|
|
|
Volunteering news, training, events, awards...
Dear Valued Members, Supporters and Friends,
Welcome to the February issue of The Voice of Volunteering.
|
|
Invitation to Farewell for CEO Lynne Dalton
The Board of The Centre for Volunteering takes pleasure in inviting you to farewell current CEO Lynne Dalton. Lynne will have completed eight years as CEO at The Centre and the Board is inviting you to come along and say farewell. It is also an opportunity to personally meet and to welcome the new CEO Gemma Rygate.
There are two events planned - one afternoon and one early evening, namely:
Evening Gathering:
Wednesday, 26 March 2014 from 6pm - 8pm.
Venue: The Centre for Volunteering, Level 3, 40 Gloucester Street, The Rocks. To register, please click here.
Afternoon Tea:
Thursday, 27 March 2014 from 2pm - 6pm.
Venue: Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks. To register, please click here.
|
|
Breakfast at Rhodes.. Corporate Volunteering Served Up
On Tuesday 11 Feb, 40 managers of corporate volunteering programs descended on Hewlett Packard Head Office at Rhodes for a Corporate Volunteering Breakfast. Participants discussed the best ways to engage staff in volunteering opportunities, and shared some of their experiences in their roles. If you are interested in attending (or hosting) a Corporate Volunteering Knowledge Network Breakfast, please email Yvette Caroly, Corporate Volunteering Manager for The Centre for Volunteering on ycaroly@volunteering.com.au These breakfasts are put on every few months for managers of corporate volunteering programs (employed by corporations).
|
|
Our CEO Cooks Up a Storm on 17 February
On 17 February, our CEO, Lynne Dalton joined 40 celebrity chefs and 200 CEOs, and cooked for 1000 people in need. The CEO CookOff is an initiative of OzHarvest and Qantas. The prime objectives of the event are to raise funds for OzHarvest and create awareness about food security, homelessness, youth in crisis and Indigenous empowerment. Please read more on Facebook
|
|
Community Stories from Clubs
In 2013, the ClubsNSW Clubs & Community Awards was launched which aims to recognise the outstanding social contributions made by clubs in our local communities.
ClubsNSW has invited all member clubs in NSW to share a special story but sometimes clubs don’t realise the contribution they make and your encouragement may assist. The award categories are aligned with the range of community values which underpin the work clubs do in the industry. Stories should highlight initiatives which have made a genuine impact in on the clubs local community.
Clubs will be required to submit their entry by Monday 10 March 2014 online at ClubsNSW Clubs and Community Awards
|
|
Parent Volunteers in Schools - Reminder on Exemption from WWCC
As with other state and territory models, the NSW Working With Children Check allows parents to volunteer in school and other activities that involve their own children without needing a Check. However, this is not a blanket exemption for all parent volunteers. If the work is part of a formal mentoring program or involves intimate personal care of children with a disability, the parent volunteer must get a Check. For more information go to New Working With Children Check or phone 02 9286 7276.
|
|
Is the Professionaliam of Volunteering a Move Forward?
A recent article in The Third Sector highlighted the most recent work of the academic and author Colin Rochester
in a new book on the nature of voluntary action and how the professionalisation of the sector has taken a toll on its core values. Rochester is someone experienced in the voluntary sector and academia and while helping to give currency to the term "voluntary sector" in the belief that it would enhance the distinctive qualities of voluntary organisations, he came to believe that the term was actually doing the opposite. Read more on Facebook
|
|
Help Young Adults.. Share Their Journey.. Celebrate Their Achievements
Max Potential is a personal leadership development program for young adults in their senior years at High School. It includes eight individual coaching sessions with a leadership coach (you) and a number of group workshops, to assist the young adults to realise and maximise their leadership potential. Interested in being a community volunteer to coach a young adult? Max Potential is an exciting personal journey of discovery! This is your opportunity to come and support our future community leaders. Find out more at the Max Potential website to view detailed information about the programs operating throughout NSW.
|
|
Grants Up to $5k Now Available to Community Groups Nationally
Grants of up to $5,000 are available to small Not for Profit community groups across Australia to mark the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s (FRRRs) Small Grants for Rural Communities program Silver Jubilee round. To be eligible, projects must address a recognised need in the community, and be charitable in their purpose (for example, not of benefit to individuals or on private land). Applications close Friday, March 28. Follow this link for more details.
|
|
Youth Volunteers.. providing new perspectives
Meet Barbara Berman, Volunteer Coordinator at Twilight Aged Care and a wonderful advocate for youth volunteering.
“[Young people] have an energy that they bring with them, and they have a new perspective on the world…”
Read more about Barbara over on our Tumblr
|
|
Passionate Australia Day Speech from Twelve Year Old in NSW's Mid North Coast
School Captain of Wingham Public School for 2013, 12-year-old Nash McPherson knows well what he loves about his community and country. As part of Wingham's Australia Day festivities, Nash gave the following speech: "I am lucky to live in a country of volunteers. ...Growing up in this culture means that helping another has become second nature to me and my family, because that is what it means to be an Australian. It is my wish that every single day we stop for a minute and just remember how lucky we are. That we have rights where others have none, that we have a lifestyle that is envied the world over and a country so beautiful it remains in your heart forever."
Read more on our Tumblr
|
|
Mirvac...spends a day constructing for cancer
|
|
| |
Although Mirvac is a building company, their corporate service staff don’t usually get the opportunity to participate in construction activities. That all changed in November 2013 when a team of Mirvac volunteers went to Meadowbank to help build hundreds of tents to for a fundraising event. The team was made up of staff from HR, IT, Sustainability and a range of other service areas, it even included the CEO, and although they faced a 35 degree day with howling winds, the team banded together to make a difference. The feedback from staff was fantastic. One member said, “The winds kept blowing the tents all over the place, but it was a great cause and we were all so happy to be involved.” Pictured: Mirvac staff volunteers help set up camp in November 2013.
