Less paperwork, more community work

Think you spend too much time doing paper work? Well a project is due to start that aims to reduce the amount of time and effort volunteers spend doing administration work.

Volunteers at numerous forums and workshops have told us that administration tasks are time-consuming, complex and inefficient. We understand time is precious and that volunteers give important family, work and leisure time to serve their community. We’ve listened and so, reducing the admin workload is one part of a range of Volunteer Support Year One initiatives.

By mid-August a Business Analyst will have been employed to work closely with volunteers, their leaders and supporters to determine the most time-consuming tasks and to capture ‘best practice’ processes that could be tailored to fit everyone’s needs across the country.

The initial work-scope should be completed by September. Two process specialists will then be employed to work with all concerned to implement refined processes to make them quicker and more user friendly.

Initially the project aims to find five most beneficial changes that will decrease the amount of time spent on paperwork. It is intended that recommendations will go to the Senior Leadership Team in December with possible implementation of improved processes planned for early next year.

Looking ahead, Volunteerism is one of six strategic priorities for Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s integration phase. Over the next three years, Fire and Emergency will cement further changes to develop policy and organisational arrangements to encourage, maintain and strengthen capability of its volunteers. When this work is completed, volunteers will spend less of their valuable time doing paperwork, more time supporting and delivering operational capability, and have more time working in support of their communities.