CEO Report

Welcome to the August enewsletter.

This month we acknowledged the incredible impact student volunteers make in our communities by celebrating National Student Volunteer Week (9-15 August). 

I was proud to see our Western Australian universities getting behind the week and participating in WA’s inter-university volunteering activity, as well as hosting a huge range of volunteering activities throughout the week. I had the privilege of attending UWA Guild Volunteering's student volunteer panel, along with VWA Chair, David Morrison and the Hon Reece Whitby MLA, Minister for Volunteering. It was fantastic to meet the students and leadership team over morning tea as they shared their personal volunteering journey and insights. 

In a bittersweet goodbye, Volunteering WA farewells the wonderful Lucia Britto who is retiring at the end of this month after 10-years with Volunteering WA. Many of you will have met Lucia over the years and if you would like to share your well-wishes please email our team and these will be forwarded on. We wish Lucia all the best and she will be dearly missed!

Where did those five years go? We’re currently working on our next strategic plan with our board and executive team. The sector is seeing huge changes, which presents us with exciting opportunities, as well as uncertainties and challenges in the coming years. As key stakeholders, we will be consulting you in October to capture your input and ideas on how Volunteering WA can best support you, continue to meet the needs of the sector and advance volunteering over the next three years.

Lastly, I would like to extend an invitation for members to attend Volunteering WA's Annual General Meeting which will be held online on Wednesday 20 October. Further details will be emailed out and included in the September newsletter. We hope you can join us. 

Happy volunteering, 

Tina

Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram

Our News

PROGRAM TEASER | Volunteering WA State Conference 2021

Have you booked your conference tickets yet? If not, we'd suggest getting in quick with plenty of tickets already sold and the program hasn't even been announced yet!

Hear keynotes from international speaker and best-selling author, Rabia Siddique, and Principal Research Fellow at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research in the UK, Dr Rob Macmillan.

Participate in engaging sessions, including:

• Reframing spontaneous volunteering.
• Work health & safety for volunteer organisations.
• A Corporate Volunteer Council panel on how corporate strategy and volunteering goes hand-in-hand.
• Exploring the role of humour in volunteering.
• Engaging youth volunteers; a win win.
• Inclusivity for diverse volunteers. What does it mean and how can you address it?
• Setting expectations during volunteer recruitment and fulfilling them on day one.
• +++ much much more.

Day 1 will conclude with a cocktail function attended by the Minister for Volunteering, giving you an opportunity to connect with fellow volunteer coordinators and leaders.

Over the 2-day conference you will be able to attend more than 10 different sessions. Learn more and book your tickets here.

This conference is hosted by Volunteering WA and made possible with thanks to our Conference Partners, Woodside, RAC, Beyond Bank and Lush - The Content Agency.

VMA | Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) 

Volunteering WA is partnering with six Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs) across WA to deliver services for the first year of the new VMA program.

Focusing on setting the program up for success, Volunteering WA will be working with partner VRCs to define outcomes for the program, establish the needs of volunteer-involving organisations, collect baseline data and create evidence-based resources to support volunteer management in WA. 

Volunteering WA is keen to engage stakeholders – particularly First Nations people, new migrants and people with disabilities. We will be reaching out in the coming months to individuals or organisations who would like to be involved in advising on the development and delivery of volunteer management services in WA. For more information please contact melanie@volunteeringwa.org.au.

SAVE THE DATE |  Volunteering WA 2020-21 Annual General Meeting

We are pleased to announce that our online 2020-21 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 20 October at 3pm.  Please RSVP through the Volunteering WA website.

We extend a warm welcome to all our members and representatives from the volunteer sector, State and local Government, partners and corporate supporters, volunteers and members of the community to join us for the meeting.

More details will follow in the coming weeks. 

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING | Monthly Review

July was another busy month for the Corporate team, connecting corporate volunteers to different not-for-profit organisations, with:

• 15 corporate volunteering team activities taking place.
• 177 corporate volunteers participating from BHP, Woodside, Perron Group/Toyota WA and Rio Tinto.
• 13 community organisations supported, including Birds of Prey WA, Bicycles for Humanity, Dismantle, Foodbank, Little Things for Tiny Tots, People Who Care, Salvation Army, SERCUL, St Barts, Vinnies, Dampier Community Association, Salvation Army and City of Karratha.
• Corporate volunteers matched to some fantastic skilled projects with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, Australian Breastfeeding Association and our very own Volunteering WA.

Sector News

VACCINE | COVID-19 jabs for aged care volunteers

Vaccines for ‘Residential Aged Care Facility Worker
New vaccination directives for volunteers in aged care facilities come into force from 17 September 2021 whereby volunteers visiting facilities more than once a week will need to be vaccinated. Please read the revised public health Act 'Residential Aged Care Facility Workers Access Directions ('the Directions'), and FAQ sheet on the Volunteering WA website.

