The Voice of Volunteering, Issue no 1, February 2008

Minister acknowledges new migrants' massive contribution to community building
Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney

Minister for Volunteering Linda Burney has responded to Victorian research on volunteering fresh from a meeting in Cooma with a culturally diverse volunteering group. Ms Burney said she believed research undertaken by Ernest Healy from Monash University's Centre for Population and Urban Research did not give the full picture about levels of volunteering in migrant communities. Read more

NAB virtual volunteering launch

NAB has introduced virtual volunteering to its 23,000+ employees. NAB volunteers can now offer their professional skills to community groups without leaving their desks. Community groups register their volunteering opportunities at no cost by searching the volunteerxchange website which matches the request with suitably skilled NAB employees. See if this is an opportunity just waiting to be snapped up by your organisation!

Corporate volunteering: From little things big things grow
Volunteering Australia

By now, most not-for-profit organisations would be familiar with the concept of corporate volunteering. However, the subject still seems to arouse wariness and scepticism within the sector. So why is it still such an issue? Is it because not-for-profits still consider it as an imposition rather than an opportunity? Read more

Download Volunteering Australia's new Corporate Volunteering Training Kit: A comprehensive kit to help volunteer centres deliver training on corporate volunteering.

Volunteer Magnet (2nd edition) launched
OzVPM

The second edition of Turn your organisation into a volunteer magnet has been launched. The ebook is a knowledge-sharing initiative within the international community of volunteer program managers (VPMs) for the purpose of peer-to-peer professional development. The editors and writers have given their time for free and it is the intention that nobody should profit from the sale of this publication. Download your copy

Double our volunteer force
Volunteering Australia

Volunteering Australia has applauded the Governor General's call for more Australians to undertake voluntary work as part of his wish for a more caring Australia. Major-General Jeffrey, speaking at a dawn event in Tasmania at the start of a week of Australia Day celebrations, suggested we should aim to double the number of people who volunteer in their communities. Read more

Read the NSW Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney's supportive response to the Governor General's call for more people to volunteer.

Patron sings praises of NSW Volunteer of the Year Award
Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney

"I am proud to be associated with the Volunteer of the Year Awards, and congratulate again all the 2007 award winners and nominees. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to acknowledge and thank just some of the extraordinary people across NSW who so generously help those around them," NSW Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney said.

The NSW Government also congratulates The Centre for Volunteering on initiating these important awards. With 170 nominations in its first year, the program was a great success and can only grow, giving well-deserved recognition to volunteers and the work they undertake within their communities.

The 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards will be launched by the Minister for Volunteering in National Volunteer Week 2008.

Find out more about the Awards.

NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards 2007 Photo Gallery

Did you miss out on attending the inaugural NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Ceremony on International Volunteer Day on 5 December 2007? Take in all the action by browsing the Awards Photo Gallery.

Become a part of actnow.com.au

actnow.com.au is a program of the Inspire Foundation. It helps young people to better understand their world, and provides them with information, tools and contacts to do something about the issues that affect them and their community. Find out how your organisation can be promoted via actnow.com.au

Global Volunteer Management Survey
Survey closes on Saturday, 1 March 2008

People First Total Solutions is conducting research into the state of volunteer management globally. The results will be used to identify trends and issues globally; develop appropriate training resources; provide data for articles for publication; assist volunteer centres, volunteer involving organisations and professional associations to understand what volunteer managers/coordinators are saying and feeling; and raise the profile of managers/coordinators of volunteers. Complete the survey

Future of Volunteering Project seeking contributions

The Future of Volunteering Project wants to understand why people volunteer, to help with government policy making, and to help organisations attract and keep the people they need. The project aims to collect thousands of stories of real experiences from people who volunteer, people who manage and use volunteers and people who fund volunteering organisations. All stories are treated as anonymous. Complete the online survey and tell your volunteer story

Australian Community Sector Survey
Survey closes on Friday, 22 February 2008

ACOSS's 2007-08 survey is now online. The information collected will provide a picture of the size, shape and experiences of the sector over time and is an important tool for service development, social policy and building sector capacity. The survey is aimed at organisations that deliver services directly to the community. Complete the survey

Networking Breakfast: IAVE Asia Pacific Conference Review
Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 8.30am–10.30am
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney

On 6 December 2007, Kristin Romanis travelled to Nagoya, Japan, to attend the 2007 IAVE Asia Pacific Volunteer Conference, held from 7–10 December. The conference was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about volunteering and to network with many people involved in volunteering in the Asia-Pacific region, the US and Europe.

