The Voice of Volunteering, Issue no 3, April 2008

The Centre's National Volunteer Week activities

The Centre for Volunteering will conduct the following events during National Volunteer Week, 12–18 May 2008:

Launch of the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards
Monday, 12 May 2008, Government House (invitation only)

The inaugural NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards held last year were a great success and The Centre for Volunteering and Award Patron, the Hon Linda Burney, are looking forward to launching this year's Award at Government House. Nominations will open on 12 May. The Awards will be announced and presented on 5 December 2008, International Volunteer Day.

Employee Volunteer Program Research Report and Toolkit Release
Monday, 12 May 2008, Westpac (invitation only)

A project funded by The Westpac Foundation has been investigating best practice into how corporate Employee Volunteering Programs (EVPs) successfully connect with small-to-medium not-for-profit organisations. The research report and a toolkit for not-for-profits that want to set up and manage their own EVPs will be released at Westpac by the Hon Linda Burney.

Not-for-profit Networking Event: The Ins and Outs of Corporate Volunteering
Tuesday, 13 May 2008, 8.30am–10.30am
Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 280 Pitt St, Sydney

Volunteer managers and not-for-profit representatives are invited to The Centre's Corporate Volunteering Networking Event. Review The Centre's new toolkit for not-for-profits engaging in corporate volunteering (above) and learn about the ins and outs of this fast growing volunteering opportunity. Email Odessa O'Brien or phone 02 9261 3600 to RSVP. There is a cost of $10 to attend and breakfast will be provided.

Bridge to Volunteering Spectacular
Thursday, 15 May 2008, 10.30am–12.30pm
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney

Volunteers and potential volunteers are invited to listen to talks on volunteering by various speakers: the Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney MP; representatives from KPMG on corporate volunteering; Warilla High School on student and youth volunteering; Best Buddies Australia on youth and people with disabilities; and the Art Gallery of NSW on skilled and professional volunteers. Bookings are essential. Phone 02 9261 3600 or email bridge@volunteering.com.au.

National Volunteer Week Posters still available

The Centre for Volunteering has received extra National Volunteer Week Posters from Volunteering Australia. If you were too late in getting in your order and would like some posters, please phone 02 9261 3600 or email Kristin Romanis or Janine Cowen to arrange pick up or postage ($5 postage) of these posters.

45 ways to recognise volunteers
Bank of I.D.E.A.S.

With National Volunteer Week fast approaching, many organisations are tossing around ideas on how to recognise and thank their volunteers. An excellent document from Bank of I.D.E.A.S. lists 45 suggestions of how you can do this.

10 ways to hook the media during National Volunteer Week
Volunteering Australia

Many organisations find it difficult to create media opportunities to promote their organisation in their local papers. No matter the size of your organisation you can create an opportunity for the media to profile your organisation by following Volunteering Australia's ten potential media opportunities to help you promote your organisation during National Volunteer Week.

Forum on Volunteering
Lynne Dalton, CEO, The Centre for Volunteering

The Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney, hosted a Forum on Volunteering on Friday, 28 March following the Volunteering Roundtable held in June 2007. The Forum was co-hosted by the Community Relations Commission and focused on volunteering by people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and Volunteering, attended the Forum as a special guest. The object of the Forum was to discuss ideas and issues to assist people with CALD backgrounds to volunteer and, in so doing, to meet one of the objectives of the Government's State plan, which is to raise the level of engagement in communities where there is a high level of diversity. Lynne Dalton attended the Forum and encourages people to read the speeches from the State Minister for Volunteering, Hon Linda Burney and Senator Ursula Stephen, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and Volunteering:

1. Minister Linda Burney said "Encouraging greater diversity was a crucial part of strengthening the community and making New South Wales a cohesive, welcoming and caring society".
2. Senator Ursula Stephen's Speech to the Forum: Diversity and the Volunteer Workforce: Towards a 2020 Vision for Volunteering
    

Congratulations to Powerhouse Museum
Lynne Dalton, CEO, The Centre for Volunteering

On Monday, 10 March 2008, The Centre for Volunteering was invited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo and 20 years of service by museum volunteers. In conjunction with this celebration, the Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney, opened the Powerhouse Museum Volunteer Centre in the historic Ultimo Post Office.

Photo: Minister for Volunteering, The Hon Linda Burney MP,  Acting Director, Jennifer Sanders, and the president of the Board of Trustees, Dr Nicholas Pappas, at the opening of the Powerhouse Museum Volunteers' Centre, 10 March 2008. Photo by Sotha Bourn.

Volunteer burnout
Lynne Dalton, CEO, The Centre for Volunteering

An interesting book focusing on volunteer management is Keeping Volunteers: A Guide To Retention by Steve McCurley and Rick Lynch. Burnout can directly lead to problems in volunteer retention. Read McCurley and Lynch's suggestions about when burnout among volunteers is most likely to happen. Read more

Centrelink and the Voluntary Work Initiative

Centrelink has a program called the Voluntary Work Initiative (VWI) which is directed at both organisations and unemployed customers of Centrelink.

