The Voice of Volunteering, Issue no 8, September 2008
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FEATURES CONFERENCES, EVENTS & TRAINING THE CENTRE'S NEWS |
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The Voice of Volunteering is an important online update on volunteering in Australia. Delivered free to your inbox every month! |
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Why not forward friends this issue of The Voice? |
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Do you have an upcoming event, news, article or issue to air? Have your say in The Voice of Volunteering. Email Kristin Romanis or phone 02 9261 3600. |
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Kristin Romanis, Communications Manager |
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Last chance to nominate for the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award
With entries closing on Tuesday, 30 September, this is the last chance to nominate for the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award and the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.
"This is a great opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution that volunteers make to our community," Minister for Volunteering, Graham West, said.
"Services that we take for granted would struggle to meet community needs and expectations if it were not for these community-minded people."
Mr West said the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award is a unique opportunity to recognise and publicly acknowledge the invaluable contributions given by the 1.7 million volunteers in NSW.
Youth and Corporate nominations needed
The Centre's 2008 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year Award and the 2008 NSW Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award need more nominations. Do you know a young person (15–25) who volunteeers or someone who engages in volunteering through their employer? Nominate them today!
New Minister for Volunteering
Following the change of leadership in the NSW Labor Party, Premier Rees has named the Hon. Graham James West as the Minister for Juvenile Justice, Youth and Volunteering. The Hon. Linda Burney has been named Minister Community Services. The Centre for Volunteering welcomes Mr West to his new portfolio.
Letter to the SMH Editor re the Hon Linda Burney
In the lead up to Premier Rees' announcement the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald made some questionable remarks about the value of Ms Burney's ministerialship. The Centre's Chair, Joy Woodhouse, replied in a letter to the Editor which was published on Tuesday, 9 September:
"I read the Editor's analysis of the new Premier's Cabinet with great interest. Speaking in my role as Chair of The Centre for Volunteering, the peak body for volunteering in NSW, I strongly disagree with the Editor's comments about Linda Burney. She has, in her role as Minister for Volunteering, served with great distinction. She has done more for volunteering in NSW in her relatively brief term than any other politician in recent memory. As a past Assistant Director General of the Department of Community Services I congratulate Premier Rees on Ms Burney's appointment to this portfolio. She will bring intellect, understanding, enthusiasm and passion to a complex portfolio."
Helping volunteers pay for petrol
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Not-for-profit organisations can receive up to $2,500 to help pay for their volunteers' petrol bills, as part of the Australian Government's $21 million Volunteer Grants Program 2008.
Under the Program, grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 can also be used to purchase equipment, including computers, tools, air conditioners and sporting equipment. Find out more
Bright future for volunteering in Australia
Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens
Parliamentary Secretary for the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, addressed the Volunteering Australia Conference on the Gold Coast last week, reaffirming the Rudd Government's commitment to supporting and promoting volunteering.
Dr Stephens outlined the Federal Government's priorities in enabling new waves of social innovation in Australia, through a National Strategy for Volunteering. Read more
Government boosts funding for emergency volunteers
The Federal Government has announced over $3 million in funding grants to boost the recruitment, retention and training of volunteer organisations at the front line of emergency management. This funding is for 183 projects across Australia through the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund.
Details of projects funded by the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund can be found on the Emergency Management Australia website.
Unpaid work counts, so measure it
Melanie Oppenheimer,
Sydney Morning Herald
"More than a third of adult Australians – about 5.4million people – are volunteers. That is one influential lobby group. But with a few exceptions, Australian governments have been excruciatingly slow to recognise the important role of volunteering. They have rarely taken volunteering and the non-profit or "third" sector within which it largely sits seriously. They take volunteers for granted." Read more
This project was initiated by The Centre for Volunteering as a result of its research department becoming aware from various sources that the number of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people wanting to volunteer was increasing and that a substantial number of people from CALD backgrounds were found to have difficulties communicating in English.
Download the CALD Volunteering Research Report
Government invites comment on an Australian compact
The Not-for-Profit Sector and the Australian Government are exploring ways to develop a new and stronger relationship with each other, based on partnership and respect. One way to do this is through a National Compact -an agreement between the Australian Government and the not-for-profit sector that outlines how the two will work together to improve and strengthen their relationship, now and into the future.
To be part of the consultation process, attend the forums that will be held throughout Australia. Forum information, registration forms and a background paper are available on the ACOSS website.
NFP Networking Event: NSW Anti-Discrimination Board
Tuesday, 16 September 2008, 3pm–5pm
Level 2, 228 Pitt St, Sydney
Gabe Morahan, Community Education Officer for the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, will talk about your rights and responsibilities under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act as community workers and community members.
Some of the specific areas she covers in training include:
- The role of the Anti-Discrimination Board
- What the anti-discrimination law says
- The definition of discrimination
- The types of discrimination that are against the law
- The areas of public life that the anti-discrimination law covers
- Exceptions and Exemptions from the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.
- The action to take when you are being discriminated against
- Lodging a complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Board
- Contacting the Anti-Discrimination Board
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.
New public short courses
The School has launched a range of two and three hour short courses. Please note you can only enrol in these courses by completing the online registration forms on the new SVM website. Browse the short courses calendar.