Presentations Kristin attended include:

• Volunteering and Citizen Participation at the 2005 World Expo, Nagoya
• Emergency Volunteering
• Senior Citizens Volunteering: Baby Boomer Generation
• RSVP International
• Corporate Volunteering and CSR
• International Models of Civic Engagement
• Youth Volunteering – Voluntainment.

Kristin presented the Country Report for Australia, detailing current volunteering activity, trends and issues in Australia.

Kristin will present a review of the conference at the March Networking Breakfast.

RSVP today
All volunteer managers are very welcome to these breakfasts. Numbers are limited and booking is essential. Please order your breakfast ($5) in advance. Tea and coffee are free. Email Odessa O'Brien or phone 02 9261 3600.

2008 dates
Don't miss out on The Centre's Networking Breakfasts. Put the 2008 Breakfast dates in your diary.

Connecting Up 2008 – Online and Off to the Future
Monday–Tuesday, 19–20 May 2008, Brisbane

Registrations are now open for Connecting Up 2008 – Online and Off to the Future. The conference will be held from 19–20 May 2008, at the Hilton, Brisbane. Book your tickets at the conference website. Connecting Up 2008 is a great opportunity for those interested in the uses of technology within the charity and non-profit sector. Early bird conferences prices are available until 14 March.

Call for Abstracts: National Conference on Volunteering
Volunteering Australia

Volunteering Australia invites proposals for papers, workshops and posters from all interested parties for the 12th National Conference on Volunteering. Find out more

SVM's training for volunteers
School of Volunteer Management

The Certificate 1 in Active Volunteering (CAV 1) is a new, nationally accredited course designed especially for volunteers. It allows you to learn new skills or update your current skills. This certificate is a formal qualification providing a pathway to other vocational qualifications and employment opportunities. Enrol today

Two new membership offers for The Centre for Volunteering in 2008–2009

Be quick and save money! For the first time, new and renewing members of The Centre for Volunteering have the choice of two discounted payment options: you can pay for 6 months of membership up till 30 June 2008 or 18 months of membership up till 30 June 2009. This offer expires at the end of March. Download rates and a new membership application form or membership renewal form today.

Sunrise promotes volunteering

Alan Bates, a board member for The Centre for Volunteering and Volunteer Coordinator for Wesley Mission, and volunteer Joanne Kim appeared on Network Seven's Sunrise program on Wednesday, 23 January and Thursday, 24 January discussing the benefits of volunteering.

Research & Policy Report
By Tony Frew

A project funded by The Westpac Foundation has been investigating best practice into how Corporate Employee Volunteering Programs successfully connect with small-to-medium not-for-profit organisations. The survey results are currently being analysed.
 
The Research & Policy team is currently undertaking a research project on the high-level skills held by volunteers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and how these skills can be accessed. No comparative study on this particular aspect of CALD volunteers has been found in the literature. Thus 50 of The Centre's members and several volunteer referral centres and migrant resource centres will shortly be contacted to ascertain if they have any such information on this topic.  

Welcome: Odessa O'Brien

Odessa O'Brien joins The Centre for Volunteering with experience in managing and liaising with a large number and range of not-for-profit organisations, charities and government departments for the past 9 years. This includes experience in policy development, event management and community relations.

Odessa's background includes managing a community engagement program with over 360 volunteers participating in a range of fundraising events, corporate volunteering days and information and networking events to raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering and encourage corporate employees to get involved.

In addition to running the Volunteer Referral Service Odessa is keen to expand the Corporate Volunteering Program and looks forward to working with the Membership of The Centre to create new opportunities for companies to get involved.

Welcome: Maia Giordano

The Centre for Volunteering welcomes Maia Giordano into the role of Youth Volunteer Program Manager. Maia takes over from Jacinthe Brosseau who is expecting her first child. Maia has experience working in both state and local government. Maia has a background in Human Geography and Community Cultural Development. She has completed Human Geography Honours in the area of Child Friendly Cities, child rights policy and youth participation. She was part of the Inspire Foundation's first Youth Advisory Board developing the website www.ActNow.com.au. She has a keen interest in promoting the benefits of volunteering for young people.

Farewell: Alison Keene

The Centre for Volunteering sadly farewelled Alison Keene, Volunteer Services Coordinator in January. Alison managed The Centre's Volunteer Referral Service (VRS) for the past year and was instrumental in developing and implementing many best practices and new processes with the VRS.

Farewell: Trish Griffiths

The Centre for Volunteering and the School of Volunteer Management (SVM) has said farewell to Trish Griffiths, the School's Administration Assistant. Trish worked for the School until 2005 and then returned on a part-time basis in September 2007 to assist Geoff Copeland in his management of the School. The School is currently recruiting for this role.

© 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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