The Voice of Volunteering, Issue no 7, August 2007

Not-for-profits increasingly flexible in light of changing needs of volunteers
Volunteering Australia

Results from the latest ABS Voluntary Work, Australia survey show that the number of volunteers in Australia is at an all time high, with one in three Australians volunteering (34%) – up from 32% in 2000. Interestingly, while the number of people volunteering has increased, the number of hours volunteered appears to have decreased, with the median number of hours volunteered just 1.1 hours per week or 56 hour per year. While this could be seen as  negative, Volunteering Australia sees this as encouraging. "We believe this reflects the increasingly flexible nature of the not-for-profit sector," said Julie Pollard, CEO, Volunteering Australia. Read more

Ad scam targets not-for-profits
Volunteering Australia

Volunteering Australia is currently aware of a scam that is targeting the not-for-profit sector through the solicitation of advertising space in commercial publications.

Not-for-profits need to be vigilant about unsolicited ads in publications. Advertisers demand payment for advertising that has never been requested or authorised. They might try to sell you and others in your organisation a 'community directory' or publication based on data plagiarised from other sites, such as GoVolunteer, or from various publications. Read more

Future Visions Competition to run in New Zealand
The Centre for Volunteering

The New Plymouth Volunteer Centre, New Zealand, has received funding from the NZ Department of Internal Affairs to launch the Future Visions Young Filmmakers 4x5 Competition. The competition will be open to intermediate school level students in the New Plymouth area with the Awards Ceremony to be held in late March 2008.

The Centre for Volunteering developed the Future Visions Young Filmmakers 4x5 Competition in 2005 to showcase the talents of young filmmakers while teaching them about volunteering.

August Networking Breakfast – Corporate Volunteers: How to ensure that Corporate Volunteers are a help and not a hindrance
Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 8.30am–10.30am (FULLY BOOKED)
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney

Do you think laterally about corporate volunteers or have you put them in the 'too hard basket'? How do you see corporate volunteers helping your organisation? Where do they fit in? What is their role? If you do have corporate volunteers, come and tell us about them – good, bad or otherwise!

Speakers from The Centre for Volunteering include:

1. Lynne Dalton, CEO, who will provide a current perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility.
2. Jan Cosgrove, Corporate Volunteering Manager, who will discuss placing corporate volunteers and how The Centre can help.
3. Kristin Romanis, Communications Manager, who will facilitate a discussion on how to negotiate and work with corporates.

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 Jan Cosgrove or phone her on 02 9261 3600.

Free workshops for community groups
11 & 13 September and 17 & 19 October 2007

Conservation Volunteers Australia and Toyota Australia are jointly presenting a series of free volunteer management workshops. Volunteer managers and coordinators (paid and unpaid), environment groups and other volunteer organisations will be able to share their experience and expertise with each other. Each workshop runs for half a day and there is a choice of four topics: Change management in community groups; motivated volunteers; team development for community groups; and project management in community groups. Register early. Download the brochure

Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management
Tuesday–Thursday, 25–27 September 2007, Hobart

The theme of the retreat is Positioning Our Profession and will feature three internationally recognised volunteer management experts – Susan J Ellis, Martin J Cowling and Andy Fryar. The retreat is limited to 52 participants. It is targeted at those who have been involved in the management of volunteer programs for more than two years.  The Retreat seeks to provide a personal, intense and tailored experience aimed at the seasoned volunteer management professional. For more details, please visit www.vpmretreat.com.au

Beyond lip service: Assuring that volunteer contributions are valued and supported
Early October 2007

Susan J Ellis, internationally respected leading author, trainer and commentator on volunteerism, will present two workshops in Sydney in early October for The Centre for Volunteering. Exact dates are not yet known but you can attend either workshop on two half-days or there is a full one-day program. The titles of the workshops are Strategies for achieving volunteer/employee teamwork and Internal marketing savvy: Telling the story of volunteering. Information about these workshops will be published in the next issue of The Voice of Volunteering.
  

