The Voice of Volunteering, Issue no 1, February 2007

In This Issue

- Features              - Events & Training              - The Centre's News

National taskforce looks to Government for help as costs hit 9 out of 10 volunteers
Volunteering Australia

The national Costs of Volunteering Taskforce, convened by Volunteering Australia, has urged the Australian Government to consider its report in response to the rising cost of volunteering. The report outlines several options for a national scheme to reimburse volunteers' out-of-pocket expenses.

Last year, a Costs of Volunteering Survey found that 88% of volunteers faced annual out-of-pocket expenses averaging $693 each, and almost 10% of respondents said these costs had led to them either reduce or stop their volunteering in the last 12 months.

"We hope the Government will consider the options and work with the Taskforce to bring in a simple and fair solution for the largest number of volunteers," Chairman of the Taskforce, Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes, Director of the Centre of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, QUT, said.

Download the report and survey results.

Police checks for aged care volunteers
Aged & Community Services Australia

The Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro, has issued a timetable for introducing police checks for aged care workers. On 5 January 2007, the Minister unveiled the specific requirements that will apply to aged care providers, their employees and volunteers under the new arrangements.

The police check requirement will be implemented progressively as follows:

• From 1 March 2007 – New employees and volunteers in Australian Government subsidised aged care services will be required to undergo police checks.
  
• By 1 June 2007 – Current staff required to have had a police check or have submitted an application to the police.
  
• By 1 September 2007 – Current volunteers will be required to have a police check or have submitted an application to the police by 1 September.
  
• 30 September 2007 – Providers are required to have provided a one-off declaration (on a form to be supplied in adequate time for implementation) to DoHA in relation to each service operated, about compliance with the police certificate requirements.

This is concerning for aged care volunteer workers and facilities in NSW as currently there is no infrastructure in place in NSW to undertake criminal record checks for volunteers. The Centre for Volunteering is liaising with the Minister for Volunteering, the Hon. Tony Kelly, MLC, to address this issue. We will keep you updated on this issue in The Voice of Volunteering.

For more information on these requirements read Aged & Community Services Australia's The National Report (January 2007) or the Approved Providers of Australian Government Subsidised Aged Care Services Under The Aged Care Act 1997 Fact Sheet.

Union says volunteers given confidential police work
The Centre for Volunteering

Lynne Dalton, CEO, The Centre for Volunteering, has responded to reports in the media that "a union says job cuts have led to volunteers doing sensitive and confidential paperwork in police stations in New South Wales".

Ms Dalton has taken issue with the implication by the union and the Minister for Police John Watkins, that volunteers are somehow 'lesser people' because they are not paid, saying: "If the Police Force is using volunteers that are not properly recruited and trained then I agree that they should not be undertaking work for which they are not qualified. However if it is assumed that they are not qualified merely because they are volunteers then I would suggest that the union has a misconception about who a volunteer is. I personally volunteer as a guest speaker for the Heart Foundation. I also have a degree in Social Science majoring in Communication. Am I unqualified because I am a volunteer?"

Read Lynne's comments.

National Volunteer Week 2007: Theme announced
Volunteering Australia

The theme for National Volunteer Week 2007 is See the Change ... Volunteering.

Moving on from the 2006 theme Change Your World ... Start Now, this year's theme refocuses from the personal benefits of volunteering to activating benefits for community and groups.

Use this theme when considering ideas for promoting your organisation and projects, planning events and any other activities up to, during and following National Volunteer Week 2007.

For more information visit www.volunteeringaustralia.org

February 2007 Networking Breakfast
Tuesday, 20 February 2007, 8.30am–10.30am
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney

The Centre's first Networking Breakfast for 2007 is designed as a forum to talk about the fundamental issues of recruitment, retention and rewarding of volunteers. A panel of two or three volunteers will help guide the discussion as well as give us their perspective. Find out what volunteers really think and how we can use their insight to help us plan.

