CEO's Welcome
Welcome to the February edition of eNews. This newsletter has some very important items which I’d urge you to read, in particular a COVID-19 update and the discussion paper on the future of volunteer management and role of the Australian Government.
There are only a couple of weeks to go until we welcome speakers and delegates from around Australia and globally to the National Volunteering Conference in Perth. We are extremely proud to host this event and bring a range of talented, high calibre speakers to our members and delegates from the volunteering sector to Australia. Tickets are still available here but places are now limited.
Our preparations are also in full swing for National Volunteer Week which will be held from 18-24 May, with the theme of “Changing Communities. Changing Lives.” We were delighted to open nominations for the 2020 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards and encourage you to nominate a special individual or organisation to recognise their contribution.
February has been especially busy with two important planning sessions – with our team, our board and senior leadership. In preparation for these days we prepared ‘State of the Nation’ reports and reflected on our achievements this past year. Some highlights for 2019 were our new corporate volunteering program partners, the introduction of consultancy services, advocacy work in support government funded volunteer resource centres, and our office move – to name a few.
The sessions consisted of deep-dive discussions around the challenges and opportunities ahead for both Volunteering WA and the sector, and concluded with some exciting initiatives and priorities to shape the future. We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful team and a highly talented board with a diverse range of expertise and skills (meet them here). We look forward to an exciting year of putting our plans into practice.
Happy Volunteering,
Tina
Our News
WA Volunteer of the Year Award nominations are now open!
Nominations for the prestigious WA Volunteer of the Year Awards are now open. We invite members of the community to nominate a special individual or organisation to be recognised for the contribution they have made.
Nominating a worthy individual or organisation is very simple and takes little time via a short online form. Nominations close 5pm Sunday 15 March, 2020.
National Volunteer Week merchandise is now available in the Volunteering Australia online shop.
National Volunteering Conference 2020
Don't miss out on these speakers at the National Volunteering Conference 2020 in Perth.
Samuel Johnson, this month marked 7 years to the day since Love Your Sister, the charity Samuel and his sister created to raise awareness of cancer, was born. Join Samuel as he talks about his journey to seek support for personalised treatment for cancer patients and how his "purpose" is stronger than ever.
Dr Rob Macmillan has 20 years' experience researching aspects of the voluntary and community sectors and brings a breadth of knowledge. He will discuss the dilemmas in organising support for the voluntary sector and how challenges facing peak bodies will impact on their members and VIO's.
Less than one month to go! There is still time to register. Click here to register and view the amazing Program.
National Volunteer Week grants closing soon!
Volunteer involving organisations can still apply for up to $1,000 to recognise and celebrate their volunteers during National Volunteer Week, supported by Lotterywest.
In previous years, organisations have acknowledged the wonderful work their volunteers do in many different ways, from hosting a volunteer lunch to fun outings like Communicare Inc. last year photographed on a team building day. Applications close Sunday 8 March 2020.
Corporate Volunteering
2020 is off to a fantastic start for the Corporate Volunteering Program with 8 corporate team days taking place in January. Using the volunteering benefits calculator, we’ve calculated these teams have contributed $45,000 in value to the WA community through team-based volunteering. Now that's outstanding!
With requests flooding in from our corporate partners, we want to support even more community organisations in 2020. For more information on how your organisation can utilise corporate volunteering support contact Tara Doyle, Manager Corporate Engagement, at corporate@volunteeringwa.org.au or call 9482 4333.
Regional News
Tropical Cyclone Damien hit the Pilbara in early February leading to substantial volunteer efforts in affected communities. Our Pilbara hub coordinator Kelly is working with the Shire of Ashburton to deliver volunteer information sessions to local organisations to provide support and guidance during this time.
All three regional Volunteer WA hubs have organised Step into Volunteering sessions for the public to attend. Follow the hubs Facebook pages for more details, Pilbara, Wheatbelt and Kimberley.
VIRA
It has been a great start to the year for VIRA with the development of some fantastic new features on the platform.
The new volunteer scheduling calendar has now been added to the main menu and the development of the new and improved contact management system is almost complete! Keep up to date by following the VIRA Facebook page here.
Sector News
Coronavirus State Welfare Emergency Committee
Volunteering WA recently took part in a meeting regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the impact it may have on Western Australian communities as part of our role on the State Welfare Emergency Committee (SWEC).
At the meeting Department of Health provided a current update of the situation along with the key impacts that may arise over the coming months. Volunteering WA will continue to work with SWEC in this planning stage to look at ways we can offer support should the need arise. For up to date information on COVID-19 please visit the Healthway website.
