The Voice of Volunteering, Issue no 11, December 2008

New South Wales Volunteers of the Year announced

Winners of the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award were announced at a gala ceremony on Friday, 5 December, at Sydney's Parliament House. ABC Radio host Adam Spencer MC'd the ceremony and and the NSW Minister for Volunteering, the Hon. Graham West, presented the Awards.

The winners of the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year awards are:

• Layne Beachley, the most successful female surfer of all time and seven-time world champion, and Founder and Chief Executive of the Layne Beachley Aim for the Stars Foundation, has been awarded the inaugural NSW Volunteer Ambassador of the Year Award;
• Ashfield resident Shu Fen Wang was named 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year for her work over the past 10 years with the West Region Chinese Association;
• Krystle Marsh was named 2008 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year for her work with Vinnies and the Australian Red Cross. Krystle has just completed year 12 student at Warilla High School;
• Lorraine Clark, of Warringah was named 2008 NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year for her contribution to the Special Olympics program for the past 18 years; and
• Optus' IT Commercial Director, Karen Carmichael, and Optus have been recognised for mobilising an exemplary Employee Volunteering program at Lurnea High School ... and been named the 2008 NSW Corporate Volunteer of the Year.

Find out more

- View the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award ceremony photos
- Meet the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award regional winners and nominees
- Find out more about the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award

Senator Stephens welcomes Senate Report on charity regulation
Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector

“There is a clear need for an improved regulatory system for the non-profit sector that enables it to work more effectively and transparently in our community,” said Senator Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector. Senator Stephens was speaking in response to today’s tabling of the report from the Senate Standing Committee on Economics inquiry into disclosure regimes for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

The report found that non-profit organisations in Australia are labouring under a heavy burden of inconsistent and inappropriate regulation and that there is a pressing need for improved regulation and increased transparency. Read more

High Court favours Charities over Tax Office
Moores Legal's Not for Profit Alert and NineMSN

The decision of the High Court of Australia has been handed down in the case of Word Investments Limited allowing charitable institutions to run business activities for charitable purposes and not be subject to tax. Read more

NineMSN reported: "A company that raised funds for a missionary organisation has won a High Court battle against the tax commissioner. Although a commercial enterprise, the company was entitled to tax-exempt charity status, the ruling says.

"It overturned a decision of the tax commissioner who held that a commercial entity trading for profit was not a charity, even though its purpose was to distribute profits wholly or mainly to charities.

"The High Court, by a 4–1 majority, decided the purposes of Word Investments were charitable and that it was a charitable institution." Read more

New President for Volunteering Australia
Volunteering Australia & Volunteering SA

At the Annual General Meeting held on Friday, 28 November 2008, Janet Stone was elected the President of the Volunteering Australia (VA) board. VA CEO, Cary Pedicini, welcomed Janet to her new role. "Janet brings to the Presidency a wealth of experience in the voluntary sector at many levels as well as extensive corporate marketing experience. Her commitment to volunteering includes being a director and Chairperson of Volunteering SA & NT Inc where Janet has strongly demonstrated her strong support of volunteering. Janet has been a Volunteering Australia Board Member since 2006 and was Vice President from 2007 until her election to the Presidency. I am sure the Volunteering Australia Board will gain much from Janet's leadership." Janet is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Janet replaces retiring President Ian Rentsch who has completed two years as VA President. Ian's leadership has been invaluable to Volunteering Australia helping the organisation through a significant period of development. On behalf of the volunteer sector we thank Ian for his work and wish him well.

Volunteering: An opportunity for the whole family
Volunteering Australia

This subject guide explores this unique and enjoyable group volunteering experience. The guide can be read as a backgrounder for the below resources on family volunteering:

• Hints for involving families, Volunteering Australia
• Family volunteering, University of Adelaide

Download Volunteering: An opportunity for the whole family.

UN report on follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers
International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE)

Governments are being urged to implement policies conducive to the development of volunteering through legislation, infrastructure building, partnerships with the corporate sector, and youth initiatives.

