Indigenous Community Volunteers

Communities FAQ

Who is ICV?

Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation. We help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to harness opportunities and overcome disadvantage through community and human development projects. Indigenous Community Volunteers exists to provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop community and human capacity in order to improve their quality-of-life, health, social and economic wellbeing and membership entitlement within Australian society.

We achieve this by enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work in partnership with the broader Australian community, governments, and the private sector. For more information about our core values, go to Our Core Values.

Is ICV part of the Government?

No. ICV is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation.

What are community and human development projects?

ICV’s community and human development projects are what you as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person or community want them to be. They are projects that develop community and individual human capacity in order to improve the quality-of-life, health, social and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

For information about community development, go to http://www.icv.com.au/aboutICV/community_development.php.

Who can apply for a community development project?

Any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individual, family, community, organisation, or business or someone on their behalf can apply for help with ICV.

How do I (or our community) apply?

You first need to identify what community development or capacity building projects or initiatives you have. You can discuss your ideas with ICV Project Officers either face to face or over the phone. You can call 1800 819 542 to connect to your nearest Project Officer. Alternatively, you can fill out a project application form and then fax it or email it to us. Application forms are available on our websites.

We don’t believe in unnecessary red-tape and don’t expect you to fill out lots of unnecessary paperwork. We can help you fill out an application form or you can avoid this altogether and simply talk straight with our Project Officers.

Before your project starts, though, you will need to sign a contract which agrees on our responsibilities to you and your responsibilities to us and the volunteers who work with you.

What kind of projects can we do?

All types of community development and capacity building projects are possible. ICV does not have an agenda. When we work with you as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person or community, our agenda is your agenda. Your community might want to revamp its youth centre, develop the skills of its childcare workers, screen its children for rheumatic heart disease, start a fashion design business, build a community vegetable garden, renovate a cultural centre or develop a website. ICV has a database of volunteers from diverse backgrounds and skill sets that can help you.

We also do bigger-picture community development planning projects with communities. If you are interested in working with your community or organisation to plan for the future and identify all the assets you have to achieve this, we can find community development specialists to help you do this.

For any ideas or queries about the types of projects that are possible, call 1800 819 542 and talk to one of our project officers.

Who designs projects?

Projects are designed by you and your community in partnership with ICV. We will not tell you what you need or what you should do. Our motto when working with communities to identity and design projects is to “look, listen, learn, and then respond”. We will give you advice and support but you will own and direct the project design and implementation.

Do I pay for projects?

No. ICV does not charge any fees to its Aboriginal clients or its volunteers. We are a not-for-profit, non-government community and human development organisation. But we do ask you to contribute to the project. You or your community will need to have resources to do the project. Usually, our community partners also provide accommodation for the volunteer.

Who manages the project?

You or your community manage the project. We stand beside you or behind you. But we don’t take the lead. Our core principle is that we do things ‘with’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, not ‘to’ them, and not ‘for’ them. ICV P Officers will support you and your community and volunteers throughout the project. If you ask us, we will always do our best to help.

Who chooses the volunteer?

You or your community choose the volunteer. If you want we can give you a short-list and allow you to undertake the selection process independently. However, most of our project applicants ask us for our advice on who would be the best volunteer for them. We will always give you this advice if you want. We can also connect you by either telephone or face-to-face so that you can get to know the volunteer and check that they are right for you.

How are volunteers chosen for projects?

When ICV receives your project application we search our networks and our volunteer database and find volunteers who have the capabilities you have requested. If you want, we can then send you a list of possible volunteers with their details. You can then select the volunteer who you think will work best in your community. Alternatively, you can ask us to do more screening and recommend a single volunteer to you. The choice is yours.

How long until a volunteer starts?

ICV believes in being as flexible and responsible as it can. We will always do our best to find a volunteer in the timeframe that you ask. But it can take some time for us to find volunteers or for them to become available. Many of our volunteers have career and family responsibilities. We do our best to match your needs and their availability. If you have time restraints or any other special requests you can call 1800 819 542 and talk to one of our Project Officers.

Who pays for the volunteers’ travel?

ICV pays for volunteers travel, to anywhere in Australia.

Do we have to pay for the volunteer’s food?

No. ICV provides volunteers with a small living allowance to cover their basic living costs.

How long do projects go for?

Our projects last for as long as our communities ask. There is no minimum Project length. In the past most of our projects have run from between two weeks to six months. The length of many of ICV’s projects with communities is growing. Projects can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on location.

Who provides insurance?

Communities are required to have public liability insurance in order to start a project. ICV provides accident cover travel insurance for our volunteers. If you have any questions about insurance please call 1800 819 542 and talk to one of our Project Officers. We always approach problems creatively and flexibly and there is nearly usually a solution that we can find.

Who provides accommodation?

As a general rule, we ask communities to provide safe, suitable accommodation for our volunteers. But we are aware that housing is a critical issue for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and on many occasions we have found other solutions where accommodation is a problem. If you have any questions about accommodation please call 1800 819 542 and talk to one of our Project Officers.

Will volunteers be culturally prepared?

We expect all of our volunteers to attend an ICV Workshop where they learn a little about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and a lot more about cross-cultural awareness and ICV’s values. ICV’s own staff run this training. ICV Project Officers also remain in contact with you, your community, and the volunteer throughout the project. Our Project Officers usually give the volunteers some basic advice and also ensure that they connect with their Cultural Mentor in the community. If you have any questions please call 1800 819 542 and talk to one of our project officers.

What is a ‘Cultural Mentor’?

A Cultural Mentor is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander member of your community who can advise volunteers on cultural protocols within the community and can support the volunteer throughout the duration of the project.