Many Australians spend time abroad volunteering in development organisations or local community organisations.

But who benefits, and how, is a matter for debate.

Professor Susanne Schech from the School of History and International Relations will look at the issue in depth on Tuesday 15 November.

The impacts of volunteering are difficult to evaluate with standard indicators used to measure development effectiveness.

This presentation reports on the key findings of a university-industry research project that analysed the development impacts of Australian international volunteerism.

It highlights mutual capacity building, a better understanding of global issues, and practicing real partnership as the three most important impacts.

When: Tuesday 15 November 2016, 3.45pm for 4pm
Where: Flinders University, Victoria Square Campus in the City, Level 1, 182 Victoria Square

About the speaker:

Professor Susanne Schech has been teaching international development at Flinders University for two decades.

A geographer by training, her research has examined the ways culture, power and information shape development ideas, policy and practice.

Her publications include Culture and Development (with J. Haggis, Blackwell, 2000) and Development Perspectives from the Antipodes (Routledge, 2014) as well as journal articles on a range of policy issues including participation, gender justice, poverty reduction, migration and refugee integration.

Her research project on international development volunteering was funded under the Australian Research Council Linkage grants scheme.