CEO's Welcome
Welcome to the April edition of eNews. It’s been wonderful to see the generosity and kindness of people volunteering in our communities in supporting their neighbours and people most in need during these difficult and challenging times.
Since we started recruiting COVID-19 emergency volunteers, we have been overwhelmed with registrations and positive responses. Due to the outpour of support, we have successfully filled urgent volunteer positions across metro and regional areas, helping organisations to deliver essential services to those in need. We foresee the need growing in our communities for volunteer assistance over the next few months and will continue to work with organisations across Western Australia to match roles with volunteers.
The way we work and live is in a constant state of change, and we are working on understanding the key issues and challenges moving forward for our members and developing resources and support to best manage these. Many Volunteer Involving Organisations have had to stand down volunteers due to the health and safety measures put in place. We encourage these organisations to redeploy volunteers where possible into new virtual and remote volunteering roles to adapt to this new environment and keep volunteers engaged.
Keeping in regular contact with your volunteers during these uncertain times will help you maintain their support. It is important to take this time to prepare for the future and recovery phase, including the reactivation of volunteers. We are continuing to provide assistance, develop resources and extend our services to support our members and the community during this crisis. Please refer to our website for the latest COVID updates and resources. Please also refer to Volunteering Australia’s website for position statements relating to volunteering during the pandemic.
After news of her resignation, I would also like to acknowledge Adrienne Picone for her lasting contribution to the volunteering sector as CEO of Volunteering Australia. Adrienne has been a wonderful work colleague and national advocate for our sector. We wish her all the best as she moves into her new position as CEO at TasCOSS.
Stay safe and let’s support each other.
Tina Williams | CEO Volunteering WA
Our News
COVID-19 Emergency Volunteering
Volunteering WA has been inundated with registrations from over 4,000 Western Australians who are interested in supporting others through volunteering during this current crisis. A number of organisations located across the State have been able to obtain volunteers from the Emergency Volunteering database to fill volunteer positions.
The Salvation Army Street Outreach program was able to fill all their volunteer positions within 48 hours, with emergency volunteers stepping up to assist in providing hot meals for homeless people in various locations around Perth.
Volunteering WA is still currently working with a number of organisations to match volunteers to local roles, where possible. Over the coming weeks and months we will continue to do this to ensure the needs of the community are met. If your organisation requires extra assistance from volunteers due to COVID-19, please contact us at info@volunteeringwa.org.au.
National Volunteer Week 2020
National Volunteer Week (NVW) is the annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation’s volunteers, this year taking place from Monday 18 May - Sunday 24 May.
We are encouraging all organisations that wish to thank their volunteers to consider moving their events to an online format this year. Read our National Volunteer Week 2020 Guide to find out about the NVW online and social media campaign, advice and tools for virtual thank you events, downloadable resources and saying thank you to your volunteers with a gift.
WA Volunteer of the Year Awards Update
Thank you to those who submitted a WA Volunteer of the Year Award nomination.
Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the further impact it may have, we regretfully advise that the 2020 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards will not be held this year. We apologise for any disappointment this has caused and thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
Nominations will be automatically transferred to the 2021 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards with the opportunity for nominators to update the application.
We look forward to recognising all the nominees next year in the 2021 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards. Thank you to the 2020 WA Volunteer of the Year Award Partners for their continued support.
Corporate Volunteering
Awards WA recently benefited from the expertise of a skilled volunteer from Woodside who assisted in the development of a workforce plan. The completion of this project has allowed Awards WA to better organise their workforce, increasing their capacity and improving their operational systems.
Contact the corporate team to discuss how your organisation might benefit from the expertise of a skilled volunteer.
Online training
The Wheatbelt Volunteer Hub delivered an online ‘Introduction to Volunteer Management’ session this month. This is now available for other interested communities/organisations so please be in touch if your organisation is interested.
Online ‘Step into Volunteering’ sessions will be available from 1 May 2020! Feel free to get in touch if you have a group of people interested in learning about volunteering or click here to check what we have on offer.
VIRA/VIKTOR
You may have noticed a new service focus in VIKTOR! A category for COVID-19 has been temporarily added to VIKTOR so you can flag any roles that are supporting the community in the current pandemic. This is searchable on websites (such as SEEK Volunteer), and can help with recruitment.
