Nurturing University Students to Be Socially Responsible Citizens: An Examination of Two Approaches to Volunteering

Abstract

This chapter discusses two different approaches to developing socially responsible students through volunteering within the university framework. Both sit outside the academic curriculum and provide very different opportunities. The first program is an integral part of a wide reaching outreach program which works with students within disadvantaged communities: in New South Wales, Australia, from Kindergarten to the end of schooling in Year 12. The second program sits within the co-curricular space and offers university students opportunities to work within the not for profit sector. Each approach provides a rich opportunity for students to engage with disadvantaged communities and for personal growth. The chapter explores each approach. It also examines some of the learnings and outcomes for students, the university and the wider community.