Organisations must be registered and approved by Centrelink in order to engage unemployed customers of Centrelink as volunteers. Please register your organisation by completing the Voluntary Work and Community Work – Request for Organisation Approval Form (SU461). It should be noted that both Public Liability insurance and Personal Accident insurance are required.

Centrelink customers intending to participate in voluntary work must complete the Voluntary Work – Verification of Voluntary Work Form (SU462). The volunteer manager will need to validate this form.

If you need any assistance when completing either form, please phone Jan Cosgrove, Membership Manager, on 02 9261 3600.

Special offer for volunteers: Ophir Gold B&B discount

Ophir Gold Bed & Breakfast has a special offer for volunteers during the first week in December of $40 per person per night including breakfast. If you are interested in taking up this offer and pampering your volunteers, please email Peter and Marilyn Wilson or visit www.bnbophirgold.com.au

Networking Events

The Centre for Volunteering's monthly networking events have the new time of 3pm–5pm on the third Tuesday of the month. However, please note that The Centre's special National Volunteer Week Networking Breakfast in May will be held at the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts at 8.30am ($10/head).

Youth Volunteering Networking Event
Tuesday, 15 April 2008, 3pm–5pm
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney

The April Networking Event will focus on youth volunteering and will feature Maia Giordano, The Centre's new Youth Volunteer Program Manager, and speakers from member organisations who work closely with young volunteers including Kate Dixon, Red Cross Youth Challenge Coordinator (State Office).

RSVP today
All volunteer managers are very welcome to these events. Numbers are limited and booking is essential. The cost of attending The Centre's Networking Events is $5 per head to be paid on the day. Afternoon tea is provided. Email Odessa O'Brien or phone 02 9261 3600.

National Conference on Volunteering: Keynote Speakers
3–5 September 2008, Gold Coast, Qld.

Volunteering Australia has announced two keynote speakers for the 12th National Conference on Volunteering: Bruno Ayres, Chief Networking Officer for the V2V Network (Volunteer-to-Volunteer), and Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision. This is the only Australian conference that tackles issues in volunteering. For more information, visit www.volunteeringaustralia.org/Conference.

National Youth Week, 5–13 April 2008

National Youth Week is an opportunity for 12–25 year olds to celebrate being young, speak up about issues that are important to them and discuss how to make the most of every opportunity. Last year, over 250,000 young people participated in more than 1,780 events across Australia. For the latest details on National Youth Week events held in your area from 5–13 April, visit www.youthweek.com.

Welcome: Mark Tippett

Mark Tippett commenced as School Administrator for the School of Volunteer Management in late February 2008. Mark has worked in registered training organisations (RTOs), including Nature Care College at St Leonards, St George & Sutherland Community College and the Wesley Vocational Institute, and has 10 years experience in management, business development and training. He's also spent 16 years in publishing with several years as an art director/studio manager.

Mark has completed a number of professional development and tertiary courses in counselling and has the Certificate 4 in Business (Small Business Management) and the Certificate 4 in Assessment & Workplace Training, and is currently studying the Diploma of Business Management. Mark is a JP.

SCIP/Youth Report
Maia Giordano, Youth Volunteer Program Manager

In late February, the SCIP team ran a Community Education Day for Year 10 boys at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, as part of their Ministry and Leadership Day. Students enjoyed inspiring and diverse presentations from The Asylum Seekers Centre, volunteer Jim Grainda, Vision Australia and Wheelchair Sports NSW's Arrive Alive Wheelchair Basketball Road Show. Heartfelt thanks to all the speakers from these organisations for sharing their insights and stories with the students.

Maia Giordano ran a planning session with Year 11 career leaders at Sydney Secondary College to develop their Student Community Involvement Program in May.

In keeping with our commitment to helping disadvantaged and at-risk young people to access positive volunteer experiences through the Volunteering Makes a Difference (VMAD) project, Maia ran an introductory volunteer workshop with young people in the Vocational Education Group at the Ted Noffs Foundation. Maia is working with Ted Noffs Foundation to link the young people to a range of organisations. In early March, Maia also gave a talk about the VMAD Project to the Lower North Shore Youth Interagency in order to develop links with youth services in this area.

On Tuesday, 18 March, Maia ran the second Youth Volunteer Teleconference with state peak volunteer bodies. The teleconference was a great chance to share information about programs and the challenges or barriers to youth volunteering. It was seen as a positive opportunity to share existing resources and learn from each others' experiences about how to improve programs for youth volunteering. The next teleconference will be in June 2008.

If you would like more information about the Student Community Involvement Program (SCIP), the Volunteering Makes a Difference (VMAD) project or would like to involve young people as volunteers in your organisation, please phone 02 9261 3600 or via email info@volunteering.com.au.

© 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 | W: www.volunteering.com.au
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