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Hi e-news member, Welcome to the March edition of our newsletter. We hope you like the new look and welcome any feedback – info@volunteeringwa.org.au
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Volunteering on ABC National RadioBeginning in March, ABC Radio National is preparing to air the second series of its very popular program on volunteering. Called “Vita Activa,” the show is the special project of Melanie Oppenheimer, a historian with a special interest in tracking the voluntary sector. The idea behind the program is that every facet of Australian society and Australian life touches on, and is touched by, the volunteering and the third sector in some way. The series aims to bring a fresh and innovative perspective on volunteering that matters to Australians today. Can’t tune in to Radio National during the day? Online listening and 2007 archives are available at: www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/features/vitaactiva |
Are you getting your fair share of the cakeIn the past 75 years, Lotterywest has returned more than $2.5 billion to the WA community. At a recent seminar, Lotterywest told a large audience how they love giving money away to community organisations; in fact, questions are asked if they don’t give sufficient money away! Lotterywest profits must be distributed as annual statutory allocations to hospitals, sports and arts as well as via grants to the community.
To find out how you can get your piece of the cake call 9340 5270 or 1800 655 270 or visit www.lotterywest.wa.gov.au |
2008 National Volunteer Week 12 – 16 MayIt is not too soon to plan your NVW celebration; 12 – 16 May will be here before you know it! Plans are well underway for the VWA main event: the NVW breakfast on Monday 12 May at the Sheraton Hotel, a very popular choice last year. No clues given, but our creative juices are in overdrive. Details will be sent out in March and we hope to be breakfasting with a very large crowd again this year. VWA staff and volunteers will be out and about right throughout the week with a spot of employee volunteering and other events of celebration. |
Visiting Volunteers ProgramTo keep up-to-date with Visiting Volunteers’ latest news and coming events (and be assured of good music too) you may wish to tune into our regular radio slot at 3.30pm on the second Monday of each month with Capital Community Radio (90.5FM) during their “Cruisin” session. As a way of further spreading the word and informing potential travellers of the volunteering opportunities in regional WA, the Visiting Volunteers Program will be a highlight of the Volunteering WA stand at the 2008 Perth Caravan and Camping Show, held from 13-17 March at Claremont Showgrounds. VWA staff and volunteers are looking forward to meeting existing and potential members during this time. Also, for those interested in learning more about volunteering itself, a half-hour presentation on VWA’s programs, including the Visiting Volunteers Program, and volunteering opportunities has been scheduled to take place daily throughout the duration of the Show. VWA and Visiting Volunteers Program will have a stand at the 2008 Perth Caravan and Camping Show 13-17 March and we look forward to meeting existing and potential members and volunteers and answering any queries. The Visiting Volunteers team would be pleased to hear from you at any time, or meet with you, and may be contacted on 9482 4333. |
Enhancing Access team hit the roadThe Enhancing Access team is spreading their wings! Beck and Martha have just returned from delivering training in Kalgoorlie. Rain aside, it was a very productive trip, and it is clear that the Kalgoorlie-Boulder VRC staff and volunteers are committed to working with and engaging people with disabilities. They had some great ideas that will help spread the word about the great contribution that people with disabilities can make to the volunteering community in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Anyone interested in the program can contact Beck or Martha on 9482 4333. |
Update on National Volunteer Week materialVolunteering Australia (VA) has advised that the National Volunteer Week material is starting to roll out from their mailing house. Pins and posters will be delivered over the next week. It is great to have the goods out with our volunteers much earlier than usual. VA has advised that there will be two new editions to the National Volunteer Week website shortly. They will be a NVW Fast Facts sheet and 10 Ways To Hook The Media. The fast facts will provide a quick reference point for statistics that are handy to use in NVW publicity, while the media tips aim to help volunteer groups secure local media support and should prove very popular. Keep an eye here. |
Reaching out to new volunteersStep into volunteering – information sessions We have been actively promoting these 1-hour sessions at Joondalup and West Perth VRC’s and the results have shown an increased interest in volunteering. The majority of volunteers attending requested appointments with our referral officers – we hope your organisation is one that has benefited from the referrals.