Considerations for the future of the Volunteer Management Activity
The Department of Social Services (DSS) is seeking submissions to inform the development of options for the future of the Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) program post 30 June 2021.
DSS have developed a Discussion Paper to inform discussions on the redesign of the VMA. Public submissions on future options for the VMA, including responses to issues raised in the Discussion Paper are now open until 5.00pm (AEDT) Friday 27 March 2020.
Australian Government Compensation Scheme for Emergency Services
The summer of 2019-20 saw devastating bushfires in Australia resulting in the tragic loss of life, biodiversity and property. Tens of thousands of volunteers across the country worked tirelessly to respond and begin to recover from this emergency.
The Australian Government announced a compensation scheme for some firefighters to help offset their cost of volunteering. Volunteering Australia, together with Volunteering WA and other Volunteering Peaks, have developed a Position Paper to inform policy and decision-making going forward.
Whistleblower policy
Whistleblowing refers to advising authorities of an act that a person considers unlawful or unethical. Changes to the Corporations Act 2001, which came into effect from 1 January 2020, require some not-for-profit organisations to have a Whistleblower Policy. Some NFPs may seek legal advice on this matter.
Although your organisation may not need to have a formal policy, a number of the elements are good governance. They include:
- Encourage those who are concerned about wrong-doing speaking up
- Protect the confidentiality of a discloser
- Develop a procedure for reporting, investigation and review
- Provide awareness and training to staff
There are a number of online resources including templates which may be useful.
International Women's Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) is held throughout the world on 8 March to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is a day to highlight the great progress we have made towards gender equality and also to recognise what still needs to be done. This year the theme is Generation Equality to create a world where women and girls everywhere have equal rights and opportunities.
Scholarships of up to $5,000 for current and aspiring female leaders
Scholarships of $2,000 to $5,000 are currently available to women working in the community services sector to help support their participation in a range of career building leadership development programs. The initiative is providing junior through to executive managers with scholarships to support their growth and development.
A $2,000+ defibrillator package for just $249 thanks to Lotterywest funding!
Cardiac arrest is WA’s leading cause of death and it can happen to anyone regardless of age or gender. Survival drops 10% for every minute a defibrillator is not used.
WA not-for-profit, sporting or community groups can apply for a package including a defibrillator, a lock box for the device and first aid training for a fraction of the cost.
Watch the testimonial video and see our information kit for more. Apply quickly and easily by 30 April 2020.
Community Service Excellence Award nominations open
Nominations are now open for the Community Services Excellence Awards presented by WACOSS and the Department of Communities. The awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions made by organisations and individuals in the community services sector, and the significant differences they make to our communities.
Your Help WA
More than half a million Western Australians need support and services, but community service organisations do not have the resources to meet the growing need in our community.
Training & Events
Social Impact and Volunteering Fair
Thursday 12 March 2020 | 2pm to 4.30pm | UWA Winthrop Hall
Meet WA change-making organisations and develop volunteering and career connections in the not-for-profit sector. Free entry. Register here.
Lotterywest & Healthway Grant Information Session
Wednesday 18 March 2020 | 10am to 12pm | Subiaco
Are you planning a project or event that may require grant support? Join us to hear more about how Lotterywest and Healthway can support your organisation. Register here.
The Future of Impact Breakfast
Friday 20 March 2020 | 7.45am to 9am | Perth
Corporate Citizenship, while in Perth for the National Volunteering Conference, is holding a breakfast briefing for businesses. The breakfast will explore Business Innovation and Social Procurement in extending the LGB framework, the international standard for measuring and benchmarking social investments by companies. Register here.
Introduction to Volunteering WA & VIKTOR
Wednesday 1 April 2020 | 9.30am to 11.30am | West Leederville
This session will help you to make the most of your membership, and get you off to a good start with VIKTOR (the national online volunteer recruitment database) to promote your volunteer positions. Register here.
Pathways - Explore your volunteering potential
Wednesday 1 April 2020 | 3.30pm to 6.30pm | Riverton Library
Come along to a free community event to learn more about volunteering. Meet with volunteer involving organisations and discover how you can get started on your own volunteer pathway. Register here.
Please visit our website here to see our upcoming events and training sessions.
New Members
A warm welcome to our new and returning members:
We look forward to working with you.
Saturday Shout Out
Do you need help finding volunteers to fill a position in your organisation? Our Saturday feature, only for members, advertises your position on our Facebook page, with over 6,500 followers. Email nazreen@volunteeringwa.org.au to promote your volunteer vacancies.
Please ensure your volunteering role is on VIKTOR so that we can link the Facebook post straight through to the Volunteering WA website.
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Level 1, 3 Loftus Street
West Leederville WA 6007