Image Courtesy of P & J SmithWho are we & what do we do?
ICV is a not for profit organisation providing Indigenous Australians with new skills. Communities, organisations or individuals identify their skill needs. ICV then matches volunteers to address those needs. Volunteering with ICV is not only about skills transfer, it’s about mutual learning and cultural exchange.
ICV fills a gap in services to Indigenous communities and organisations, many of whom do not have access to business, trade and professional skills that most Australians take for granted.
ICV helps to bring those resources within reach geographically and financially.
Our goal is to work with Indigenous communities and organisations to build a stronger future through effective skills transfer.
Our task is to find a volunteer with the right skills for each community request.
Who do we work with?
• Our clients are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and individuals anywhere in Australia.
• Our volunteers are people with a wide variety of skills who are keen to work with Indigenous communities and organisations.
• Our networks include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations; volunteer agencies; service clubs; business, professional and trade associations; the private sector; and all levels of government.
• Our support comes from the public sector (Commonwealth), State Governments, the corporate sector (large, medium and small businesses) and donors (including individual Australians).
How did we begin?
The idea for ICV began 6 years ago around the time of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Indigenous leaders and Government ministers discussed the fact that many Australian volunteers were volunteering at the Olympics or were going abroad to volunteer while there remained a pressing need for new skills amongst many Indigenous people.
ICV (initially known as the Voluntary Service for Indigenous Communities Foundation) was established by Government in 2000 with an independent Board and staff from the Australian Public Service. ICV became a fully independent NGO in 2003.
Where do we get our funding from?
ICV is primarily funded through contracts with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Smaller contracts have been signed with some State Governments to provide more regional skill transfer services. ICV has received some funding through partnerships with private and semi-government entities such as Rio Tinto, Shell Australia, the Indigenous Land Corporation, the Myer Foundation, Friends of ICV and individual donations.
Some interesting facts:
• From our first project in September 2001 to date, we have received nearly 1000 projects from Indigenous communities/organisations.
• ICV was a State winner (ACT/NT) for the National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards in 2005 for its contribution in the area of community service and development.
• Due to demand for our services ICV expanded its operations last year from 1 office in Canberra to four offices around the country including Perth, Alice Springs & Brisbane.
• An evaluation of the effectiveness of ICV skills transfer was conducted in June 2004 by O’Brien Rich Research Group. Findings from 55 completed projects involving 47 volunteers:
- Successful skills transfer – 84% with 298 community members trained
- 94% believe that the trainees as a result of the training could do their job well or very well
- Around 41% of the community trainees were already passing their skills on to others
- 72% believed that the skills would be used in some other aspect of community life in the future
ICV's Vision
By 2009 to be recognised broadly by Indigenous people, government and the private sector as the leading provider of volunteer and skills transfer services to Indigenous Australian communities and organisations.