Volunteers play a valuable role in supporting South Australia’s three popular Botanic Gardens and the important science work undertaken at the State Herbarium and SA Seed Conservation Centre.
Image: Stills from the Laying the Foundation project short film featuring Department for Environment and Water volunteers.
With a growing number of volunteers keen to offer their skills and time, a more integrated system was required, and the Laying the Foundation project was born. The project was designed to create a more inclusive, streamlined and rewarding volunteer program that recognises the diverse skills, experiences and motivations volunteers bring. Staff and volunteers worked together to review processes, improve training and induction resources, and develop new opportunities for volunteers to contribute and grow.
The introduction of a new online management system for the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), including the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium (BGSH), gave volunteers greater flexibility and choice. Volunteers can now select roles and shifts that suit their interests, skills and availability, making it easier to balance volunteering with work, family and other commitments.
A volunteer consultation group, bringing together participants from BGSH and a range of DEW volunteer programs, helped identify the common benefits of volunteering, including social connection, lifelong learning, community contribution and a sense of purpose.
Their insights informed the creation of a short film featuring DEW volunteers from diverse locations, roles and backgrounds across South Australia.
The film celebrates the important role volunteering plays in positive ageing and hears volunteers speak about sharing knowledge gained through their careers, learning new skills and remaining actively engaged in their communities.
After two years of collaboration, innovation and volunteer-led change, the project has transformed the volunteering experience and strengthened opportunities for participation.
Volunteers consistently highlight the value of peer learning opportunities: strengthened connections between volunteers, personal growth and skill development.
Today, 470 BGSH volunteers contribute across visitor engagement, events, education, horticulture, cultural collections, and science and conservation initiatives. Sixty per cent of volunteers support more than one program, and together they speak more than 30 languages, helping create a welcoming experience for visitors. Increased age diversity has also strengthened opportunities for intergenerational learning and connection.
Visitors are encouraged to experience the impact of volunteering firsthand by exploring the gardens, museum, events and exhibitions that BGSH volunteers help support and care for. Their contributions play a vital role in connecting people with South Australia's natural and cultural heritage, while supporting and extending the important work of BGSH staff.
For more information about BGSH, visit www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities with the Department for Environment and Water, visit www.environment.sa.gov.au/get-involved/volunteering.
The Laying the Foundation project was supported by Office for Ageing Well through a Positive Ageing Fellowship Grant to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Foundation.