Issue no 6, March 2007
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Are you looking for a new volunteering opportunity? Just call 02 9261 3600 to apply for one of these or many other roles: - Data Entry Browse the latest volunteer jobs listed in our database or search Seek Volunteer for
a suitable volunteer role. |
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Are you interested in event volunteering? We need volunteers for the following major events: Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRY-athlon Sydney 2007 NSW Big Ride Sydney Harbour Bridge 75th Anniversary Celebrations Harmony Day Concert Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRY-athlon Newcastle Medical AIDS Conference For more information on these and other events and for application details, visit the upcoming events page on our website. |
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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: Kristin Romanis |
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The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program for school children
By Belle Hann
The expression 'you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar' has special resonance for Stephanie Alexander. As an iconic chef and food writer, Stephanie Alexander sure knows her ingredients. Yet this well-known food celebrity is also cooking up some unexpected results in the inner city primary school of Collingwood College, home of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. MORE
Food Water Shelter Inc in Tanzania
By Evie Lamrock
A little over a year ago, five Aussie girls who had never even met before on their home soil decided to band together to form Food Water Shelter Inc (FWS), a charity that specialises in building eco-friendly orphanages with early learning facilities in developing countries. MORE
The rising cost of volunteering
By Vanessa McQuarrie
Telephone calls, computer use and stationery costs all add up. If you take into account the price of a compulsory uniform, safety equipment, accommodation, travel (public transport and especially petrol) and laundry, it's no wonder that many people are finding that unexpected costs can sometimes outweigh the benefits of the volunteering experience. MORE
Angry Anderson helps build youth centre in Ulladulla
By Brian Milroy
It is a sad fact that tragedy often unites people better than anything else. Out of the tragedy of losing two of its sons in the Bali bombing in 2002 has come the Dunn and Lewis Youth Foundation which, through the efforts of volunteers and donations, is in the process of building the Bali Memorial Complex, a much-needed youth centre in Ulladulla. Project ambassador Angry Anderson said that the boys' deaths were the catalyst in identifying the lack of support and activities for youth in the Ulladulla area. "It's one of those really pretty coastal fishing villages but unfortunately there's not a lot for young people to do," Angry said. "The complex will provide a much-needed facility for these young people." MORE
Storm Boy country
By Kristen Dinsdale, Get Up & Go travel magazine
You can read the book, watch the movie, then do the real thing. Kristen Dinsdale meets a volunteer who put in some time in the Coorong region, fragile home to a multitude of declining numbers of waterbirds.
The phrase 'art imitates life' has never been more true than in the Coorong region – the 100km long iconic wetland system at the mouth of the Murray River in South Australia – as Jan Prewett, a cattle farmer from Central Queensland, recently found out. MORE
The advantages of corporate volunteering: Two sides of gardening
By Deborah Mobberley
One way some of Australia's leading edge corporations are developing market advantage is through corporate volunteering. ACE Insurance, a major insurance company, and Easy Care Gardening, a charity organisation, provide some details about both sides of corporate volunteering. ACE Insurance talks about how to find out about corporate volunteering and how to go about it. MORE
Harry Whelan: Volunteer with a mission
By Jenny Springett
"Initially I just wanted to become more active in my community by being involved in local youth affairs but, in time, this has evolved into something much greater. Gradually I saw a need to enable and motivate other young people to speak up and speak out". Harry Whelan is truly a remarkable and enterprising young man. For the past three years, Harry (18), has contributed more volunteer hours and commitment than many other people are able to give in a lifetime. MORE
Government expands Student Volunteering Program
The Centre for Volunteering
The Centre for Volunteering welcomes the NSW Government's plan for public high school students in NSW to be encouraged to volunteer their time to community service groups.
The NSW Government unveiled a $7.8 million program yesterday, with Premier Iemma saying that "Our Premier's Community Service Award program will encourage students to participate with school-based representative councils, cadets, community groups, aged care providers and other volunteer groups".
