Issue no 9, May 2008
National Volunteer Week 2008 recognises the generous work of Australia's 5.2 million volunteers. The Centre for Volunteering is hosting an introduction to volunteering seminar at Parliament house during National Volunteer Week:
FREE Introduction to Volunteering Seminar
Thursday, 15 May 2008, 10.30am–12.30pm
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Volunteers and potential volunteers are invited to listen to talks on volunteering by various speakers: the Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney MP; representatives from KPMG on corporate volunteering; Warilla High School on student and youth volunteering; Best Buddies Australia on youth and people with disabilities; and the Art Gallery of NSW on skilled and professional volunteers. Bookings are essential. Email bridge@volunteering.com.au to book your seat.
Movie ticket give-away: Un Secret
To thank and recognise volunteers for their wonderful contribution to the community, Dendy Films and The Centre for Volunteering are giving away 20 double passes to the advanced screening of Un Secret, to be used between Friday, 9 May and Sunday, 11 May.
The first 20 people to email Kristin Romanis with their name, address, phone, email and the name of the organisation where they volunteer will receive a double pass to the advanced screening of Un Secret. Good luck.
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Are you interested in event volunteering? Heartkids Tiny Tinkers Ball Theme Coordinator Homelessness Advocacy Campaigner Fair Trade Fiesta Event Assistant Campsie Food Festival Manly Food & Wine Festival – Eco-Waste Volunteers Required MS Walk & Fun Run World Youth Day 2008 The Benevolent Society Stand Coordinator More information |
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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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Making a difference: Ania Stepien
By Rebecca Tossell, The Interpellator
For most 24-year-olds, finding the right job after completing a degree is the main concern. But for actress-turned-TV presenter Ania Stepien, there's been little time to even contemplate the university idea. Instead, the curiosity and excitement of a high school graduate with the world at her fingertips, and the fear of being 'normal' led Ania to choose a road far less travelled by most girls her age. MORE
Pulling out teeth in far north Queensland
By Tash Jayasinghe
In 2006, a dentist only one day a week was all the dental services available to the 20,000 people in the indigenous community in Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland. Despite two new fully equipped dental rooms and a mobile dental van, the Wuchopperen community clinic in Cairns was severely understaffed. MORE
Keeping alive the memories in Rookwood Necropolis
By Belle Hann
The extraordinary Rookwood Necropolis, known simply as Rookwood, is the largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere and is located in the western Sydney suburb of Lidcombe. More than 800,000 gravestones, some dating from 1798, 'speak' to us about generations of Australian people who have taken their rest. Victorian sandstone headstones and monuments testify to the quality craftsmanship of other eras. And yet, without volunteers like Robyn Hawes, Rookwood would be a labyrinth of forgotten histories and weeds. MORE
Cholas in Bowlers by Jane Mundy
Book Review by Tash Jayasinghe
What makes a journalist in her late fifties disregard her belongings, squeeze everything into a backpack and travel to an unfamiliar country with a man she'd met two months previously? Like a Quentin Tarantino film, this book starts midway through a conversation albeit without the guns and guts. This escapade is a lot easier to follow than Tarantino. MORE
Liquid Ideas donate brains instead of bucks
By Brian Milroy
Australian companies can be very generous when it comes to giving money for a good cause. Yet, these days, money is not the only way corporate Australia is choosing to support its chosen causes. Today, companies often encourage their staff to take active roles to help a cause operate or achieve a particular goal. For example, take the relationship between Australian not-for-profit organisation Food Water Shelter Inc and one of its corporate sponsors Liquid Ideas. MORE
Volunteer caterer for the Girl Guides
By Belle Hann
Volunteer Life spoke with Cheryl Osbourne, caterer extraordinaire – and got some tasty recipes and cooking tips in the mix! If the thought of organising a dinner party gets you stressed, just imagine catering for 230 people!!! There's the amount of food, the timing of the different courses, not to mention different food allergies and tastes these days. It's enough to make you want to throw in the towel. MORE
Surry Hills Festival organiser: Cathy Wills
By Tash Jayasinghe
For Cathy Wills, volunteering gave her a job in the festival scene and challenged her to use all of her skills. After moving to Surry Hills in 2006, Cathy did a quick internet search on volunteer roles in the area. The local neighbourhood centre was in the process of organising the Surry Hills Festival and the rest, as they say, is history. "It ended up that instead of just being a volunteer at the festival, I was given the role of recruiting and mobilising the entire team..." MORE
Minister's Forum on Volunteering
The Centre for Volunteering
The Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney, hosted a Forum on Volunteering on Friday, 28 March which focused on volunteering by people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and Volunteering, attended the Forum as a special guest.
