Friend Voice Project FAQ

We've put together some of the frequently asked questions regarding the Friend Voice Project. If you're not able to find the answer to your question, please reach out to our team by emailing volunteer@orangesky.org.au. 

Why are we surveying our friends?

Orange Sky’s mission is to positively connect communities. By measuring the impact of our services and understanding our friends, we are able to help more people.

These surveys will help us to gather feedback from friends on their experiences with Orange Sky services, what’s going well and uncover where there are opportunities for improvement.

They will also allow Orange Sky to gather more information for the supporters of Orange Sky, whilst still pushing to innovate and support our communities.

How many surveys are there?

There are two different surveys. Here are the nitty gritty details:

On each shift, volunteers will introduce the Friends Voice Survey to friends on shift. This survey asks friends questions like how they got to shift, what services they have used and where they are sleeping tonight. Ideally, every friend willing to complete the survey should be able to at least once.

Then, at the end of the shift, one volunteer will complete a Feedback Survey. This lets us get a sense of the vibe on shift and helps Orange Sky check in on how our volunteers are feeling during the Friend Voice Project - which is a key priority for us. This will help us constantly improve the survey as time goes on.

Are these surveys confidential?

The survey is wholly administered by our impact measurement consultancy, Rooy, on a secure external website and the survey data will not be stored on any local computer. Friends can rest assured that their individual responses cannot be viewed in isolation and all data is deidentified. If you would like to know more, please email us at volunteer@orangesky.org.au.

The Orange Sky HQ team and Rooy team have access to the results, but as it’s anonymous, data cannot be attributed to any specific individuals.

Can I see our specific service's survey dashboard?

You can see the Hobart Dashboard here! We encourage you to take a look to see how your personal dashboard is going once you’ve got some data tracking. 

Who is eligible to participate in this survey?

All our friends who use Orange Sky services.

How is the survey being conducted?

The survey can be conducted on a volunteer's personal device, like a smartphone, or if the friend has their own device, they are welcome to use their own. It's important to remember that if a friend needs to do the survey on a volunteer's device, then the survey must be done together.

It’s a very relaxed survey, and more of a chat-style - something we do well at Orange Sky! If the friend has any technical difficulties or needs assistance in filling out the survey, please help them the best that you are able to.

What are the focus areas of the survey?

The main things we are asking is what services are being used, how friends are getting to shift, how often they use our services, and other useful information that can help us learn more about our friends.

How will the results be used?

Orange Sky will be tracking and measuring progress with the goal to translate the survey data into action.

For example, if we can see that a large portion of friends are arriving at shift by car, we can check to see if there is adequate free parking available nearby.

What if a friend and I have a difficult conversation as a result of the survey?

We encourage you to check out our eLearning Modules for Difficult Conversations and Mental Health Awareness to help you be on the front foot with any difficult conversations. The important thing is that you understand what your role in these conversations is. Remember:

• You are not an expert, and that's okay
• Just listening can be valuable to a friend
• Seek support when you need to (like with VESP).

When will the surveys be completed?

You should be aiming to complete as many Friends Voice Surveys as you can each shift, depending on how many friends are present and willing to complete the survey.
One Feedback Survey should be completed once per shift by a dedicated volunteer. This can be decided on at the beginning of shift.

How long does the Friend Voice Project Pilot last?

The Friend Voice Project will be held from 14th November to 2nd December.