
Volunteer managers are dedicated people who are responsible for the coordination, support, training, administration, leadership and recruitment of the world's volunteers.
To celebrate International Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day,
we interviewed eight volunteer managers from our member organisations.
Below are their stories.
"I am responsible for the strategic direction, development and management of the Starlight volunteer program in accordance with Starlight's mission, principles and values. This also involves managing and coordinating the National Volunteer team to ensure the consistent implementation of volunteer strategy and processes."
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"I am constantly trying to think of new ways of acknowledging the extraordinary but unheralded work LinkAGE volunteers do. One excellent initiative introduced by the previous parent organisation was quarterly support meetings for the volunteers to provide ongoing training and an opportunity for sharing experiences."
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"My job entails coordination and promotion of various voluntary programs including Bushcare, Meals on Wheels, Art Gallery, Library, Visitors Information Centre, Manly Ambassadors and other special projects. I also hope I can promote volunteerism in general within our community."
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"At Holdsworth Street Community Centre, we provide programs and services to a broad range of the community including aged, disability, families and carers. As a volunteer coordinator, I recruit, support, train, manage and retain a great team of volunteers across these programs."
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"The best thing about
the positions I've had is the opportunity to meet people from all
over the world. I've known people to meet their life partners while
working with me. I really enjoy watching people's self confidence
grow with tasks they've never done before. A big smile, when they're
tired after working really hard for a day, is the best reward."
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"There's nothing
like the passion and commitment of good volunteers. Without any
financial reward, they turn up and make things happen. With only
a tiny paid staff, Vibewire is totally dependent on our volunteers,
so the whole journey which Vibewire has been over five years has
been a hugely rewarding example of working with volunteers and
of the amazing things that volunteers can achieve."
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"I work for Uniting Care FOCUS on New Families, an agency in
the Campbelltown area which supports parents of firstborn infants.
We endeavour to enhance and enrich the parenting experience for these
families in ways that will assist the healthy growth and development
of their infants. We have four programs in which we involve our volunteers
according to their talents and when possible, their choice."
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"
I am a program coordinator with the Volunteer Family Support Program, Good Beginnings
Australia, in Sydney's inner west. Good Beginnings Australia is a
National Parenting Project."
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