In addition, if you have any volunteer roles related to COVID-19 then Volunteering WA may be able to help promote them, either through featuring them on websites or contacting volunteers directly. Virtual volunteering roles are in particularly high demand at the moment, so let us know if there's anything you'd like to recruit for.
Sector News
Volunteering WA to release new resources
Volunteering WA is currently preparing a variety of resources for Volunteer Involving Organisations to support you as we continue to navigate and respond to COVID-19. The following guidelines will be available this month:
- Virtual or remote volunteering
- Informal volunteering groups
- Returning volunteer programs and volunteers during COVID-19
The resources will be available on the Volunteering WA COVID-19 webpage this month.
Volunteering Sector and COVID-19 survey
This survey is part of Volunteering Australia's work to develop evidence on the impact of COVID-19 and the volunteering sector’s response.
The aim of the survey is to capture how the volunteering sector has been affected by and is responding to COVID-19 to date. This survey is short and should take approximately six minutes to complete. We will repeat the survey later this year to gather further evidence as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
The data collected will be used by Volunteering Australia to inform national advocacy, respond to national inquiries and share across the sector to help inform practice.
Lotterywest COVID-19 grant applications open
Lotterywest, in partnership with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, will be providing up to $14 million to support not-for-profit arts, sports and community organisations who may have experienced financial hardship as a result of cancelled events due to COVID-19.
A further $25 million will be available to support not-for-profit arts, sport and community organisations to help maintain staff, pivot operations, collaborate, develop new ways of working, innovate, maintain viability and build resilience as appropriate for future recovery. Applications close midnight Wednesday 13 May 2020.
Woodside COVID-19 Community Fund
$10 million COVID-19 Community fund to support community organisations responding to COVID-19. This includes not-for-profit organisations with an established presence in the Western Australian communities where we live and work, namely Karratha, Roebourne, Exmouth, Broome, Dampier Peninsula and Perth.
COVID-19 helpline for WA people with disability
COVID-19 is having a huge impact on people with disabilities and their families in WA. There is a new helpline to provide information and support open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 1800 031 093. This service is to provide practical support and connection related to the impact of COVID-19. Wherever possible there will be active problem solving and planning to assist people.
Mental health campaign
In recognition of heightened levels of stress and anxiety in the community during this unprecedented time, the government has launched a dedicated campaign to help Western Australians manage their mental health and wellbeing.
The Think Mental Health Be Positive. Be Connected. Be Active campaign focuses on self-care and wellbeing strategies that people can use to support themselves and each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Training & Events
JobKeeper for NFPs and charities
Friday 1 May 2020 | 11am - 12pm | Online via Zoom
Webinar presented by WACOSS with Linkwest & David Gilchrist (University of Western Australia) covering the key elements & considerations for applying for JobKeeper payments for NFPs and charities. Register here.
Tuesdays at Twelve
Tuesday 5 May 2020 | 12pm | Online
Part of a webinar series hosted by Department of Communities Director General Michelle Andrews, that will examine in detail topical issues as they arise, including how we can all assist the community during an unprecedented time of physical distancing. Register here.
Change the World & Unite2020
5 -7 May 2020 | 9am to 4.30pm AEST | Online
A full 3 days of free education on digital marketing and social media brought to you by Hancock Creative. The event is aimed at NFP and cause-based communicators and marketers in light of the current COVID-19 situation. Register here.
Step into Volunteering - Online Session
Wednesday 6 May 2020 | 10.30am to 11am | Online via Zoom
A free informal presentation that highlights volunteering to help you find the right opportunity to suit you. This 30-minute presentation will set your sights on what type of volunteering you would like to start your volunteer pathway. Register here.
Effectively Managing Volunteers - The Smith Family
Wednesday 13 May 2020 | 3pm to 5pm | Online
Hosted by the Centre for Volunteering, The Smith Family will guide you through their volunteering processes and provide you with tips and tricks in building a relationship with your volunteers to keep them engaged, satisfied and supported by you. 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.
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Level 1, 3 Loftus Street
West Leederville WA 6007