New accredited programs in 2009
Currently, the School is 'transitioning' its accredited courses from the BSB01 Business Services Training Package to the revised BSB07 Business Services Training Package. There is a 12-month period where there is a changeover of courses and part of this process is in allowing maximum flexibility and fairness to all current students to give them the option to migrate to the new qualification. The roll out of the new and revised units will depend on our book suppliers making available the assessment and support materials. Read more
CAVI pathways – distance learning or RPL
Have you been volunteering for some time? Why not reward your efforts with a Cert I in Active Volunteering through a recognition pathway. The Cert I in Active Volunteering is a six-unit program with a voluntary experience component of 30 hours. This program may be studied through distance learning with support from a supervisor, or through RPL. Read more
International Volunteer Managers Day
A new logo and name has been developed for IVMDay 2008. You are encouraged to download the logo to use in promoting the event.
The IVMDay committee encourages Australian and NZ volunteer managers to take the opportunity to use November 1 as a day to promote the work you do and educate others about the valuable role we all play. Register your activities on the official IVMDay website.
From 2009, the date will move to November 5, giving it some nice synergies with International Volunteers Day on December 5.
Do you have Facebook? We want you to tell your friends about The Centre for Volunteering!
The Centre for Volunteering is now on Facebook and needs your help. We are searching for volunteers to help increase our Facebook exposure by telling their family and friends about The Centre and the work that we do. As a Facebook volunteer, we want you to spread the word about The Centre for Volunteering, NSW by recommending us as a Facebook friend, becoming a fan of The Centre and forwarding notes detailing what is currently happening at The Centre.
Board Communiqué
Joy Woodhouse, Chair
The Board of The Centre for Volunteering met for its bi-monthly meeting in Sydney on Wednesday, 23 July 2008. Read their latest Communiqué
Planit Charity Day at Wairoa School, North Bondi
Planit Software Testing helps organisations prevent and detect issues in their IT delivery. Planits test mission critical systems to minimise their associated risks, control costs and reduce their time to market.
Planit are working with The Centre for Volunteering to develop an employee volunteering policy and to find volunteer placements for their staff. They recently spent the day at Wairoa School in North Bondi in July 2008. Read Planit's report
The Centre's Volunteer Referral Service (VRS) needs your volunteer job ads to help meet increasing demands by new volunteers … all you need to do is complete our online Volunteer Job Advertisement Form.
Read what Pieta Thornton, President & Coordinator, VWCCS Inc says about working with The Centre's VRS:
"I am more than impressed with the quality of volunteers who have come to VWCCS Inc through The Centre for Volunteering. We have over the last two years accrued marvelous volunteers ... their commitment to the work they are doing is outstanding. Through our 9 week Induction Programme early this year there was a 100% retention rate. It is now six months later and there is a 98% retention rate ... I commend what The Centre for Volunteering is doing both for volunteers seeking work and the organisations such as VWCCS Inc who are utilising your services."
Annual Membership Renewal for 2008/2009 reminder
Don't forget to renew your membership for The Centre for Volunteering. If you have not have not renewed you cannot access The Centre's services, including the VRS, until your membership is renewed.
Please complete the renewal form with your current details and return it to the Membership Department, along with your payment.
Confidential volunteering issues Hot Line
The number of calls to the 'Information Hot Line' continues to increase as does the the range of topics and issues to be addressed. These include Government Legislation, insurance, reimbursement of out-of-pockets, police checking, conflict questions (mostly anonymous from both volunteers and organisation) and legal queries. Anyone asking for advice with legal implications are always advised to seek professional advice.
It is interesting to note that often, when people have the opportunity to talk through their problems, they start to see their issues more clearly and resolve the issue themselves. If you have a problem, phone the Hot Line on 02 261 3600.
SCIP/Youth volunteering report
Maia Giordano, Youth Volunteer Program Manager
Check out the new SCIP Speaker Profiles on the Youth Volunteering section of The Centre' website.
At the end of July, Maia Giordano, The Centre's Youth Volunteer Program Manager, organised a SCIP seminar for Year 10 students at St Catherine's School, Waverley as part of their Community Service program. Thank you to Red Cross, Inspire Foundation, Vision Australia, Amnesty International and Animal Liberation for connecting with students.
The Centre for Volunteering is excited about its content partnership with the ActNow team at The Inspire Foundation. It is an opportunity for both The Centre and the ActNow Program to share expertise and relevant content between each of the websites.
On 22 August, Maia gave two SCIP presentations, on The Centre's SCIP and Youth Volunteer opportunities, to NSW and ACT Coordinators of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. There were approximately 25 schools represented at the meeting. The IB program includes Primary Years, Middle Years (Years 7–10) and the Diploma (Years 11–12) Programs. Each program has a focus on community service and learning taking place beyond the class room.
Maia and Youth Volunteer presenter, Ben Hanckel, presented a youth volunteer workshop at the Community Relations Commission Symposium Youth Leaders Day on Tuesday, 26 August. The volunteer workshop was part of the workshop stream How Can I Get Involved? Active Youth Leadership. It was attended by High School and University students from around Sydney. A big thank you to Ben for his insights in the preparation and sharing his volunteer experience during the workshop.
Maia continues to assist young people and their parents who require assistance in finding volunteer opportunities in their local area. Thank you to all The Centre's member organisations who have agreed to be on the Youth Involving Organisations list.
If you would like more information, please call 9261 3600 or 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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