Issue no 5, December 2006

Thank you for volunteering!

The Centre for Volunteering celebrates you – volunteers – and thanks you for your time and dedication as a volunteer.

Did you know one in three Australians volunteer? In NSW alone there are more than 1.3 million volunteers (ABS 2000) contributing their wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to not-for-profit organisations.

If you aren't a volunteer and want to find out more, visit www.volunteering.com.au

Help drought-affected families in rural NSW and Queensland enjoy Christmas
By Kristin Romanis

Every Christmas, Brian and Nerida Egan and their team of volunteers play Santa to families who are severely affected financially, emotionally and spiritually by the worst drought in Australia for over 100 years. Aussie Helpers' Christmas food hampers and gifts help transform Christmas from a bleak and depressing time to one of joy and celebration for these families.

In August 2006, the NSW and Queensland Departments of Primary Industry declared 92% and 65% of their respective states in drought. MORE

Australian volunteers' time worth $12.5 billion annually

By The Centre for Volunteering

In 2004 there were more than 6.3 million active volunteers over the age of 18 years, giving a combined 836 million hours of their time (Giving Australia, 2005). The equivalent economic value, estimated at $15 per hour minimum, is in excess of $12.5 billion annually.

The number of people volunteering is increasing every year with statistics showing that volunteering is on the rise. 41% of adult Australians volunteered in 2004 compared with 34% in 2002 and 24% in 1995 (ABS 2003). MORE

David Gonski's views on being an Arts Board Member and the differences between the Baby Boomers and Generation Y
By Rebecka Delforce

David Gonski, AO, has some interesting things to say about Australia's not-for-profit sector.

In between his '10 billion other jobs!', he's been raising money for philanthropic causes for many years, so much so that he was made an officer of the Order of Australia in 2002 for "service to the community through Australian visual and performing arts organisations, through the development of government policy, and through the promotion of corporate sponsorship for the arts and for charitable organisations". MORE

Volunteering with Palms Australia in East Timor: First evacuation in 45 years
By Rebecka Delforce

"Exceptional – that's how I'd rate Palms," said Cheree Flanagan. "My husband Michael and I signed up to volunteer with Palms in 2004 and, in April 2005, we flew to East Timor to work with a small non-government organisation named the Ahisaun Foundation, which provides housing, training and outreach programs to young people with physical disabilities in East Timor."  Palms Australia is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that has been recruiting, preparing, sending and supporting Australian volunteers for overseas roles for 45 years. MORE

Lend Lease's annual September Community Day
By Brian Milroy

Every year, over 4000 Lend Lease employees from around the world volunteer their time and lend their skill, knowledge and muscle to local community projects. Employees are encouraged to provide support to local communities and this, in turn, supports Lend Lease's vision of becoming a sustainable organisation. Known as Community Day, the programme is the longest running and most popular activity of the Lend Lease Foundation, which was formed in 1983, to enhance the wellbeing and career development of its employees through social, educational and community-related activities. MORE

Bakers Delight's pink finger buns raise money for charity and community organisations
By Lisa Saremel

From its humble beginnings in a Hawthorn bakery in suburban Melbourne in 1980 to the establishment of 700-odd stores today, the Bakers Delight franchise has become a well-known feature of many local shopping centres across Australia. What many of us might not realise is this successful franchise, established by CEOs Roger and Lesley Gillespie, makes an important community contribution throughout Australia, New Zealand, and now Canada. MORE

New 'Minister for Volunteers' welcomes challenge
By NSW Government
The Minister for Emergency Services, Tony Kelly, has welcomed his appointment as Minister for Volunteers and the challenge of increasing volunteer numbers in the emergency services across NSW. Mr Kelly said the role meant he would develop measures and incentives to increase volunteering rates among under-represented groups, the business community and the general public. MORE

Well done, Mr Iemma, for putting volunteering on the map
By The Centre for Volunteering
The Centre for Volunteering congratulates Premier Iemma and the NSW Government on the appointment of the recently announced Minister for Volunteering. MORE

Blog: Volunteer to change your life
The Sydney Morning Herald
Visit The Sydney Morning Herald's blog Volunteer to change your life and find out why people volunteer and if volunteering can enhance your career. MORE

2006 NAB Volunteer Award winners
By The Centre for Volunteering

The Centre for Volunteering congratulates the NSW winners (below) of the 2006 National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards. All winners received $7,000.