A report by the United Nations on actions taken since the UN International Year of Volunteers in 2001 has called for greater awareness of the changing face of volunteering and more recognition of the contribution volunteers can make to society. Read more

Volunteer Coordinators Networking Event: 2009
Tuesday, 17 February 2009, 3–5pm
Level 2, 228 Pitt St, Sydney

Recruiting Volunteers via the Volunteer Referral Service (VRS): Making the VRS work for your organisation!

Over the course of the financial year 2007/2008 the VRS conducted over 5500 interviews of potential volunteers, making referrals to 482 member organisations that list their volunteer positions with the VRS. Member organisations of The Centre for Volunteering have over 600 active volunteer positions listed at any given time; not counting roles that require multiple volunteers. From Database specialists to community visitors we have a volunteer role for everyone that has the time, energy and enthusiasm to volunteer.

Come along to the networking session to find out how the VRS process works, including questions asked by our Interviewers to determine the right referral, learn how to create effective job descriptions and recruit the right volunteer for the right volunteer role and also find out how Fido Skilled Volunteer Search connects skilled, experienced volunteers with not-for-profit organisations looking to recruit volunteers and its requirements.

RSVP today
All volunteer managers are very welcome to these events. Numbers are limited and booking is essential. There is a cost of $5 to attend and afternoon tea will be provided. Email Odessa O'Brien or phone 02 9261 3600 to RSVP.

Speak Up! Speak Out! and other Short Courses in 2009
In 2009 the School will again offer the SpeakersBank SUSO public speaking courses and a range of other Short Courses (2–3 hours). Find out more about the courses to be offered in the first half of next year.
 

Funded training through the Strategic Skills Program
Find out how you can get government funded training at diploma and certificate level for your staff.  Enquire now for a Semester One start.
 

The School of Volunteer Management: 2008 in review
This year has been one of consolidation and building for the School, to allow for a planned expansion of activities and services in 2009. The demand for PD Workshops and Customised Training was steady but enrolments in Accredited Courses more than doubled. Find out more about the activities the School undertook this year and plans for 2009.

C3P really makes Corporate Volunteering happen in 2008
Odessa O'Brien, The Centre for Volunteering

Over the last 12 months we have had a huge increase in the number of Corporate Volunteering events which has come about due to the program launch of C3P: Creating Community Corporate Partnerships. C3P acts as a broker to connect corporations with not-for-profits in beneficial Employee Volunteering projects and activities.

The Corporate Volunteering activities have ranged from 100 Integral Energy employees and sub contractors helping out at an aged care facility to four Office for Fair Trading volunteers helping out at the Sculptures by the Sea event held at Bondi and Tamarama beach. Read more

SCIP/Youth volunteering report: 2008 in review
Maia Giordano, Youth Volunteer Program Manager

There have been many new developments in the Youth Volunteer Program during 2008. The new Youth Volunteer Program Manager has focussed on increasing the awareness of the Student Community Involvement Program (SCIP) through promoting The Centre to new networks, advocating to increase the uptake of youth volunteers, and increase the number and variety of organisations involved with SCIP. Read more

Research and Policy Department report
Tony Frew, The Centre for Volunteering

The Centre's Research and Policy department has been involved in a number of projects that have reached the stage of preliminary completion either through examination of available literature and/or pilot surveys. The interim reports will be made available on The Centre's website. They contain provisional details and illustrate the direction these areas of research will take in 2009. Read more

Membership review
Jan Cosgrove, Membership Manager

The Centre's membership numbers have continued to grow and many organisations have provided The Centre with a wide range of ideas and valuable input.  Membership now covers over 195 postcode areas covering NSW and other regions. The Centre is looking forward to continuing its very much appreciated association with you in 2009.

On behalf of the staff and our liaison volunteers, The Centre's Membership Department would all like to take this opportunity to say thank a very big thank you to for your support throughout the year and to wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year in 2009.

© The Centre for Volunteering 2008 | 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
Unsubscribe | Update Your Details | Privacy