Issue no 4, September 2006

ABC Radio 702's Adam Spencer
By Lisa Saremel

As presenter of ABC Radio 702's morning program, Adam Spencer must have one of the busiest jobs in Sydney. But that doesn't stop him from getting involved in volunteering.

In between working the breakfast program every day, Adam fits in about 10–12 hours a week coaching the Sydney University women's soccer team. "I've been coaching the girls for seven years now and absolutely love it," said Adam. "I happened to be walking past the oval one night and saw a mate of mine taking a training session. I came over to help and haven't left." MORE

Are you the next Australian Youth Ambassador?
By Belle Hann

In the small town of Dari-Ekh in the hills of Mongolia, the children couldn't go to kindergarten. At the local radio station where Anna Greer, Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) volunteered, someone had an idea – 'if the children can't go to the school, why can't the school go to the children?'

"The penny dropped," Anna said. "It's not only the United Nations or people with exceptional skills who could help the developing world. People can go in at a grass roots level and really effect positive, sustainable change." MORE

Reading buddies – Corporate volunteers and UWS educational psychology students teach young readers
By Vanessa McQuarrie

By 2010, the Reading for Life program aims to help 10,000 children with reading difficulties. It's a big project but, with a highly developed program in place since 2003 and a pool of willing 'reading buddy' corporate volunteers from some of Australia's biggest companies and student volunteers from the University of Western Sydney, the ambitious ending is already in sight.

Initiated by Unilever, Reading for Life provides the opportunity for employees to volunteer to 'buddy up' with primary school children. MORE

The Song Room
By Rebecka Delforce

The Song Room, with its motto "Helping Australians to sing!", is a musical not-for-profit (NFP) organisation with lots of lively little numbers. Founded by Australian opera singer Tania de Jong in 1999, this organisation achieves a lot more than merely helping Aussies 'hit the high notes'. With a stellar cast of talented and experienced performance artists, The Song Room brings song, dance and drama to children who are disadvantaged through economic circumstances, geographical isolation, disability or recent migration. MORE

The Basket Brigade delivers the presents and the Christmas spirit
By Rebecka Delforce

They call themselves the Basket Brigade because, for the past 11 years, their gift to Australian society has come via a bevy of pretty baskets hand-delivered in the 'silly season' to the less fortunate. But there's nothing silly about the baskets. They're filled with food staples and treats for those who would otherwise go without at Christmas – the homeless, elderly and underprivileged. MORE

'Could do better' – Results of The National Survey of Volunteering Issues 2006
By Vanessa McQuarrie

Volunteering Australia's first national survey of volunteers and organisations that use volunteers indicates that many best practice volunteer management strategies are being adopted. However, many organisations still need to ensure that their volunteers gain all the benefits these strategies have to offer. Areas where organisations could improve their work practices include volunteer recruitment, job descriptions for volunteer roles and managing relationships between paid staff and volunteers. MORE

Census taps into volunteering
By Lisa Saremel
For the first time, a question about volunteering was included in the recent Australian Census. Question 51 of the August 8 Census asked participants to indicate whether they had spent any time in the past year doing voluntary work through an organisation or group.  MORE

Unselfish youth
By World Volunteer Web and The Centre for Volunteering
They were dubbed as the "we" generation – selfish and materialistic youngsters focused only on their needs.  But statistics dispute this notion. Worldwide young people volunteer 2.4 billion hours annually, helping in elderly homes, orphanages and community centres, among others. MORE

Chinese volunteers support female births
By Lisa Saremel
A new volunteering project in Beijing aims to help counter the effects of the imbalance in China and to promote gender equity. Coinciding with the United Nation's World Population Day on 11 July 2006, the Beijing program involves 200 college students returning to their home towns for the holiday period to advocate the message 'a girl is as good as a boy.' MORE

Australian retirees keen to volunteer
By World Volunteer Web
Australian retirees look forward to "freedom" and are keen to volunteer according to a new international survey into retirement by French Insurance Group AXA. British and US pensioners love to travel abroad, Germans plunge into sport, Canadians into charity work and the French go for gardening. Italians and Spanish are more prone to do nothing when they retire. MORE

Visit our stall at Sydney's Earthdance Markets
Show your support for The Centre for Volunteering and visit our information and fundraising stall at Sydney's Earthdance Markets, part of the 10th Annual Earthdance Global Festival for Peace. We will have plenty of information on volunteering as well as t-shirts, water bottles, wrist bands and more. All money raised will be used to support volunteering in NSW.

       When: Sunday, 17 September
       Time: 9am–4pm
       Where: Sydney Park, St Peters, Sydney

Welcome: Alison Keene, Volunteer Services Coordinator
The Centre for Volunteering welcomes the latest addition, Alison Keene, to our team. Alison has been involved with not-for-profit organisations for most of her working life, and most recently worked for Barnardos Australia in assessment, training and support of foster carers.  She is about to complete a Masters in Dispute Resolution. (Of course, she won't need to exercise those skills in her new job …) In her spare time, Alison is a foster carer and sings with the Sydney Philharmonia Motet Choir. She and her partner have two sons in their late teens. To contact Alison phone 02 9261 3600.

Successfully judged NSW entries for NAB Volunteer Awards
The Centre for Volunteering would like to thank the 32 volunteers, volunteer managers and The Centre staff who volunteered their time to help in the first round of judging of the 398 NSW entries for the 2006 National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards. We were privileged to be involved and we were all constantly inspired by the high standard of programs being run by not-for-profits throughout NSW. Winners will be announced in late September.

Sydney Olympic Volunteers part of Where Are They Now studio audience
On 21 July, volunteers from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games became part of the Seven Network's Where Are They Now studio audience. "The Sydney 2000 reunion was a great success, and as usual the 'Ollie Vollies' came with great energy, grace and patience. They provided energy and colour in spades, and really reminded us all of their fervour and contribution to the games," said the Seven Network's Ziggy Grant. View the photo gallery.

Can I volunteer as part of my job?
By Belle Hann

Some employers might choose Silly Hat Day or paintballing to boost teamwork and staff morale. However, other employers prefer corporate volunteering as a very rewarding alternative.

Corporate social responsibility is no longer just a trendy term. It is recognised as an essential part of company culture. As many businesses are discovering, staff volunteering is a fantastic way to motivate staff and strengthen company objectives.

Read our answers to some commonly asked questions about corporate volunteering and find out who to contact to get help locating volunteering opportunities.

Read our answers

School of Volunteer Management Training

Submission Writing (1 day workshop)
Wednesday, 13 September 2006

Snapshot for Volunteer Managers and Coordinators (1 day workshop)
Thursday, 12 October 2006

Understanding and Implementing the National Standards (1 day workshop)
Tuesday, 24 October 2006

Improving Your Leadership Effectiveness (1 day workshop)
Thursday, 2 November 2006

Managing with Management Committees (1 day workshop)
Thursday, 2 November 2006

For accredited training courses and to view the 2006 calendar, visit the School of Volunteer Management.

Events Calendar

Visit our Events Calendar to keep informed about events across the state and how you can get involved.

The Centre for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au
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