To express an interest in joining an Advisory Committee or Reference Group you'll need to complete an EOI Form and and submit supporting documents which outline skills and experience in your chosen areas.

When completing your EOI, we suggest the following steps:

1. Decide which committee(s) or group(s) interests you. We've set the form up so you can complete it just once, regardless of how many groups you'd like to join.
2. Read the Position Description(s)
3. Consider the general Terms of Reference
4. Take a look at all answers required in the form and prepare answers ahead of time so you can quickly type them in or copy and paste
5. Have your documents ready to upload
6. Make sure to click submit

NOTE: Under 18 year olds will need consent from a parent, carer or guardian. A consent form can be found here.

You can complete an online EOI Form, or print a copy, complete it and send it in. Printed copies can be provided by contacting Camden Council on Phone: 13 22 63 or email volunteers@camden.nsw.gov.au

Once you have submitted the online EOI Form a note will pop up on the screen to indicate completion. We will also send you an email to confirm receipt.

We’re looking for people and/or organisations who can demonstrate:

• Strong community links and networks;
• Current involvement in policy, program or service delivery provisions in a variety of areas;
• A willingness and a passion to constructively participate in an advisory capacity
• An ability and willingness to represent a broad range of views that are representative of community views and needs;
• A strong understanding of the Camden Local Government Area and its social, economic and environmental influences;
• Sound knowledge and understanding on local issues;
• Lived experience and necessary skills of relevance to the Committee you are applying for;
• A willingness to contribute positively to meetings in a fair and unbiased manner;
• An ability to advocate for the community and look beyond personal interests;
• An ability and willingness to encourage community participation and feedback to achieve outcomes relevant to Council’s Community Strategic Plan;
• An ability to undergo volunteer onboarding and training.

If this sounds like you, we would love to receive an expression of interest from you.

What's next once I submit my EOI?

Camden Council staff will review all applications for the Advisory Groups and once this process is complete the Governance Team will be notified of all potential applicants.

The selected groups require Council endorsement, after which the Volunteer Programs Team will contact successful applicants. Please allow 3-5 weeks for this process to be finalised.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Volunteer Programs Team at volunteers@camden.nsw.gov.au

The types of skills and interests useful to each reference group or advisory committee are outlined in the selection criteria of each position description. More information can also be found in the Terms of Reference.

Expressions of Interest will be assessed on the extent to which they meet the Committee’s identified selection criteria in the position descriptions and the questions in the EOI form.

As outlined in the Terms of Reference community representatives are limited to holding a maximum of two concurrent memberships of an Advisory Committee or Reference Group. In some circumstances exceptions can be made.

Nominations will remain open until vacancies are filled.

If you have any questions about the EOI process, please contact the Volunteer Program Team on : 02 4645 5092 or email volunteers@camden.nsw.gov.au

Council manages broad and diverse volunteer programs ranging from regular and ongoing programs, casual volunteering, or skilled volunteer involvement through its advisory and governance committees.

Council Advisory Committees and Community Reference Groups are an important aspect of community engagement. Council Committees and Groups help achieve positive outcomes and goals that have been set out in the Community Strategic Plan.

While final decisions are made by Councillors, Committees and Groups make recommendations which are reviewed carefully and can make a big difference to achieve:

• A more engaged and informed community;
• More effective strategic outcomes as a direct result of collaborative partnerships; and
• Positive relationships between the community and Council.

A majority of Council’s Committees and Reference Groups are volunteer led. Volunteering has an overarching value to society; it is an expression of social cohesiveness by individuals and groups. It is the action that upholds societies’ values and promotes intangible and tangible benefits for individuals, local communities and organisations. Given the immeasurable benefits from volunteering, strong volunteer management practices play an important role in encouraging and supporting it.

At Council we support our volunteers throughout the volunteer lifecycle, which consists of the following steps:

1. Submit your EOI (link)
2. 2. Volunteer Interview: Getting to know you and us.
3. Other volunteering checks – this is position dependant and could consist of a Working with Children Check. If any checks apply they will be as listed in the position description.
4. Complete your registration pack
5. Do your volunteer training and induction
6. Ongoing support and recognition

For more information on what to expect click on Council’s volunteering page Volunteering » Camden Council (nsw.gov.au)