The audience is generally a new enthusiastic group of potential volunteers – if you would like to promote a volunteering opportunity with your organisation within one of these sessions, please let Anne know - anne@volunteeringwa.org.au |
Harmony Week 2008Harmony Week runs from 15 - 21 March and enables us to recognise and respect our differences, while focusing on what unites us as Western Australians. People from diverse backgrounds have made and continue to make significant contributions both to the economic development of Western Australia and to shaping the political, social, religious, sporting and cultural life of our State. Harmony Week provides an opportunity for all Western Australians to embrace our diversity and the many benefits it brings to our society, while also acknowledging that barriers still exist in the community. Do the volunteers in your organisation reflect the cultural diversity of Western Australia? Volunteering WA is currently implementing a Living in Harmony project (funded through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship) that aims to promote the role of volunteering in our community to a number of people from CaLD backgrounds. The project also provides cultural awareness sessions for our member organisations. The next session will be delivered at VWA on Tuesday 4 March. Fran Robinson our project coordinator can be contacted for more information by email on zfranrobinson@iinet.net.au |
National survey of Volunteering IssuesThe National survey of Volunteering Issues is now open and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: Please distribute this link widely to your networks and volunteers. Volunteering Australia invites all volunteers and not for profit organisations that involve volunteers to participate in the 2008 National Survey of Volunteering Issues. The survey takes around 10-15 minutes to complete and is open until 16th March. The National Survey of Volunteering Issues helps Volunteering Australia understand what issues are emerging in the sector and what factors help and hinder effective volunteering. Volunteering Australia uses this information to formulate policy positions to put to government, and also to target where our research and consultation efforts should be directed. This is the third National Survey of Volunteering, which includes questions and themes from previous years' surveys to enable us to compare and track volunteering trends, as well as including some new themes such as corporate/employee volunteering, the measurement of volunteer contribution and volunteers' sense of community belonging. The survey has also been refined to make it easier for you to respond. The 2008 National Survey of Volunteering Issues report will be released during National Volunteer Week (12-18 May 2008). |
2008 Comic Relief Australia grants now openAs one of Comic Relief Australia’s founding organisations, Volunteering Australia and Comic Relief Australia have a close working relationship. As part of this relationship, Volunteering Australia acts as Grants Manager for Projects funded within Australia. Volunteering Australia will receive process, assess all applications, and liaise with grant applicants in respect of the allocation of these grants. It is also good to note that within this grant round there is a specific focus on rural and regional areas. For more information on the grants click here. |
VWA turns 20 this year!
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Free volunteer management training – Martin Cowling
Martin Cowling, CEO of People First Total Solutions (PFTS) will be flying in to Perth to join us in our birthday celebrations. Martin is an Australian based international expert on volunteer management and we have booked him to present two free workshops to our members on April 11. These workshops will cover relevant themes in volunteer management and we hope you can join us on the day. More specific details will follow in a separate email but please keep the date free in your diary if you can! To learn more about Martin please take a look at the PFTS website – www.pfts.com.au |
Welcome to new members:
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March’s hot resource tip!Event volunteering Volunteering Australia has developed a new subject guide for everything you need to know about event volunteering. This online guide contains a number of resources to help managers of volunteers build their knowledge about planning and managing events which involve volunteers, and to help volunteers make the most of the experience and understand and protect their rights as volunteers. While all sections of the guide are valuable and designed to meet our readers’ different needs, we recommend you don’t miss Section 4, Event Volunteering – Take a Closer Look. In this section we try to build on the knowledge that already exists in the sector. We analyse the collection of resources, bring implications for consideration to the fore, and where possible provide practical advice. Click here for full details. |
VWA staff achievements
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New VRC in RockinghamPeel Volunteer Resource Centre in partnership with VWA and with support from the City of Rockingham has established a VRC in Rockingham. This centre is managed by Peel VRC and has been operating for 3 weeks now. Marj Wilson (formerly of Peel VRC) is the Coordinator of the new Rockingham VRC and the centre is having an official opening on Monday 10 March. |
Final noteIt is with deep sadness that we let you know of the passing of Tony Clark. Tony was a long term board member of VWA who contributed a great deal during his time on the board, for which we are truly grateful. Our sympathy is extended to his family, friends and colleagues during this sad time. |
Joondalup and West Perth offer the free sessions on a monthly basis, and we use the opportunity to promote current volunteering opportunities, and event volunteering. 
Congratulations go to Janette Spencer, Senior Manager Projects & Business Development who has commenced the prestigious leadership development program run by Leadership WA. 
Well done also to Anne Preston, Volunteer Services Manager for the work she has been doing in the Joondalup area and also in the area of corporate volunteering which are both going from strength to strength.
And to Jennie Loveridge, Member Services & Development Manager, for her success in recruiting new members and for the very popular volunteer manager network meetings which are now bursting at the seams with people. It’s great to see so many members coming along to these and thank you all for the wonderful feedback we are receiving.
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The information and materials presented in this newsletter and at the web site are distributed by Volunteering Western Australia as an information source only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, no guarantee is given nor responsibility taken by Volunteering Western Australia for errors or omissions.
