Issue 1, February 2010

Interview with the new Minister for Volunteering, the Hon. Peter Primrose MLC
Kristin Romanis, The Centre for Volunteering

The Centre speaks with the Hon. Peter Primrose MLC, Minister for Volunteering, Youth and Small Business and Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans' Affairs.

Find out how he plans to assist the not-for-profit sector to increase volunteering rates, how he sees the volunteering and youth portfolios working together, how we can reverse the impact the Global Financial Crisis has had on many volunteer-engaging not-for-profit organisations and much more. MORE

The Centre's 2010 Networking Events: Dates for your diary

The Centre for Volunteering's Networking Events for volunteer managers and their peers are held on the third Tuesday of the month, 2–4pm from March to November, at The Centre, 2/228 Pitt St, Sydney. View the Networking Events Calendar and put the dates in your diary.

March Networking Event: Understanding the National Standards for Involving Volunteers in Not-for-Profit Organisations
Tuesday, 16 March 2010, 2pm–4pm
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney 2000

The National Standards for Involving Volunteers in Not-For-Profit Organisations represent Volunteering Australia's benchmark for "best practice" in the management of volunteers. Participants will be able to make an informed decision regarding the implementation of the National Standards within their own organisations. The topics covered are:

• The importance and intent of the National Standards
• Developing an implementation plan
• Key issues and critical success factors to implementation
• Minimising obstacles to implementation

Numbers are limited, booking is essential. Email Odessa O'Brien to RSVP

April Networking Event: Not-for-profit fundraising – the do's and don'ts
Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 2pm–4pm
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney 2000

Join Communities NSW and the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing's Richard Kerr, as he shares Not-for-profit fundraising – do's and don'ts. This session is focussed at not-for-profit organisations that are plan to or are engaging in fundraising activities and need some assistance in making sure they are run correctly.

Richard led a very popular and successful fundraising Networking Event titled Involving young people: Fundraising and keeping kids safe in your organisation in October 2009. The Centre received a lot of fabulous feedback on the discussion and many requests for a more focused session on Fundraising and the legalities and regulations which need to be adhered to. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to learn from Richard's vast experience in the field.

Numbers are limited, booking is essential. Email Odessa O'Brien to RSVP

2010 Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management
17–19 March 2010, Hahndorf (Adelaide Hills), South Australia

Applications are now being accepted for OzVPM's 2010 Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management. The theme of the Retreat is "Volunteer Management: What does it take?" Retreat numbers are strictly limited. MORE

National Volunteer Week 2010: Update
Volunteering Australia (VA)

VA has unveiled the 2010 National Volunteer Week poster…The gloves represent the many different volunteering roles in the Australian community, ensuring that the poster appeals to a wide range of volunteer sectors.

How to get your posters, lapel pins and postcards
Promotional items will be available to order on the VA website using its Shopping Cart (you need to register).

Volunteering Australia's NVW promo goods ordering closes 16 February 2010 at 4pm.

2010 Ignite Volunteering Conference: Date for your diary
Friday, 21 May 2010, 9am–5pm (week following NVW)
Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, Pitt Street, Sydney
Cost: Moderate (TBA)

The Centre for Volunteering's 2010 Ignite Volunteering Conference is designed for Volunteer Managers and Coordinators within the community sector and will be a mix of lectures, networking sessions, workshop discussions and case studies as well as launching the 2010 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award. Please email your expressions of interest to attend to conference@volunteering.com.au

2009 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Photo Gallery is now online

The 2009 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award recognises and publicly acknowledges the invaluable work done by the 1.7 million volunteers in NSW. Congratulations to the 2009 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award winners, who were announced at Parliament House on Friday, 4 December 2009.

Check out all of the excitement of last year's State Award Ceremony in the 2009 NSW Volunteer of the Year Photo Gallery on Flickr, which includes photos of the Ceremony and Adam Goodes' 2010 NSW Volunteer Ambassador of the Year thank you video. MORE

Volunteer training funds available
Lynne Dalton, CEO

The Centre is please to advise that the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has allocated funds to each State for volunteer training. FaHCSIA is requesting that The Centre targets volunteers and particularly volunteers in areas where little or no training is usually available. If you are interested in receiving training in your region can you please email an expression of interest to Lynne Dalton and include "Volunteer Training" in the subject line.

2010 Professional Development Training package for members
Lynne Dalton, CEO

As a result of feedback from the 2009 Ignite Volunteering Conference, The Centre has decided to offer a package of Professional Development Training Workshops and Information Sessions at a heavily discounted rate for its members. Five of the most popular sessions at the conference will be presented as a full-day or half-day workshop. The package will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis, with a limited number of places available. However if there is a strong demand a second series may be offered.

