboriginals in rural areas. Each person learns a lot from experiencing another cultural life.

I think this resonates within the Australian community due to our indigenous history and the notion that this history was not fully recognised until recent decades. We’re still learning.

What’s the coolest volunteer collaboration you’ve seen so far?

I think the people behind the phones who work for the various Helplines are doing a pretty cool job. They’ve been available for as long as I can remember to help with such diverse areas of life. Just one example is that young teens unsure about their lives are able to speak to them. They’re given such comfort that these callers can spill their secrets to a stranger on the phone. The contribution of the volunteers is the simplest thing – they’re just there for people to talk to. Yet I think they really make a huge impact on someone’s life for the better.

Thanks, Kat!