From policy to reality: Supporting Australians with a disability to volunteer overseas
Sydney-based professional Ben Clare, who has a visual impairment, has twice volunteered in the Pacific with the Australian Volunteers for International Development program, an Australian government initiative that promotes economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries.
“I was always interested in working with people with disabilities, and was searching for a long-term opportunity to really implement change,” Clare said, crediting Scope Global — one of three implementers of AVID — for quality pre-departure preparation. “Once in-country, I was also provided with a support person who showed me around the workplace and helped with logistics such as where the local buses were.”
The 35-year-old explained that volunteering not only built his confidence but also provided career opportunities.
About the author
Anthony Rologas
Anthony Rologas is the senior manager - volunteer program strategy at Scope Global, based in South Australia. Prior to that, Anthony worked in a number of project and human resource management roles in the Australian public service and university sectors. Anthony has firsthand experience of the Australian Volunteers for International Development program, having spent 12 months on assignment in the Philippines where he helped the Local Government Academy develop its distance education programs.
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