The object of the Forum was to discuss ideas and issues to assist people with CALD backgrounds to volunteer and, in so doing, to meet one of the objectives of the Government's State plan, which is to raise the level of engagement in communities where there is a high level of diversity.
- Minister Linda Burney said "Encouraging greater diversity was a crucial part of strengthening the community and making New South Wales a cohesive, welcoming and caring society".
- Senator Ursula Stephen's Speech to the Forum: Diversity and the Volunteer Workforce: Towards a 2020 Vision for Volunteering
People too busy to do charity work: survey
ABC & Red Cross
The Red Cross says busier lifestyles are behind a fall in the numbers of people volunteering to help disadvantaged people in their community. More than 1,200 people took part in the online survey that aimed to gauge public perception about the elderly, people living with a mental illness and the homeless. The survey revealed that volunteer figures were down compared to a decade ago.
Powerhouse Museum celebrates
The Centre for Volunteering
On Monday, 10 March 2008, The Centre for Volunteering was invited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo and 20 years of service by museum volunteers. In conjunction with this celebration, the Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Linda Burney, opened the Powerhouse Museum Volunteer Centre in the historic Ultimo Post Office.
Beijing Olympics receives record volunteer applications
Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG)
More than 1 million people have applied to be volunteers at the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, the largest response in the history of the Games, official statistics showed. More than 1.2 million have filed applications to be "City Volunteers", who will work at designated spots across Beijing, mainly to help overseas visitors overcome the language barrier. MORE
Special offer for volunteers: Ophir Gold B&B discount
Ophir Gold Bed & Breakfast has a special offer for volunteers during the first week in December of $40 per person per night including breakfast. If you are interested in taking up this offer and pampering your volunteers, please email Peter and Marilyn Wilson (info@bnbophirgold.com.au) or visit www.bnbophirgold.com.au
Welcome: Odessa O'Brien
Odessa O'Brien joins The Centre for Volunteering with experience in managing and liaising with a large number and range of not-for-profit organisations, charities and government departments for the past nine years. This includes experience in policy development, event management and community relations.
Odessa's background includes managing a community engagement program with over 360 volunteers participating in a range of fundraising events, corporate volunteering days and information and networking events to raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering and encourage corporate employees to get involved.
In addition to running the Volunteer Referral Service, Odessa is keen to expand the Corporate Volunteering Program and looks forward to working with The Centre's members to create new opportunities for companies to get involved.
Welcome: Maia Giordano
The Centre for Volunteering welcomes Maia Giordano into the role of Youth Volunteer Program Manager. Maia takes over from Jacinthe Brosseau who is enjoying spending time with her new baby Remy. Maia has experience working in both state and local government. Maia has a background in Human Geography and Community Cultural Development. She has completed Human Geography Honours in the area of child-friendly cities, child rights policy and youth participation. She was part of the Inspire Foundation's first Youth Advisory Board developing the website www.ActNow.com.au. She has a keen interest in promoting the benefits of volunteering for young people.
Welcome: Mark Tippett
Mark Tippett commenced as School Administrator for the School of Volunteer Management in late February 2008. Mark has worked in registered training organisations (RTOs), including Nature Care College at St Leonards, St George & Sutherland Community College and the Wesley Vocational Institute, and has 10 years experience in management, business development and training. He's also spent 16 years in publishing with several years as an art director/studio manager.
Mark has completed a number of professional development and tertiary courses in counselling and has the Certificate 4 in Business (Small Business Management) and the Certificate 4 in Assessment & Workplace Training, and is currently studying the Diploma of Business Management. Mark is a JP.
2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award nominations open
The inaugural NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards held last year were a great success and The Centre for Volunteering and Award Patron, the Hon Linda Burney, are looking forward to launching this year's Award at Government House. Nominations will open on 12 May and closes 30 September 2008. Visit www.volunteering.com.au for more information and to nominate.
National Volunteer Week Events Calendar
Find out what's happening in NSW during National Volunteer Week, 12–18 May 2008.
- Browse The Centre for Volunteering's National Volunteer Week NSW Events Calendar.
- Browse Volunteering Australia's National Volunteer Week Events Calendar
Find out what is happening in the not-for-profit and volunteering sectors in 2008 – browse The Centre's 2008 Events Calendar.