b'Recognising our volunteers EmployeeIn March 2022, representatives from UnitingEngagement Survey attended the 2021 Victorian Volunteering AwardsIn partnership with Best Practice Australia (BPA) at Government House hosted by the Governor Analytics, we conducted our second Employee of Victoria, The Hon Linda Dessau AC and Engagement Survey in July and August 2021, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, having partnered with BPA for our inaugural Mr Anthony Carbines. engagement survey in 2019.Uniting was announced as a finalist and hadWe are proud to have achieved 54.4% engagement great honour of being named runner up for rate in 2021, an increase of 7.5% since 2019, putting the COVID-19 Resilience Award. Uniting ahead of benchmark organisations. With a The award was judged on our activities toparticipation rate of 51%, this uplift highlights our overcome COVID-19 challenges, while maintainingprogression from a culture of consolidation to a high quality services and introducing strategies toculture of ambition.support volunteers to be resilient and adapt to theStandout areas included 70% of employees rating requirements of COVID-19 public health orders. Uniting a truly great place to work (compared The generosity of our volunteers during thewith benchmark scores of 64%), with supportpandemic can only be described as overwhelming.and teamwork achieving high results.There were 2,467 active volunteers across allThe results of the 2021 employee engagement services at Uniting at the height of the pandemic.survey have been used to guide team, divisional This meant that even with COVID-19 restrictions,and organisation-wide action plans that aimabout 85% of Uniting volunteers remainedto enhance our employee experience andactive and engaged. Volunteers are vital tosupport a culture of high performance and delivering our programs and services. In the service excellence. past year our volunteers: Contributed more than 1.3 millionhours of service Answered over 55,000 Lifeline calls Served over 80,00 meals to people in need Made over 8,000 welfare calls to older people Opened their home for vulnerable children, with 360 foster carers across Victoria.Thank you to our wonderful volunteers. Uniting Vic.Tas Annual Report 2021-2022 45'