My Volunteer Experience - Michael Pak Hei Chan
Welcome Michael!
Michael Pak Hei Chan joined our SAcommunity Customer Service Team as a volunteer, to gain more experience in an office environment, starting with the team on the 26 July 2023.
Personal Biography
Michael has always been passionate about music, management and communication moving from New Zealand to Adelaide, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Aviation Management at the University of South Australia in 2021. He is currently working in the hospitality industry and embraces a range of interests including basketball and cinema, yet it's music that inspires him. As a lead vocalist and guitarist in his band 'Cube', he's played various events for the South Australian Hong Kong community through the Hong Kong Cultural Association of South Australia (HKCASA) where he volunteers. [He has recently published a story on the organisation >>here]
Michael has joined the SAcommunity Customer Service Team to experience the local work culture. Taking the opportunity to make connections with people in various organizations across the state, and gain valuable customer service skills within an office environment. He also plans to work across the Media and Communication Team creating storytelling articles for NFP organisations he is involved in, and as part of the program he plans to investigate the Data Analytics Team activities to expand his skills further.
Looking ahead, he aims to continue to follow his two key interests. On one hand, he is passionate about music and wants to use its power to connect and uplift communities. On the other hand, he is drawn to air traffic control, where he can ensure safe skies and contribute to global connectivity. These goals might seem different, but both require attention to detail, quick thinking, and effective communication. He is excited to pursue his journey in both fields to create a fulfilling and impactful future.
David Webb Leading a Telephone Techniques Session.
Intern Grace Hong Hong, Volunteers Pujan Maharjan, Rex Porter (Information Management Team), David Webb (Customer Service Team), Thea Shiye Jin, Alice Jinye Zeng and Michael Pak Hei Chan
David Webb Leading a Telephone Techniques Session.
Intern Grace Hong Hong, Volunteers Pujan Maharjan, Rex Porter (Information Management Team), David Webb (Customer Service Team), Thea Shiye Jin, Alice Jinye Zeng and Michael Pak Hei Chan
Training and Development - Telephone Techniques
Telephone techniques are critical in the SAcommunity Customer Service Team, making important connections with community organisations by phone, email or online and collecting information on the services they provide. Contacting not-for-profit and charity organisations is an important aspect of understanding data collection methods for inclusion into the SAcommunity directory.
Training and Development - Digital Learning Platform
Connecting Up runs a number of Training and Education Programs and SAcommunity interns and volunteers are provided with access to the Connecting Up Digital Learning platform for webinars, online workshops, masterclasses, and bootcamps, providing opportunities to learn about a range of tech-based tools and strategies from subject experts, designed for the needs of nfps the topics are helpful for all those looking at improving their digital literacy and range from Microsoft tools to marketing.
Professional Development at Infoxchange is a balance of approximately 70% project / 20% peer-to-peer learning / 10% formal learning. For the SAcommunity Team there is approximately 15 hours of project work, 3 hours of peer-to-peer learning, and 1 hour of online webinar with 30 minutes of feedback, to reflect and strengthen team members understanding of what was learnt, and what their personal takeaways were from these educational sessions facilitating life-long learning which are added to their portfolio.
Professional Development at Infoxchange is a balance of approximately 70% project / 20% peer-to-peer learning / 10% formal learning. For the SAcommunity Team there is approximately 15 hours of project work, 3 hours of peer-to-peer learning, and 1 hour of online webinar with 30 minutes of feedback, to reflect and strengthen team members understanding of what was learnt, and what their personal takeaways were from these educational sessions facilitating life-long learning which are added to their portfolio.
Relevant webinars, workshops and webcons selected by Michael have included:
Digital Marketing Webcon 2022
My decision to participate in the Digital Marketing Webcon 2022 was driven by a desire to enhance my understanding of how to promote organizations, stemming from my involvement with the Hong Kong Culture Association of South Australia and my personal rock band. Admitting a lack of prior marketing knowledge, I found the webcon to be a valuable resource for grasping the basics of Digital Marketing.
My particular interest is in digital promotion and learning more about good design principles for posters, and I selected this webcon for the third session with the anticipation of gaining insights into using Canva. Particularly as I previously faced challenges in reaching targeted audiences and struggled with creating compelling posters or graphics to attract people to various events and activities I have been involved with. The webcon, therefore, serves as a catalyst for my growth in the realm of digital promotion, providing me with the knowledge and tools needed to overcome my previous challenges and effectively promote the not-for-profit organizations and causes I am passionate about.
Session 1: CRM Fundamental: Organising your data is non-negotiable for NFPs
The webinar introduces the fundamental principles of digital organizing using Nation Builder. It covers essential concepts like organizing and storing data, along with strategies for engaging audiences. By attending this webinar, participants gain a clear understanding of digital organizing, equipping them with the knowledge to engage with communities effectively and build lasting relationships. This session is particularly beneficial for beginners, as it delves into the foundational aspects of digital practices, providing a solid starting point for navigating the contemporary digital landscape.
Session 2: Facebook and LinkedIn as cause community building platform
This session explained social media is a powerful tool to grow and activate customers or cause communities around your organisation, like Facebook and Linkedin are the best platforms to connect and deliver. Step by step teaching the convenience of using social media to gain your connection with targeted communities, such as using Facebook groups to connect and activate your audience. Demonstrated an example for beginners to reach out to an audience by using social media, also shows the efficient way for intermediate people that want to use this tool to gain more from the media world nowadays.
Session 3: Learn how to design with Canva
In this session, a perfect example was shown to create fantastic marketing materials and social media posts using Canva. It highlighted that even with limited experience, resources, or budget, Canva can assist users in producing professional-looking outcomes. The presenter guided the audience through the process, emphasising how easy it is to create with confidence in a short time. This session is particularly beginner-friendly, making it accessible for those who are new to designing but want to make impressive posters and graphics.
Session 4: Dive into Facebook and Instagram Advertising
In this session, the primary focus was on social media advertising. The discussion emphasised the importance of having a clear plan and strategy for paid advertising to avoid spending money without achieving meaningful results. The session delved into the intricacies of advertising planning, ad structure, and provided guidance on creating the first ads from scratch. The key takeaway for me was the significance of crafting ad content that effectively communicates the intended message to the targeted audience, ensuring a purposeful and successful advertising investment. 