Lynne Dalton, CEO, The Centre for Volunteering, said that the plan will expand The Centre for Volunteering's Student Community Involvement Program (SCIP) which has been funded by the NSW Education Department since 1979. MORE
No workplace agreements for volunteers
The Centre for Volunteering and St Vincent de Paul Society
The Centre for Volunteering has been fielding calls from members following The Sunday Telegraph's report (4/2/07) that "St Vincent de Paul has sacked a group of volunteers who refused to sign a workplace agreement despite their decades of service."
Volunteers will never be required to sign workplace agreements which are legal contracts between an employer and paid employees.
The Sunday Telegraph wrongly presented the facts. MORE
Free qualifications for volunteers
School of Volunteer Management
Australians can receive free job skills training under the Australian Government Skills Voucher Program. Any Australian aged 25 and over who does not have Year 12 or equivalent, or Certificate II qualifications will be eligible for free Work Skills Vouchers valued to $3,000.
This initiative will improve the basic skills of individuals currently in the workforce and upgrade the skills of individuals who have no formal qualifications and are looking for work.
Vocational qualifications are available for Certificate II in Business and Certificate II in Customer Contact through the School of Volunteer Management. MORE
The 7:30 Report: Calls for better deal for volunteers
On Monday, 22 January 2007, The Centre for Volunteering's CEO Lynne Dalton appeared on the ABC television program The 7:30 Report. The story by journalist Christopher Zinn focussed on the rising cost of volunteering following the release of the Costs of Volunteering Taskforce Report and featured Tony Kelly, Minister for Volunteering; volunteer fire fighters Peter Jordan and Gary Burton; John Buchtmann, Penrith VRA; Hori Howard, Emergency Management Volunteer Forum; Jim Colvin, Community Worker and Lynne Dalton. MORE
The Centre for Volunteering's intern report
Gabe Perna, New York
In the study of journalism, you can take all the classes and read all the books but nothing beats experience. Any journalism professor or professional I have ever met has always stressed the importance of gaining experience in the field.
I was blessed to have all sorts of experiences from August to November 2006 when interning and studying in Sydney, Australia, for my final year in journalism at the Marist College, New York, USA. My two internships/work experiences at The Centre for Volunteering and at The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, and studying at the Australian Catholic University, really gave me a fresh perspective and more knowledge and understanding of the field of journalism.
Read about Gabe's adventures in Australia.
The Centre for Volunteering supports Earth Hour
At 7.30pm on 31 March this year, the Sydney Morning Herald and WWF-Australia want you to turn off your lights for Earth Hour - just one hour to show the world that Sydney cares enough about global warming to take action.
The Centre for Volunteering is supporting Earth Hour and is helping make a difference by turning off lights every night and where possible during the day.
Did you know that turning off lights when you're not in the room and turning your appliances off instead of leaving them on standby will save up to 10% of Sydney’s electricity consumption? It's that easy.
Join Earth Hour, switch off your lights in the evening on 31 March and help stop global warming before it's too late …
Volunteering: What's in it for me?
By Brian Milroy
The Oxford Dictionary defines the word 'community' as "joint ownership, identity of character and a fellowship in which all present are joined". Judging by the amount of time Australians give in order to help each other, they have a tremendous sense of community.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, currently over 30% of our adult population gives part of their time volunteering in the community and about 700 million hours are formally volunteered by Australians to not-for-profit organisations each year.
Free Bridge for Volunteering workshop
Are you a new volunteer or are thinking about volunteering for the first time? Attend The Centre for Volunteering's free introductory talk Bridge to Volunteering held on the following Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm:
- 9, 16, 23, 30 March
- 6, 13, 20, 27 April
- 4, 11, 18, 25 May
Phone 02 9261 3600 to book your place.
National
Volunteer Week, 14–20 May 2007
National Volunteer Week is just around the corner and, with the theme See the Change ... Volunteering, it's the perfect time for you to
enquire or start volunteering or, for those of you already volunteering,
to celebrate changing your world through volunteering.
Events
Calendar
Visit our online Events
Calendar to keep informed about events across the state
and how you can get involved.