Volunteering SA's Going For Gold Conference
17, 18 & 19 October 2007

Volunteering SA Inc's world class conference is designed to celebrate, recognise and inspire volunteers, whilst teaching, challenging and encouraging volunteer managers. Conference delegates will go home with new ideas, new friends and a desire to build community spirit through volunteering. More details will be available soon at www.goingforgold.org.au 

Ninth International Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day
Thursday, 1 November 2007

IVMA Day is being celebrated once again and so now is the time to begin planning ways to celebrate the amazing work of volunteer managers in your agency! For more information and ideas on how to celebrate the day, visit www.ivmaday.org

Law and Justice Volunteer Award
The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW is seeking nominations for the 2007 Justice Awards which will be presented on 31 October 2007. These awards recognise the contributions that individuals and organisations have made to improving access to justice in NSW, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people. There are four categories for nomination, one of which is the Law and Justice Volunteer Award sponsored by the NSW Bar Association. Nominations close on 13 August 2007. Download a nomination form today.

NSW Volunteer of the Year Award 2007
Nominate your volunteers for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award 2007. This award will showcase volunteers who have shown dedication and initiative in their work and have positively contributed to the not-for-profit organisations where they volunteer. Nominations close on 1 October 2007. Download a nomination form today.

School Community Involvement Program
On Tuesday, 24 July 2007, The Centre for Volunteering took part in a Community Education Day organised by Sydney Secondary College in Glebe. The SCIP coordinator gave an introductory talk about volunteering. Speakers from the St Vincent de Paul Society, Animal Liberation, The Wilderness Society and Wesley Mission also gave talks.

The Centre would like to thank the dedicated organisers of this event, Mr Ozzie Azhar and his team, and the participants for their enthusiastic responses. We also thank Annie Chen and Jeff Kwan, both presently interning at The Centre for Volunteering, for their invaluable help on the day.

Corporate partnership strategy presentation
On Tuesday, 24 July 2007, Cavill + Co, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and The Centre for Volunteering hosted a special presentation. This presentation was initiated by Cavill + Co and provides participants with the tools necessary to develop not-for-profit's skills when negotiating successful corporate partnerships. The event was attended by 20 CEOs from not-for-profit organisations.

SVM to develop new accredited training
The School of Volunteer Management recently submitted an application to VETAB to develop the new Certificate IV in Parenting for Karitane and it has now been approved by VETAB.

University of Sydney Career Fair
On Wednesday, 25 July 2007, The Centre for Volunteering took part in the University of Sydney's launch of the Economics and Business Faculty's Careers and Employer Relations Office. Interns Annie Chen and Jeff Kwan represented The Centre at the launch. Annie wrote: "Our stall was always full of students … (After visiting our stall) the students realised that being a volunteer can help them broaden their career options, gain work experience, learn new skills, help others and contribute to the community. One successful and creative approach to telling students about volunteering was a version of 'speed dating', designed by the events host to gives organisations the opportunity to share their experience with students who would like to know more about volunteering."

Welcome: Sue-Anne Wallace, Board Member
Sue-Anne Wallace is CEO, Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA), and is well-known nationally in the NFP sector. Sue-Anne is an experienced executive manager in the not-for-profit sector and has a flair for developing new organisations and steering through organisational change. Her experience includes the following: Involvement with local communities through cultural heritage development; volunteering in areas of social needs; experience with public policy in arts, cultural heritage and fundraising; development and fundraising experience; and working with Indigenous communities in arts and cultural development.

Welcome: Gary Moore, Board Member
Gary Moore has nearly 30 years experience in policy development, program management and service delivery in both the public sector and the NFP sector in NSW. Previously Director, NCOSS, Gary is currently the Director, Community Services, at Marrickville Council. He has been a key advocate for innovation and change in many areas: public housing access for single people in NSW; various community enterprise development and job creation programs; major social impact assessment measures and community funding schemes in the liquor and gaming industries; and the Working Together for NSW Agreement between the NSW Government and the State's non-government human services sector.

Farewell: Dr Anton Mischewski
The Centre for Volunteering regretfully announces the departure of Dr Anton Mischewski who has returned to Melbourne. Anton's dedication, passion and humour will be greatly missed by The Centre for Volunteering's staff and volunteers. CEO Lynne Dalton thanks Anton for his achievements in the Research and Policy unit, wishing him well in all his future endeavours.

© 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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