There was also the additional team building benefits that came from participating with another member saying, “It was a good opportunity to interact with people I don't normally get the chance to work with. It was a fun group, we all worked as a team and had a great day which gave us a sense of achievement and meaningful contribution.”
Mirvac teamed up with The Centre for Volunteering throughout November in 2013 to organise a range of volunteering activities including the tent camp set up, a harbour foreshore clean-up, a building makeover for a youth program facility, charity op-shop and aged care centre support. Mirvac is currently developing a corporate community engagement program which will see the group take a coordinated approach to their community activities, including their corporate volunteer program. This year is set to be the first time that all staff across the group will be given the opportunity to volunteer on one coordinated day nationally.
|
|
Australians Honoured on Australia Day 2014
A record number of Australians have received Australia Day honours, in a celebration that saw AFL football star and community leader Adam Goodes named Australian of the Year. Previously in 2010, Adam was awarded NSW Volunteer Ambassador of the Year in recognition of his work as a role model and mentor to Aboriginal youth. Find out more about Adam's Award .
|
|
Betty Makin Youth Awards Closing Soon!
The Betty Makin Youth Awards aims a recognizing the positive contributions made by young people and the community that supports them. There are three categories to nominate someone within the Sydney community.... The three categories are: Individual/Group award; Youth worker award; and Police award. Hurry, nominations close Friday the 28th of February. For more info or to nominate go to City of Sydney website Read more on our Tumblr
|
|
Volunteering SA Launch New Strategy
A cross-sector Volunteering Strategy for South Australia has been developed to improve the experience of volunteers, enhance the outcomes for volunteer involving organisations, and help meet South Australia’s Strategic Plan target to maintain a volunteer participation rate of 70% or better.
The Volunteering Strategy for South Australia is a collaborative ‘blue-print’ for action between four sectors: volunteer involving organisations, business, Local Government and State Government. The document articulates a vision for volunteering over the next six years that is distinctly South Australian. For more details please visit the Volunteering Strategy for South Australia
|
|
Donate Yourself... for 12 Months
In the program’s 11th year, Vodaphone Foundation is looking to fund up to two applicants to take a year of Paid Charity Leave. The successful applicant will receive a salary from their chosen charity of $70,000 as well as $15,000 to cover any expenses in doing their good deeds.
If you’d like to make a big difference for a great cause, then apply now - making a World of Difference is serious business. Vodaphone is looking for passionate people that are ready to start their journey from May 2014. NB. Before you apply, please get in touch with your charity of choice to see if they are onboard with your vision.
Entries close 3 March, 2014. Fore more details, please visit Vodaphone's website
|
|
"Living in Harmony" Volunteer Speed Matching Event, Sydney CBD
|
|
| |
Looking to have fun and learn more about volunteering? Join in the Volunteer Speed Matching event, organised by The Centre for Volunteering and part of the 2014 Living in Harmony Festival.
Speed matching events are a unique opportunity for participants and organisations to come together, share knowledge and network. In an exciting and fast-paced environment, participants engage with a broad range of organisations and are therefore able to increase their awareness of the types of organisations with which they may like to volunteer.
When: Thursday 13th March, 2014
2 Sessions between 10am and 4pm as well as entertainment throughout the day.
Where: Lower Town Hall, Druitt St entrance, Sydney.
Wheelchair access to the venue.
Cost: Free, booking essential
Register Now
About the Living in Harmony Festival
The Living in Harmony Festival celebrates the City’s cultural diversity through a range of free community events between 1 March and 31 March 2014. Events are aimed at promoting diversity and engaging community members through participation and attendance at events such as cultural days, forums, workshops, exhibitions and festivals.
For more information please contact: Tony Frew on 02 9261 3600 or tfrew@volunteering.com.au
|
|
Save the Date.. 23rd IAVE World Conference, Gold Coast
Registration is now open for this year's IAVE World Conference.
With delegates from around the globe, an exciting line-up of keynote speakers and presenters, and a comprehensive program, the Conference will highlight both the importance and complexity of volunteering.
With the theme Volunteering – Today’s Imperative, the Conference will not only focus on current models of volunteering but importantly the future of volunteering. In an age where communication technology promotes global community interaction, volunteer effort is at the forefront of bringing about positive change.
Youth Conference: 15 - 17 September 2014
23rd World Conference: 17 - 20, September 2014
For more details, please visit IAVE's website
|
|
Are you Confident with Public Speaking?
Improve your confidence and public speaking skills
with SpeakersBank’s Dale Rees-Bevan.
Speak Up! Speak Out! workshop
When: Thursday 27 March 2014 9.30am-1.00pm
Where:The Centre for Volunteering, Level 3, 40 Gloucester Street The Rocks
Cost: $60 (plus GST) per person
Workshop has limited places, so enrol now at http://www.svm.edu.au
Enrolments close 20 March 2014
Read more on Facebook
|
|
March Networking Event: What Makes a Successful Partnership?
Stemming from last year's How to get a Corporate Partner Networking Event, this month's event will focus on the characteristics of what makes a successful partnership between not for profits and companies.
Taking the spotlight on our panel will be Jo Coombe from the Ted Noffs Foundation, Fiona Corner from Assistance Dogs Australia and Peter Valpiani from the Exodus Foundation.
Click here to register
|
|
|
|
|
|