This dual-purpose calculator is useful for both managers of volunteers, as well as individual volunteers.

The Organisational tab

The organisational calculator gives a full cost benefit analysis of the value of a volunteer program.

This calculator considers the overall economic impact an organisation that involves volunteers has in the community.
If you are a manager of volunteers, this calculator will quickly give you evidence for use in:

• Reporting
• Funding applications and
• Strategic planning

The calculator will also help you to ‘manage up’ and make a case for investment in volunteering.

The Individual tab

The individual calculator calculates an average cost to an organisation to replace a volunteer position. This is based on the average cost of their age cohort based on the evidence in the State of Volunteering Report 2014.

It is a quick way for an individual to appreciate the economic contribution they bring to an organisation.

Check out the calculator by clicking here, and share your results on social media (there's a handy button at the bottom of your results page).

Are you a possible candidate for the Agfest Community Group Applications, or Agfest Official Charity of Choice for 2016 Field Days?

Rural Youth are now accepting applications!

You can find out more about the Community Group program and the Charity of Choice program here.

Thank you to everyone who applied for the Scholarships to the National Conference.

There were over 100 applications made nationally, with only 30 funded places available.

The winners for Tasmania are:

Russell Lewis from the Lobster Ponds

Mary Thornton from Early Support for Parents

Miranda Ashby from Flourish Mental Health

Congratulations! And many thanks to everyone who applied - the quality of applications was excellent.

The Australian Government is inviting organisations to apply for Volunteer Grants 2015.

Funding is expected to be offered to around 5,700 organisations as a result of this process, with grants to be paid by 30 June 2016.

Find out more here.

On the 10th and 12th of November we held workshops with enaging and passionate fundraising expert, Bianca Crocker.

Some of the 'take away' messages from attendees were:

• It's all about people and relationships.
• Supporters (like volunteers) save you money - which means you need to make less. Treat them well!
• Having a strong brand is essential.
• People connect to causes and community.

Comments about the sessions included:

Thank you to VT for organsing this day, and thank you to Bianca for encouraging us to think differently.

It was a very good well rounded session.

A fantastic presenter – loved the practical nature of the session.

We are planning some more workshops for next year. If you are keen on finding out more about a Digital Communications and Social Media Workshop, please express your interest by emailing BonnieT@volunteeringtas.org.au

We are in the final stages of unpacking the feedback from our Special Network meetings, held in September and October around the State.

These were a great chance for us to hear about the challenges volunteer involving organisations are experiencing, and opportunities for us as the Peak body to advocate for the volunteer sector.

Dominant themes across our consultation, included:

• The need for greater recognition for the volunteer sector
• Funding for volunteer involving organisations
• Support for Managers of Volunteers
• Engaging younger and older volunteers – adapting to Tasmania’s ageing population
• Insurance
• Volunteer Rights

We are currently working on submissions to Government, which will be made available via our website from next week.

The national surveys for volunteers, volunteer involving organisations and corporate organisations are now open. By completing a survey you will help Volunteering Australia answer this question and help shape the future of volunteering.

Complete the survey here.

Are you interested in helping out during an emergency situation or natural disaster?

The Join, Learn, Be Ready program

If you would like to become a skilled volunteer with emergency services (and other key organisations), don’t wait for the crisis. You need to express your interest now so you can be inducted and trained well before an emergency situation occurs.

Go to www.emergencyvolunteers.tas.gov.au to find out more and connect with organisations involved in the disaster response.

EV CREW (Emergency Volunteering Community Response to Extreme Weather)

EV CREW is a volunteer management system that supports organisations involved in the recovery to find volunteers with the right skills, in the right place following a disaster.

The EV CREW service is coming to Tasmania soon and we will keep you informed about progress.

Is your organisation part of the VT Member family?

There are loads of benefits, and our diaries are quickly filling up with people wanting to take advantage of them.

If you'd like us to help you by doing a free audit of your volunteer program (called a 'Pulse Check'), or if you'd like to take advantage of the assistance we offer with vacancy ad writing or the member feature articles, please get in touch!

In the South? Contact David here.

In the North or on the East Coast? You can get in touch with Wayne.

Members in the North West region can talk to Lana.

"Thanks to Wayne for our recent volunteer management process audit. You have a good deskside manner, it was painless! We look forward to receiving our audit report which will support our continuous improvement plan."

Vicki/Great Western Tiers Visitor Centre, Deloraine.

All our offices will be closing at 4pm on Wednesday 24th December.

The Hobart office will be re-opening at 9am 4 January - we will update you on the re-opening of our North and North West offices in the next edition of What's Happening.