Volunteering Tasmania is delighted to announce Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM, Governor of Tasmania, as our new Patron.

"It is with much pleasure that I have accepted the role of Patron of Volunteering Tasmania.

In the seven months or so that I have been Governor, I have been particularly struck by the number of community organisations that rely upon volunteers and the generosity of those who give their time.

The community benefits resulting from volunteering are many, whether tangible or intangible and I am full of admiration for those individuals who choose to volunteer.

I say this not least because community engagement is a key feature of the office of the Governor of Tasmania, and so I have a very particular interest in promoting and encouraging those who are prepared to volunteer their time and effort for the betterment of Tasmania."

Volunteering Tasmania has vacancies for both staff and volunteers:

Employee role

• Part time Volunteer Co-ordinator

Volunteering vacancies

• Young Board Director
• Receptionist
• Volunteering Tasmania expo reps
• Expression of interest register - volunteer at Tasmanian events

Volunteering Tasmania operates under a culture of continuous improvement. We truly want to know what we have done well, but also what we could be doing better. We are your Peak body and it is important to us that we are serving you and the volunteering sector well.

We would love it if you would take the time to complete our annual Stakeholder Survey you haven’t already.

The survey closes this Friday 21 August at 5pm.

Please follow the link to your area:

South

North

North West

We would like to thank HACC members who completed their short survey last month – your feedback is really appreciated.

A warm welcome to our new Members.
Not sure if you are a Member, or would you like to talk about the benefits of Membership? Send us an email or call 6231 5550.

This month, Corumbene told us about the amazing success they have had with their student volunteering program. You may have heard them speak about it on ABC 936 with Ryk Goddard recently.

Read the full story here.

Over the next few months The Wilderness Society will be running some fascinating and fun movie events.

They are very keen to recruit some volunteers to assist with running these movie nights.

If you are interested in attending these events, or volunteering to help run them, you can find out more here.

We have recently expanded our Volunteer Referral Service – and we aren’t stopping yet!

We currently offer face-to-face interviews in which our Volunteer Referral Officers meet with potential volunteers and match them up with appropriate roles for them. At the moment, potential volunteers can come to our Hobart, Launceston and South Burnie offices.

Very soon, we will also have Hubs in Devonport, Sorell and St Helens.

If potential volunteers can’t make it to our offices, we can also hold interviews over the phone or Skype if they have access to a computer.

This helps us to further break down the barriers to volunteering, and to better service our Members and users of our Volunteer Connect database.

There’s never been a better time to register to use Volunteer Connect, or to book an appointment to find a volunteer role for yourself.

Hobart October 14

Launceston October 15

Does your organisation need volunteers? Send someone along to represent your program at our ‘Speed dating’ event during Seniors Week.

Member exclusive places have now been filled, and the remaining spaces are open to everyone - but get in quick as spots are strictly limited!

It’s a great opportunity to share information about your organisation and program, as well as potentially meet some new volunteers!

There will be informal proceedings for the whole day and participating organisations are welcome to spend the day with us.

Send an expression of interest, or request more information by emailing us. 

Volunteering Tasmania has lead a two-year review into the definition of volunteering, culminating this week with the announcement of the new definition:

“Volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.”

The way volunteering is defined has a critical impact.

The new, wider definition will help improve the understanding of the magnitude of the volunteer community; and aid in appropriate acknowledgement of the total economic contribution of volunteering to society.

The change in the definition may also impact on future legislation and policy, and lessening the distinction between profit making and not for profit entities in the growth of social enterprise in Australia.

Find out more here.

A large number of users still have out of date insurance details on Volunteer Connect.

Please log in to VIKTOR and update your insurance details as a matter of urgency.

While you are logged in, why not make sure your details are current and message is fresh? Your vacancy will be seen by more volunteers if it is updated regularly.

Any questions, please contact Tracey in the Hobart office on 6231 5550 or email TraceyM@volunteeringtas.org.au

Do you, or your volunteers, work with Cultural and Linguistically Diverse people? This training (funded by the Commonwealth Government) will be extremely valuable to your team! Find out more or book your space on the details below (spaces limited).

Southern Tasmania
TAS TAFE
Anna Kingston
6165 5874 
anna.kingston@tastafe.tas.edu.au

North & Northwest Tasmania
TAS TAFE
Jennifer Williamson
6777 2509
jennifer.williamson@education.tas.gov.au