Image: VT CEO Adrienne Picone, Speaker of the House Elise Archer, The Premier Will Hodgman and VT Chair Michelle Ewington. Photo courtesy Elise Archer's office.

The Premier Will Hodgman announced on Wednesday that Volunteering Tasmania, after 22 years, has finally been granted official Peak body status. As a part of this announcement, the Premier confirmed funding of $260,000 per annum, in perpetuity.

A component of the funding will be core funding, with the rest being project funding.

This is a significant achievement for Volunteering Tasmania. Staff and board members, past and present, have worked really hard for this recognition.

We are so pleased that the Government acknowledges the value in volunteering, as well as the value we provide as a supporter of effective volunteering in the state.

This announcement shows the Government’s commitment to volunteering and the positive impact it has on Tasmanian communities.

You can read the media release from The Premier here.

It has been a month of mixed emotions as we farewell our State Manager Jill Maxwell, whose last day here will be Friday 22 May.

Jill has been with Volunteering Tasmania for almost 10 years, and has been a core driver in the progress we have made during that time. Jill brought unique skills and passions to the role, and has been instrumental in building and maintaining the systems and culture we are so proud of here.

Jill would like to share a message with you all as she concludes her service here to take on her new role as CEO of the Sexual Assault Support Service:

"It has been a privilege to have met and worked with so many passionate people who believe in the power of giving. I’ve witnessed great change in people’s lives as a result of volunteering.

Working at Volunteering Tasmania over the years has taught me many things but the most significant has been firstly, leadership is so much more than a theory, it’s the passion you bring to your work, the way you deal with the trials you face on a daily basis, it’s the successes you share with your team and not being afraid to fail.

But most of all it’s about people, the support they need, the information they have and the belief they feel. Volunteering Tasmania has always given me these things and it’s been a privilege to be part of giving this to others.

Secondly, great teams do exist. It’s hard work and frustrating at times but worth it.

And lastly, it is possible to make a difference!"

We say goodbye to Jill with heavy hearts, but know that SASS will be in great hands. Congratulations, Jill! Thank you for the immense influence you have had on Volunteering Tasmania and volunteering over the past decade.

Work for the Dole - Special Network Meetings

Launceston, St Helens, Hobart, Devonport

20-27 May

Work for the dole is a hot topic. So hot, in fact, that we've set up some meetings so we can all talk about it.

Get the facts about Work for the Dole, and give us your thoughts on its impact on your organisation.

We’re also inviting Job Service providers and Department of Employment representatives, so you can talk to them directly.

Find out more and RSVP here. Seats filling fast.

What a week we've had!

We've travelled around Tassie, meeting with people and smiling 'til our faces hurt!

You can check out all the photos on our Facebook page.

Did you participate in our 'Smile, it's National Volunteer Week' campaign, like the volunteers at Lifeline Tasmania pictured above?

If you have photos with our printable 'smile' props, feel free to email them to us, or post them to our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts.

You can also send us photos from your events - we'd love to see what you did to celebrate.

The Senate Committee has released an interim report into the tendering process undertaken by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services.

Importantly, the committee has highlighted the challenges faced by many Community Sector organisations in participating in the new tendering process.

We are particularly interested to see the findings of the full report (to be released in August) which will consider the impact at a regional level, and the opportunities to continue to advocate for consistent Statewide service delivery for the volunteering sector.

Read more here

The new National Standards for Volunteer Involvement (the Standards) were launched this week.

The original standards were written in 2001, and we know that the volunteering sector has changed considerably since then. The new Standards were created to support changes in the sector.

They are easy to understand and use and have clear criteria and relevant content. Importantly they are more applicable to different types of organisations and volunteer situations.

These will be a valuable new resource to support Volunteer Involving Organisations and guide them in best practice in the recruitment, management and recognition of volunteers.

Find a copy of the new Standards here

Need more information? Feel free to give us a call on 1800 677 895, or email us.

Traditionally, Tasmania has had quite a low number of nominations compared to the rest of the country. Let's turn that around this year! We know there are many worthy nominees out there.

Find out more or nominate someone here.

Here’s how you get started:

Check out the roles on our Volunteer Connect Database 

or

Give us a call on 6231 5550, or Freecall 1800 677 895
We can help you navigate the website, or answer your enquiries.

or

Book in to chat with one of our friendly Referral Officers
Our Referral Officers are experts at helping people from all walks of life find roles suited to them.
Depending on your location, you can meet with them in person. Alternatively we can make an appointment for a chat over the
phone. Phone 1800 677 895 to make an appointment.

Know someone who is interested in volunteering? They can follow any of the above steps, or they can sign up to our mailing list (which you are already on, which is why you are receiving this email).