The five workshops will be offered as one package but your organisation will be entitled to send any staff member or volunteer to each of to the sessions. You may purchase more than one package if you wish to nominate more than one person to attend a session. Some of the workshops being offered will include:

• Public Speaking: Speak up! Speak out!
• How to sabotage your volunteer program!
• Online Marketing and Social Networking
• Are you accreditation ready? It's coming.
• Are you legally compliant? Legal Issues workshop.

More information
Further information, workshop dates and fees will be published in upcoming issues of The Voice. Please email Lynne Dalton to receive priority notification of the training package. But remember you must be a member of The Centre.

Fido Skilled Volunteering recruitment service
Denis Porter, Fido Skilled Volunteering Manager

In 2009 The Centre advertised approximately 240 positions for around 100 of its member organisations through its Fido Skilled Volunteering recruitment service, with many of these positions involving multiple vacancies. Member feedback has told The Centre that Fido continues to be a very valuable service for members for recruiting skilled volunteers.

However, while Fido is used by a large number of members of The Centre, some newer members may not be aware of the details of its operation. In this edition of The Voice, we give some brief details of Fido and how it operates. MORE

Youth Volunteer Program
Maia Giordano, Youth Volunteer Program Manager

Does your organisation involve youth volunteers?
The Youth Volunteer Program is currently updating the list of organisations that involve youth volunteers. Be a part of a growing movement of organisations who involve young people as volunteers in their service. The Youth Volunteer Program will be contacting organisations to gauge interest in being part of this list. For more information on youth volunteering or to register your interest please email Maia Giordano.

SCIP Evaluation Project
The Centre's Student Community Involvement Program (SCIP) Evaluation Project is well underway. Interviews with organisations, schools and students are currently taking place. This evaluation aims to assess the impact of SCIP and the experience of all stakeholders in youth volunteering.

The Centre for Volunteering would like to extend sincere thanks to all those who have assisted with this project to date. If you would like to share your experiences of engaging youth volunteers its not too late to have your say. Please email Jacinthe Brosseau.

Utilisation of Highly Skilled Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (HS CALD) Volunteers project update
Tony Frew, Research, Development and Policy Manager

The HS CALD Volunteers project has received funding from City of Sydney in the 09-10 Community Services Grants program to undertake this project in the City of Sydney local government area (LGA). Additionally The Community Relations Commission of NSW has provided further financial support from the 2009–2010 Community Development Grants program. MORE

The Centre's Board Communique: November–December 2009
Joy Woodhouse, Chair, The Centre for Volunteering

On the eve of our first meeting for 2010, it is timely for the Board of The Centre for Volunteering to update you on our last meeting in 2009 held on Wednesday, 25 November 2009. The Board is pleased to announce the election of the following office bearers: Chairperson, Joy Woodhouse, Deputy Chairperson, Valerie Hoogstad, Treasurer, Ian Moyser, The Centre's CEO, Lynne Dalton and Executive Assistant, Janine Cowen have been appointed as Company Secretary. MORE

Volunteer Mentor Program, Golden Gurus, gets financial boost
Pro Bono Australia
A national volunteer mentoring program called the Golden Gurus is set for a $500,000 funding boost to kickstart its work connecting mature aged volunteers with mentoring opportunities around Australia as part of the Rudd Government's Productive Ageing Package. Organisations that deliver the program will be able to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to help them prepare mature age mentors for their voluntary mentoring roles. MORE

New volunteer team management tool
VolunteerTeam is a new style social enterprise (Team Management Service) that aims at giving the community the benefits of modern software and communications technology.

VolunteerTeam's focus is set squarely on enhancing Teamwork in the voluntary sector of Australia. Its vision is to make Australia's Voluntary Teams the most effective, most productive and most enjoyable teams in the world! MORE

A volunteer with time on his hands? Believe it…or not!
February 2010, The Centre for Volunteering's Volunteer Life e-zine
In the latest issue of Volunteer Life, Steve Frame, Volunteer Crew Leader for the Central Coast Mariners discusses how VolunteerTeam has revolutionised the communications and organising efficiency of the Mariners' volunteer team. MORE

Vodafone's World of Difference program
Applications are now open, apply before 17 February 2010
The Vodafone Foundation Australia are giving 5 Australian's the incredible opportunity to work for the charity of their choice for one year. To enable you to do this Vodafone will pay your annual salary (up to $50,000) and expenses (up to $25,000). MORE

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