Dear Valued Members, Supporters and Friends,

Welcome to the August issue of The Voice of Volunteering.

• New Federal Minister responsible for volunteering is the Hon. Julie Collins from Tasmania
   
• Volunteering Australia has completed the selection process for a new CEO. Watch the VA website for an announcement.
   
• Regional Community Award nominations close this Friday

Confused about who can nominate or be nominated or how the Award program works? Read the Award Fast Facts

Nominate Individual Volunteers (incl. Youth & Senior) and Volunteer Teams before COB, Friday, 30 August 2013.

Nominate NFP Organisations, Employee (Corporate) Volunteers, and the Employee (Corporate) Volunteer Teams before COB, Thursday, 31 October 2013.

Nominate online, download and print a copy of the form or phone 02 9261 3600 for a hard copy. Don't forget you can now complete your nomination in multiple sittings online.

Remember EVERY volunteer nominated is recognised at the regional ceremonies with a certificate and celebration.

National Student Volunteer Week is the first nationwide initiative dedicated to recognising and supporting student volunteering in Australia.

Universities and schools across the country are participating in the week, held from 4-10 August 2013, by promoting student volunteering and the vital role it plays in building healthy communities.

Find out how you can get involved

Tuesday, 20 August 2013, 2-4pm
3/40 Gloucester Street. The Rocks

Join a thought-provoking post-NSVW (National Student Volunteer Week) networking event on student volunteering. This dynamic event will begin with a panel discussion, bringing together panellists from both educational facilities (students and staff) and not-for-profit organisations, allowing for different perspectives on student volunteering, including student placements, to be voiced. The panel will explore questions such as: what is student volunteering, what can we do to ensure a win-win situation, what constitutes an internship, student ‘volunteer’ placements – burden or asset, what is the role of the NFP sector in the education of our young people, who ‘owns’ community engagement in universities? And much more! Panellists will include:

• Kylie Sait, Research and Policy Officer, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW
• Marie Kelliher, Macquarie University
• Lauren McQueen, volunteer
• Michelle Parrish, Wesley Dalmar Aunties & Uncles Manager
• Dr. Valentine Mukuria, University of Western Sydney (UWS)
• Claire Pettigrew, Student Engagement Coordinator, UTS: Shopfront

Attendees will be invited to ask the panellists questions during a Q & A session, followed by networking, drinks and nibblies.

Register online for this free event

29–30 August 2013
Lake Hume Resort, Riverina Hwy, Albury

Discuss ideas, trends and challenges within your programs, workplace, and the community sector at the Volunteer Centre Network NSW (VCN NSW) Conference. Presentations and workshops include: Volunteering as a pathway to employment: Bathurst Grows model, Individualised funding and disability, Social innovation and volunteering and Best practice in volunteer networking: two case studies in NSW. Download program and more information

4-6 September 2013
Adelaide Hilton Hotel, Victoria Square, Adelaide

Get ready to be inspired and armed with the "key ingredients for a successful partnership", as Josephine Larkin, Roseanne Woodforde, Bruce Hammond and Chrisitina Jenkins share the brilliant success story of the first Aboriginal Volunteer Program. Find out more

5 September 2013
Adelaide Hilton Hotel, Victoria Square, Adelaide

Join us for a night of fun and entertainment at the 15th National Conference on Volunteering Dinner. Guests will enjoy a sumptuous three course meal while being entertained by The Three Chillies - Adelaide's red-hot cabaret trio! Tickets include meal plus one welcome drink. As part of the program, we will hear from Paula Duncan AM, who will present the Margaret Bell Spirit of Volunteering Oration.

Register using the online conference registration form. Tickets to the dinner can be purchased separately, please call (08) 8221 7177 or email courtney.sullivan@volunteeringsa-nt.org.au

When: 30 November – 7 December 2013

Newcastle and the Hunter will host 32 nations for the biggest sporting and community event of the year. The Special Olympics 2013 Asia Pacific Games provide meaningful opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.