AWARDS | WA Consumer Protection Awards 2022

Nominate yourself or others who've made a difference in your community. The Consumer Protection Awards recognise outstanding work done by Western Australian individuals, organisations, businesses, local governments and the media to: address consumer issues; help disadvantaged consumers (including tenants); and contribute to child safety. Nominations are open for the 2022 Awards until Friday 29 October 2021, through the online submission portal.

GRANTS | Grants for Women Program 2021/2022

The Department of Communities is currently seeking applications for the Grants for Women Program 2021/2022.  Grants of up to $5,000 for one-off initiatives with a duration of up to six months, and up to $10,000 for longer term (six to twelve months) are available to incorporated not-for-profit community organisations, local governments, and unincorporated organisations or community groups applying through the auspice of an incorporated body or a local government authority. Please visit our website for further information. 

HOMELESS CONNECT | 2021 Event Update

Volunteering WA and the City of Perth have made the difficult decision not to proceed with Homeless Connect Perth 2021. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, it has been decided an event as large as Homeless Connect will be not feasible again this year. We want to make sure that vulnerable members of the community, including people experiencing homelessness, are safe during this time.  View the FAQs here. 

SPORT AUSTRALIA | Launches new vision and plan to revolutionise sport volunteering

Sport Australia has taken the next steps towards building a more collaborative, cohesive, and contemporary approach to volunteering in sport with the release of an industry-first insights report and new national plan for the future of sport volunteering.

The new report ‘The future of sport volunteering’ reveals a deep insight into the current state of sport volunteering in Australia. Learn more here.

POLICY | Consultations Now Open on the State Commissioning Strategy

The State Government is developing a State Commissioning Strategy for community services, intended to improve the way community services are delivered in WA. The Strategy will determine how community services will be commissioned over the next 5 years and into the future, aiming to better align the WA Government, service providers, peak bodies, and consumer advocates.

Volunteering underpins the entire community services sector and is vital to delivering services and support. For Volunteering WA members and key stakeholders this is an important opportunity to ensure your views are captured in the process, and that commissioning addresses the needs of volunteers and community services. 

Consultation feedback on the Discussion Paper is open until 3 September 2021, and can be completed at the link below via an 11-question survey. 

View the State Commissioning Strategy discussion paper and have your say here. 

Training & Events

We have some fantastic training coming up in the next few weeks. Please visit our website here for a full schedule of upcoming sessions however we bring to your attention a few that are very popular and filling up fast.

Volunteers in Aged Care Settings - Provide feedback on draft 'Good Practice Guide'
Wednesday 1 September | 9:30am - 11:30am | For volunteers and managers
We invite volunteers and volunteer managers from the aged care sector to review and provide feedback on our draft guides for volunteering within aged care settings.

• Workshop 3C  | Online - For further information or to register please click here. 

Drafting a Great Volunteer Agreement - FREE Webinar by Justice Connect
On-demand webinar for members and non-members
Join lawyers Kaela and Mae as they take you through their top drafting tips and some key clauses you should be thinking about. Register here to access the webinar. 

Implementing National Standards
Thursday 23 September  | 9:30am - 12:30pm | Online | Members and non-members
This workshop will unpack the changes that will be needed for your organisations to meet the requirements of the new National Standards for Volunteer Involvement. Register here.

Making The Most of Your Volunteering WA Membership 
Tuesday 12 October | 9:00am - 10:00am | Online | For new VWA members
This session will show you how to make the most of your membership, and how to get the help that you need from Volunteering WA.  Register here.

Volunteer Managers Network (VMN) Meeting
Wednesday 13 October | 9:30am - 12:00pm | Online | For VWA members
Every two months you are invited to join a group of Volunteer Managers to discuss general news, events, information sharing, problem solving and networking. Register here.

Key Issues of Volunteer Management (Online)
Tuesday 26 October  | 9:30am - 12:30pm | Online | Members and non-members
Essential for everyone managing or coordinating volunteering effort, this fast-paced, information-rich half-day workshop touches on everything you need to know about volunteer management. This workshop counts towards your Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Register here.

Volunteering WA State Conference 2021 - tickets selling fast
Monday 22 & Tuesday 23 November | 2-day conference *Significant member-discounts apply
The Conference has been developed for not-for-profit and government leaders, managers of volunteers, researchers, policy makers, corporate social responsibility professionals to advance their knowledge, develop skills and network. Learn more and book tickets here.

International Volunteer Day Garden Party
Thursday 2 December | 4:00pm - 6:30pm | Lower Gardens of Government House
Volunteering WA invites you and your volunteers to join us for the annual Garden Party in celebration of International Volunteer Day. Please save the date and further details will be announced here soon.  

Nominations Open | WA Volunteer of the Year Awards 2022
Thursday 20 January | Further details to follow

Saturday Shout Out and Meet a Volunteer Stories

Welcome new and renewing members