Well done Mr Iemma for putting volunteering on the map
[22 November 2006 | The Centre for Volunteering]
The Centre for Volunteering congratulates Premier Iemma and the NSW Government on the appointment of the recently announced Minister for Volunteering.
Speaking after a meeting of The Centre's Board of Directors today, Joy Woodhouse, the Chair praised the initiative: "The appointment of Local Government and Emergency Services Minister, Tony Kelly, to the portfolio places important emphasis on the role of volunteers in the area of emergency services. The current bushfire crisis in NSW reinforces the important role volunteers play in times of urgent need in our community."
Joy went on to say "The Centre looks forward to working with the Minister to give him and his staff the benefit of our extensive experience in developing ways to increase the volunteer rate in NSW and to develop a strategy to recognise the activities of all volunteer effort whether it be emergency, welfare, sport, culture or any of the myriad of groups and organisations who rely on volunteers to sustain their valuable community roles."
The Centre has also given strong support to the initiative contained in the NSW State Plan to promote volunteering within the NSW public service. The Centre's CEO Lynne Dalton is enthusiastic about this development and has extended an invitation to senior staff in NSW Government Departments: "Many leading companies in the private sector are sponsoring volunteering to improve their company and their reputation. Why? Because participating in the community builds teams, improves staff morale, and helps attract quality staff; all while enabling companies to show that they care about the communities in which they're working. It would be great to see this in the public sector as well. However finding volunteer opportunities that suit staff's interests and a government agency's public image is not easy. The answer? Talk to the organisation that runs the largest volunteer referral service in the state: The Centre for Volunteering."
About The Centre for Volunteering
The Centre for Volunteering is the peak body for volunteering in NSW and includes Volunteering NSW – our service-delivery arm, and the School of Volunteer Management, a Registered Training Organisation. Our role is to promote and support volunteering and community participation.
We have been in operation for 32 years and run the biggest volunteer referral service in the state. In addition to volunteer referral, our programs include advocacy, corporate volunteering, engaging young people through student community involvement (SCIP), research and policy, accredited and non-accredited training and information and communication.
Read the NSW Government's media release: New 'Minister for Volunteers' welcomes challenge.
Media interviews and more information:
Lynne Dalton
CEO
M: 0413 418 314
Kristin Romanis
Communications Manager
M: 0412 313 359
Joy Woodhouse
Chairperson
M: 0402 042 720