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 Corporate 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!
Meet the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award nominees
By Carly Goodhew and Richard Parris
Meet just a few of the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award nominees. Find out why they volunteer and what makes them such fantastic volunteers. We hope these nominees encourage you to both volunteer and nominate a volunteer you know for the Award.
- Optus CSR champion Karen Carmichael inspires Lurnea High
- Young Kellyville volunteer Melody Gardiner "always willing to get in there"
- Beverley Conley banks regular community deposits
- Rain, hail or flood: Noel McAviney's there
- Matthew Field: "Giving something back in times of need"
- After 28 years of helping, Betty Alder still finds reward and enjoyment
- Kathleen Dundas: "I get out, I meet people, I make a lot of friends"
- Mateship keeps Bruce Hughston's fire burning
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VOLUNTEER AWARD SPECIAL FEATURE COMPANIES WITH HEART ANGELS AT THE TABLE DOING AND GIVING POSTCARD WITH PURPOSE BOOK REVIEW CELEBRITIES/EXECUTIVES VOLUNTEER PROFILE VOLUNTEER NEWS DOING AND GIVING INSIDE THE CENTRE |
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Are you interested in event volunteering? Suicide Memorial Service Wesley Fair Manly Jazz Festival Sculpture by the Sea 14th City of Sydney Spring Cycle Bandanna Day Seller Newtown Festival More information |
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Why not forward friends this issue of Volunteer Life today. |
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Volunteer Life e-zine celebrates and showcases volunteering. Subscribe today and get it delivered free to your inbox quarterly! |
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Have you had an interesting experience volunteering? Have you travelled overseas or interstate especially to volunteer? Email us your story for inclusion in Volunteer Life info@volunteering.com.au |
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Editor in Chief Thank you to our wonderful team of volunteers: Editor Copy Editor Journalists Join the team |
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After the tragic death of their building foreman Darren Stratti, Food Water Shelter's school project in Tanzania is back on the path to completion
FWS builds and runs eco–friendly children's villages with education, social and health facilities for children in developing countries. On Monday, 30 June this year, Darren was killed during a burglary that took place in the FWS village in Arusha, Tanzania. The shock of this tragic event brought a temporary halt to the building of the school but FWS remains committed to its completion. MORE
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. MORE
Lyndey Milan, much more than a cook
By Brian Milroy
Lyndey Milan is known to millions of television viewers and women's magazine readers as a practical, down-to-earth character who really knows how to cook. For about 15 years Lyndey been seen regularly on our television screens and in magazines. She could be called Australia's answer to America's Martha Stewart or England's Delia Smith. MORE
2008 Oxfam TRAILWALKER
By Michael Quinn
Those who put their hand up for the 2008 Sydney TRAILWALKER covered 100 kms in the bushland of northern Sydney on the weekend of 29–31 August 2008 ... Oxfam TRAILWALKER is a huge logistical exercise. We could not hold the event without our (600) volunteers." For those who are not willing to complete the 100 kms, volunteering is a great way to be involved and experience this great event. MORE
What to consider before volunteering overseas
ActNow.com.au and Volunteering Australia
It's rewarding, enriching and unique but requires a real commitment, patience and flexibility, along with sensitivity, creativity and a sense of humour!
Deciding to live and work overseas as a volunteer is a big decision. There are many questions to think about ranging from 'what do I do with my cat?' to 'what's the value of a volunteer to a developing community?' Perhaps the most important question to answer is, 'why am I doing this?' You'll go back to this during the tough times and the good. It's important to think about all these issues before applying to become a volunteer and again before you commit yourself to a placement. MORE
Volunteering: Why we can't survive without it
Melanie Oppenheimer, UNSW Press
If volunteers on any single day in Australia decided not to turn up – to coach local sporting teams, stuff envelopes, make cups of tea, plant trees, take minutes – we would all feel the effects very soon. In this new book, fourth generation volunteer and well-known commentator Melanie Oppenheimer takes the first comprehensive look at why Australians give so much of their time for free. MORE
A tribute to Jane Mcgrath: A truly inspiring woman
Volunteer Life would like to mark the passing of Jane McGrath and pay tribute to her amazing volunteering efforts on behalf of women's health and especially breast cancer. Jane's long battle with cancer ended on 22 June 2008 and we all feel great sadness for her husband, her two young children and all her many friends. MORE
Emily Olive: I would love to make everything equal ...
By Tash Jayasinghe
Emily Olive is very passionate and opinionated about poverty and is doing something about it. It's hard to believe that she's a 15-year-old from Shellharbour. It's even harder to comprehend that she's been volunteering since she was 12 and plans to continue for as long as her body will let her. MORE
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."
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." MORE
Bright future for volunteering in Australia
Parliamentary Secretary for the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, addressed the Volunteering Australia Conference on the Gold Coast, 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. 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.
FreeRice: Help world hunger by playing with words
By Jenny Symons
FreeRice is an interesting, quirky new fundraising concept, one that capitalises on people's competitive streak by giving them a chance to test their command of English. It's a web game that provides rice for the hungry. When you visit www.freerice.com, you're given a word along with four possible meanings. To play the game, you click one answer. Every time you get a right answer, Free Rice donates 20 grains to the UN World Food Program. MORE
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.
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