- 20 days left to nominate for the 2010 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award

- Feature: Australia and New Zealand top World Giving Index

- Events: Olympic Volunteer Reunion, VA Conference and more

- The Centre for Volunteering's news, research reports, vacancies, staff updates and more

- School of Volunteer Management – 75% off Volunteer Manager's training

- Latest national and international volunteering news

Time running out to nominate NSW volunteers

There is just 20 DAYS left for people to nominate individual volunteers, volunteer teams and corporate volunteers for the 2010 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award program is an opportunity to further recognise the valuable efforts of these volunteers and is this year proudly supported by Westpac. Anyone can nominate and it's easy – there are three major categories of award:

• 2010 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award
  • 2010 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year (Special Judges Choice Award)
  • 2010 NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year (Special Judges Choice Award)
• 2010 NSW Volunteer Team of the Year Award 
• 2010 NSW Employee (Corporate) Volunteer of the Year Award

Nominations close on midnight, Thursday, 30 September 2010.

Nominate online or download a nomination form to complete offline.

Australia and New Zealand top World Giving Index
BBC News and Charities Aid Foundation

The happier people are, the more likely they are to give time or money to charity, the largest ever study into global charitable behaviour suggests.

The survey – conducted by the UK's Charities Aid Foundation – suggests that well-being is a more reliable indicator of philanthropy than wealth.

The survey took place in 153 countries, covering 95% of the world's population.

The World Giving Index placed Australia and New Zealand joint top, with the US in fifth and the UK eighth. Read more

Sydney 2000 10th Anniversary Volunteers Reunion and BBQ
Wednesday, 15 September, from 2pm
Sydney Olympic Park
Come and spend the day at Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) to re-live the magic from Sydney 2000. Find your name on the forest of poles near the Olympic Stadium and catch up with your fellow volunteers at the Sydney Showground. There will be ushers at SOP on the day to direct Volunteers to the relevant events around the park. Find out more and register your attendance

The Centre's September Volunteer Manager Networking Event
Tuesday, 21 September, 2–4pm
The Centre for Volunteering, Training Room, Level 2, 228 Pitt St, Sydney 2000

The Centre for Volunteering's Lynne Dalton will be speaking about is it time to go? How to exit volunteers appropriately. Numbers are limited. Email The Centre for Volunteering to RSVP.

Volunteering Australia's 13th National Conference on Volunteering
27–29 October 2010
The Sebel and Citigate Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria
Challenges such as the impacts of an ageing population and the global financial crisis, opportunities for exploring greater partnerships with the corporate and government sectors, and cementing the pivotal role that volunteering has within the broader social inclusion context, continue to be areas of discussion within the sector. Find out more

International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay)
5 November 2010
Find out how to celebrate IVMD. Join the IVMDay International Supporters Group or the affiliate supporters group. Find out more

21st IAVE World Volunteering Conference
24–27 January 2011
Resorts World Hotel, Sentosa Island, Singapore

2011 Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management
May 2011
Wellington, New Zealand

Volunteer Referral Service (VRS) needs your Admin Volunteer Jobs

Got a administration volunteer position that you need filled? Send the VRS your administration volunteer job description so it can find you your next volunteer!

Complete the online Volunteer Job Advertisement Form (fill out a new form for each new job, make sure that your organisations insurances are up-to-date and that you have good processes in place to respond to potential volunteer enquiries).

Staff update: Mark Tippet, Manager SVM

Congratulations to Mark who has been promoted to Manager SVM. Mark has been doing a remarkable job managing the operations of the School and continuing to develop the School's suite of courses with the Department of Education and other funding bodies and partners.

Mark can be contacted on 02 9261 3600 or email mtippet@volunteering.com.au

Staff update: Mike MacLeod, Manager, Member Services

The Centre welcomes Mike MacLeod to the team. As Manager, Member Services, Mike will focus on delivering a responsive approach to members and coordinating the Volunteer Referral Service.

Mike has an extensive background in community health, community development, and local government sectors in roles such as audit, planning, general management, and management consultancy in the UK, US, and New Zealand.

Two of Mike's higher profile positions have included Chief Executive, Medway Council for Voluntary Service (an organisation providing advice, information, community development and other services to the community sector), and Manager, Community Development Unit, Gisborne District Council, New Zealand.