Numbers are limited. It is essential that you RSVP to attend and order breakfast in advance. Breakfast costs $5 and includes fruit salad, raisin toast and muffins. Tea and coffee are free.

Email Alison Keene or phone her on 02 9261 3600.

SVM Workshops: February–March 2007
 

	DATE		TRAINING		LOCATION
	15 Feb		Managing Conflict & Supervisory Skills		Hunter
	16 Feb		Understanding & Implementing the National Standards & Manage Projects		Newcastle
	5 March		Supervisory Skills & Facilitate Change and Innovation		Dapto
	7 March		Manage Projects (CBT)		Sydney
	13 March		Developing & Managing Volunteers		Campbelltown
	22 March		Legally Speaking Day 1		Sydney
	23 March		Legally Speaking Day 2		Sydney
	27 March		Submission Writing & Leading Teams		Grafton
	28 March		Facilitate Change and Innovation & Managing Conflict		Grafton
	29 March		Volunteer Skills Training & Supervisory Skills		Lismore

- Enrol online to attend these SVM Workshops.
- View the School of Volunteer Management's full 2007 Course Calendar.

SVM adds Certificate I in Active Volunteering to its suite of training

The School of Volunteer Management has received approval from the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) to add the Certificate I in Active Volunteering to its suite of training. Find out how your volunteers can do the Certificate I in Active Volunteering.

2007 Events Calendar
The Centre for Volunteering

It's not too late to include your event in The Centre's online 2007 Events Calendar! Email Kristin Romanis with the following information about your event:

• Name of event
• Date of event
• Organisation running the event
• Website link where additional details can be obtained.

The 7:30 Report: Calls for better deal for volunteers

On Monday, 22 January 2007, The Centre for Volunteering’s CEO Lynne Dalton appeared on the ABC television program The 7:30 Report. The story by journalist Christopher Zinn focussed on the rising cost of volunteering following the release of the Costs of Volunteering Taskforce Report and featured Tony Kelly, Minister for Volunteering; volunteer fire fighters Peter Jordan and Gary Burton; John Buchtmann, Penrith VRA; Hori Howard, Emergency Management Volunteer Forum; Jim Colvin, Community Worker and Lynne Dalton. Visit the ABC website to read a full transcript of the story.

Members-Only Website

The Centre for Volunteering's much anticipated Members-Only website will launch on Monday, 12 February 2007. The website will feature an online Resource library, a research and policy channel, detailed information about The Centre's current projects and what services you have access to as a member. You can also use the Members-Only website to access The Centre's Advice Hotline and to inform The Centre of any issues you or your organisation need presented to government.

Members will be emailed a password to access the Members-Only website by noon Friday, 16 February 2007 to the email address you provided on your membership application form. If you do not receive your password, please email Kristin Romanis.

If you would like to become a member of The Centre for Volunteering please download and complete an application form.

The Centre for Volunteering's intern report
Gabe Perna, New York

In the study of journalism, you can take all the classes and read all the books but nothing beats experience. Any journalism professor or professional I have ever met has always stressed the importance of gaining experience in the field.

I was blessed to have all sorts of experiences from August to November 2006 when interning and studying in Sydney, Australia, for my final year in journalism at the Marist College, New York, USA. My two internships/work experiences at The Centre for Volunteering and at The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, and studying at the Australian Catholic University, really gave me a fresh perspective and more knowledge and understanding of the field of journalism.

Read about Gabe's adventures in Australia.

Project report: Volunteers and the Law
By Dr Anton Mischewski

Between August and October 2006, The Centre for Volunteering conducted a survey in NSW about legal resources and information, and the legal needs of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in the future. Two hundred and eighty-three NFPs answered a telephone questionnaire conducted by ten members of The Centre's volunteer legal research team.

The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW provided funding for the survey and the full results of the survey will be published by The Centre in March 2007.

Review the main findings of the survey.

© The Centre for Volunteering 2007 | ABN 28 002 416 024
Level 2, 228 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au
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