• Sydney Writers' Festival (Art and Culture)
• Australian League of Immigration Volunteers, Fairfield West (Community Service and Development)
• 1st Warners Bay Scout Group (Education and Youth Development)
• Orange City State Emergency Service (Emergency and Safety)
• The Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia, Wallsend (Environment and Wildlife)
• SHINE for Kids Co-operative Ltd*, Silverwater (Health and Wellbeing)
• Sydney Heritage Fleet*, Pyrmont (Tourism, Sport and Recreation).

*Congratulations to SHINE for Kids and the Sydney Heritage Fleet! Both organisations received an additional $3,000 in prize money for being the national winners in their respective categories.

Funding awarded for new corporate volunteering project

The Centre has been successful in applying to The Westpac Foundation to fund the project Frontier of opportunity: Critical success factors of employee volunteering programs for the small-to-medium not-for-profit sector. The project will assist small-to-medium not-for-profits to make best use of employee volunteering programs (EVPs). An innovative case study approach will be piloted and will identify and test the validity of the critical success factors of EVPs. A replicable and comparative research method that can be tested will form part of the findings (to be published in 2007). The case studies will be used in training packages delivered by the School of Volunteer Management.

Lynne Dalton, CEO, judges Australian of the Year Awards

Lynne Dalton, CEO, The Centre for Volunteering, participated in the judging of the NSW division of the Australian of the Year Awards 2007 on Friday, 6 October 2006. She writes: "It is never an easy task deciding why one person is more deserving than another when it comes to making awards. All nominations were truly inspiring in terms of people's commitment to their communities. Of course, the announcement of those selected is yet to occur but, in the mean time, I would like to thank all those people who continue to offer their time and energy to making our community a better place." Visit the Australian of the Year Awards 2007 website.

Celebrating Volunteer Managers

On International Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day on Wednesday, 1 November, The Centre celebrated the wonderful work of dedicated volunteer managers around the world. The Centre for Volunteering hosted a get-together for our member volunteer managers. Twenty people attended. It was a great opportunity to network with other volunteer managers, meet The Centre's staff and volunteers and just relax.

The Centre for Volunteering's website profiled eight members' volunteer managers, including The Centre's own Alison Keene Find out why they became volunteer managers, what they get out of their jobs and the benefits to them of working with volunteers. Read their stories.

Meet our volunteers
The Centre has trawled Sydney looking for volunteers who have something to say about what they do and why they do it and The Centre has found some really dedicated ones (below). Read their stories and be inspired.

• Carol Kitching: My son Will is a GAP volunteer teacher in China
• Yeni Singawidjaya: From volunteering to a new career
• Tony Stokes: Teachers never stop teaching
• Helen Lam: Community visitor with the Central Area Health Service
• Peter Batcheler: Volunteer tour guide with the ABC
• Harry Whelan: Young volunteer with a mission
• Irma Bradford: It is far better to give than receive
• Karen Taylor: Bridge to Volunteering presenter with The Centre
• Denis Porter, Fido liasion officer
• Christine Kazub says: "Volunteering is in the blood"

Do you have an interesting story to tell? We would love to feature you on The Centre's website. Email Kristin Romanis to arrange an interview with one of our volunteer journalists.

Certificate 1 in Active Volunteering
By Belle Hann

The Certificate 1 in Active Volunteering is a nationally accredited course designed especially for volunteers. This certificate is a great opportunity for both new and experienced volunteers to get the most out of their volunteering experience.

Find out if the Certificate 1 in Active Volunteering is for you.

The Centre for Volunteering's Holiday Hours

The Volunteer Referral Service will close on Friday, 15 December 2006 and will re-open on Monday, 8 January 2007. If you would like to volunteer please contact The Volunteer Referral Service after Monday, 8 January 2007.

The Centre for Volunteering will be closed for Christmas holidays from Friday, 22 December 2006 and will re-open on Tuesday, 2 January 2007.