Secret to Success Friends of Braeside Park share the Benefits of AVAPs
Planning is key for successful volunteer contributions to Parks, and the Annual Volunteer Activity Plans (AVAPs) are a great tool to help.
Friends of Braeside Park, a volunteer group with a long history of successful activities, credits good planning and organization as key to their impact. Margaret Hunter, the group leader, says that AVAPs have been instrumental in their success: “Without a plan, things would be organised at the drop of the hat. I think we’d just be doing activities. Instead, we’re able to do much more than that.”
By using AVAPs, the Friends of Braeside Park were able to influence the course of a major freeway project in 2021. They demonstrated their plans for the park and got the freeway moved 30 meters, saving the park office in the process. Having a record of their activities and outcomes has also benefited significantly in obtaining grants and ensuring that activities are being undertaken with appropriate safety measures in place.
What are Annual Volunteer Action Plans (AVAPs)?
AVAPs are an annual planning tool and process required for all groups who do ongoing activities on Parks Victoria land. They help volunteers and park staff work together to ensure everyone's contributions have the most impact. AVAPs provide a clear framework for discussing important areas like safety and cultural heritage, and help identify any permits, training, or approvals that may be needed ahead of time. They also make it easy for volunteer group leaders to access project-related procedures to brief their volunteers.
By getting organized and on the same page, the Friends of Braeside are ready to go beyond their current activities and invest into their future. “Our aims for 2024 are financial membership numbers, recruitment and training volunteers to manage our activity programs”, says Maraget.
Margaret encourages groups who are hesitant about using AVAPs to give them a try. She says that they can be a simple and effective way to plan and organize volunteer activities. She shares the following tips to get started:
- If you’re finding the technology a roadblock, start with a cuppa, pen and paper and a space to chat. Use the AVAP as a tool to guide your discussions until you’re ready to input your plans on ParkConnect.
- Get your members involved in the process.
- Review your draft plans as a team to make sure everyone is on the same page.
While AVAPs can be started at any time of the year, many groups have found that initiating their annual process after peak season - around March or April - works best.
For more information about AVAPs, please refer to Parks Victoria’s Volunteering Manual. Volunteer Group Leaders are encouraged to get in touch with their local contact Ranger to initiate the collaborative process.