'The first door that opened': experiences of migrants in Wellington's volunteer sector

Abstract

New migrants have become an increasing, but under-researched, part of New Zealand's volunteer workforce in recent years. This exploratory study looks at the connection between two areas of research: migrant settlement and employment in New Zealand and the changing nature of the New Zealand volunteer sector. The focus of the study is on the experiences of migrants who have volunteered while settling in New Zealand. Taking a qualitative approach, narratives based on unstructured interviews with four migrant volunteers are presented as the centre of the study. Their perspectives are then compared with the findings of previous studies and discussed along with the observations of volunteer centre managers who have worked with a range of migrant volunteers. Areas for discussion include the role of volunteering for helping with settlement and employment outcomes, and attitudes of employers within the corporate and voluntary sectors toward migrants. Findings indicate that volunteering helps migrants to develop networks and confidence and become better acquainted with the local job-hunting culture while looking for employment. Volunteering can aid settlement by providing positive contact with New Zealanders and familiarity with local communities. Participants found that New Zealand employers seemed initially reluctant to lake on migrants, however attitudes within community organisations were adjusting to encourage the inclusion of more diverse volunteers. Acknowledging that the scope of the research is limited, recommendations are made for future research and policy considerations. In particular it is recommended that volunteering be recognised as a factor in employment and settlement outcomes, and that the contribution of voluntary organisations to these outcomes be acknowledged with adequate government support.