By Caroline Smith
Archdiocesan LifeLink agency Catholic Outreach – which organises volunteer work in local parishes – has recently unveiled a new website that it hopes will provide a fresh image and greater accessibility of information to its supporters.
The new site was produced by digital agency Bam Creative, after funding was received for the project at the beginning of 2016.
Catholic Outreach Director, Peter McMinn, said the main purpose of updating the original website – created in 2008 – was to ensure people could access information on a number of platforms, including tablets and smartphones.
“We used the same company, Bam Creative, and they were able to migrate information from the old website into the new,” he said.
“We took the opportunity to redesign it, making it contemporary, fresh and clean. But it’s also been optimised so that the new technology can use it.
“We also asked them to use open-source software – specifically, WordPress – and that means that there are plugins and other tools available.”
Another feature of the website is its organisation of information around three main interest groups: parishes, volunteers and coordinators, with a special login system available to the latter, Mr McMinn said.
“The parish theme allows people to find out information about what help is offered for parishes,” he said.
“Then there’s a theme for coordinators which helps them find out how to run a program, and has information about training and an induction video.
“The volunteers theme explains the role of the volunteer. All this means it’s easier for people to come to the website and find what they need.”
The addition of news stories about Catholic Outreach and its activities would hopefully encourage people to get involved with their parish, Mr McMinn added.
“On the homepage there are three news stories there at any one time. People who are involved with a pastoral care role can see these and feel more connected to what’s going on,” he said.
“We’ve found that changing the website takes the information from the head to the heart: people are able to see others helping out through videos and news stories, and then they might want to get involved themselves.”
To explore the new website, visit outreach.perthcatholic.org.au.