Don’t miss out! Join the volunteer team and become part of something special.

Register to volunteer | Help raise funds | Watch video

The Australian Institute of Company Directors has issued a new policy priorities paper, Governing for a More Prosperous Australia: Key Issues for Directors in the 2013 Election, calling on the next government of Australia to take action on key issues for directors, including a new approach to regulation and better consultation with business.

"The coming election gives the nation an opportunity to focus on issues which are vital to Australia's future, including ways in which we can improve the environment for business and so enhance our productivity growth and the prosperity of everyone," said John Colvin, Australian Institute of Company Directors' CEO. Read media release

Social investment is expanding rapidly. As regulator of charities in England and Wales, the Charity Commission neither encourage nor discourage charities to enter into this market. It focused instead is on ensuring that trustees are able to confidently make decisions about social investment in the best interests of their charities. Read more

11 July 2013 | Pro Bono Australia News

Content marketing is one of the most effective ways a Not for Profit can slice through the noise to reach a broader audience and build relationships that keep people coming back says Fergus Stoddart, a Director at strategic content agency Edge. Read more

The Centre for Volunteering has been my second home over the past 10.5 years, and its staff, volunteers and members, a second family. Here I have developed a passion for volunteering – to support volunteers and the organisations that engage them – and more importantly to recognise and promote them throughout our State.

It is bitter-sweet to announce that I will be leaving The Centre for Volunteering at the of July to begin a new adventure. I will be working with NFP organisations to manage IT developments via corporate volunteering programs – I am not yet ready to leave the volunteering sector.

It has been a privilege to work for The Centre for Volunteering, the peak body for Volunteering in NSW. I have watched it grow and transform from an organisation that wasn’t quite sure of its purpose back in 2002 into the strong, driven peak body that it is today. I am incredibly grateful to the guidance of our CEO, Lynne Dalton, and our Board, who helped polish my management skills as well allowing me to still have a creative hands role. The entire team has provided great support as well as challenged me to be better and do better, and most importantly been great friends.

My Marketing and Communications team, both current and past, have been an incredible support and motivation. I am so proud of and thankful to Jacqui Hastings, for her dedication in creating a diamond in The Centre’s programs – our annual Ignite Conference and related training events – as well as her continual support of me, and our team. Our latest addition Reem Abdelaty has catapulted The Centre into the world of Social Media. I will miss working with you both greatly.

In my role as Marketing Manager I oversee all things Marketing, Communications and Events related, however I am most proud of my work in the development and management of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award which is now in its seventh year. The Award publically recognises all volunteers in NSW, as well as the NFPs they work for. It has grown substantially from its first year of 70 nominations and it has been an honour to run this program. The hard work and long hours are forgotten every time I speak with a nominee or nominator and more so, every time I attend a ceremony. (I learnt quickly it is very important to take a hanky with me to each of the Award’s 20 ceremonies – it isn’t a great look me to crying when I hear some of the volunteer stories – especially as I am always on the stage as either the MC or helping give out the Awards).

Another great achievement throughout my time was something I had to learn quickly – running a communications program with little to no money. My first year’s budget was $1000!!! Things have changed a little but our job is to ensure we find the most economical way to promote The Centre’s programs and mission. The internet has played a big role in this, and I am very excited about my last project for The Centre – launching a brand new website to better embrace the future of online (coming early August).

Thanks to everyone I have worked with throughout my 10.5 years at The Centre, you have been a great help and support to me in my various roles. It is greatly appreciated and I will miss working with you all. I hope you continue to work with The Centre for Volunteering to “enhance, facilitate and promote volunteering across NSW to maximise the benefit to individuals, communities and organisations”.

Your new Marketing, Communications and Award contacts will be:

• Media and VCN NSW enquiries: Lynne Dalton, CEO
• NSW Volunteer Award enquiries: Award Manager
• Communications & Events enquiries: Jacqui Hastings
• Online Communications enquiries: Reem Abdelaty