Mike has been an active volunteer over the years, running research projects and managing fundraising events.

Mike can be contacted on 02 9261 3600 or email mmacleod@volunteering.com.au

Staff update: Heesun Chung, Membership Assistant
Heesun (The Centre's Wednesday receptionist) will be assisting Janine, Gail, Avril and the VRS Team with processing Membership applications during our peak period. Heesun will be working on Membership Administration on Tuesdays or Fridays, mostly dealing with payments and following up finance information.

Funded training for Volunteer Managers. Don't miss out – save up to 75%*

Further places have been allocated to the School in the NSW Priority Places Program for the Diplomas of Business and Management.

The NSW Priority Places Program (PPP) is part of the Australian Government's Skilling Australia for the Future Initiative. It means a boost of 175,000 funded qualifications for existing workers in NSW up to 2012 across industry priority areas, such as community services and health. The School of Volunteer Management has successfully tendered for places within the PPP for the full Diplomas of Business and Management. Hurry, there are limited places available. Find out more

Print the Business Diploma flier or Management Diploma flier and pin to your notice board.

* off normal School of Volunteer Management's fee.

Volunteer managers 'lack training'
Third Sector
More than four out of 10 people who manage volunteers have not received any training, according to the Valuing Volunteer Management report. Despite identifying much good practice in volunteer management, the study by the Institute for Volunteering Research, concluded it is undervalued and underfunded in many charities. The report draws on responses from more than 1,000 volunteer managers at third sector organisations in England. Read more

Australian National Standards Survey
The Big Conversation asked ordinary Australians what values were most important to them, how they see society and how they would like society to be in the future. The results were surprising

Police volunteers recognised at Parliament House
Hon. Michael Daley MP, Minister for Police & Hon. Peter Primrose MLC, Minister for Volunteering
Minister for Police Michael Daley has congratulated 40 members of the Volunteering in Policing program who were recently recognised for their service to the NSW Police Force. Mr Daley said the longest serving "VIPs" were presented with a 15 year badge to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the program at a ceremony at Parliament House. "There are almost 470 active volunteers who give their time to the NSW Police Force every week and it was a pleasure to meet 40 of their longest serving members today," he said. Read more

Emergency Service Forum to showcase role of young volunteers
Hon. Peter Primrose MLC, Minister for Volunteering
More than 100 young volunteers with the State's emergency services took in a forum in Sydney on Saturday, 28 August to develop new ways to increase volunteering rates across NSW. Youth and Volunteering Minister Peter Primrose officially opened the NSW Government's Young People in Emergency Services Forum. The forum discussed why young people volunteer and what they gain from the experience. Read more

Volunteer Program Management: An Essential Guide – 3rd Edition
Volunteering SA & NT
The Volunteer Program Management publication provides a vital resource for all involved with or interested in the management of volunteers or volunteer programs. This latest edition presents many of the global issues and challenges influencing the volunteer sector, and suggests strategies on how to address them. Cost is $38.50 each (inc GST) – plus postage and handling. For more information or to order your copy phone 08 8221 7177 or email finance@volunteeringsa.org.au

New Report about the impact of Volunteer Management in NZ
OzVPM, Victoria University and Volunteering New Zealand
Victoria University in partnership with Volunteering New Zealand have released the Managers Matter report, which is the result of a study into the impact that sound VM practices make to effective volunteering. Download the report summary or download the full report

Global Corporate Volunteering Research Project
Volunteer Australia
The Global Corporate Volunteering Research Project which is being conducted by IAVE's Global Corporate Volunteer Council who are attending the Australian National Conference on Volunteering in October. Read more

Volunteer Management Hot Topic podcast
Each month, Energ!ze Inc podcast the volunteer management hot topic from Susan J. Ellis. You can subscribe to this and listen to it on your computer or mp3 player. Find out more

Five Social Apps for social good
American Express Open Forum
Think that mobile social apps are a waste of time and energy? What if you could use them to make the world a better place? Inhabitat took a look at mobile-based applications and systems designed to promote positive social good. Here are five rising social impact apps to watch. Read more

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