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Newsletter May 2017 |
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e-news member, Welcome to the May edition of our e newsletter. Happy National Volunteer Week! We hope you are celebrating with your volunteers in some way this week. Feel free to share any photos on social media using the hashtag #givehappylivehappy. In this edition we have updates from Volunteering WA, news on the brand new WA Volunteering Strategy and lots of grant opportunities for you to check out...
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National Volunteer WeekVOLUNTEERING WA (VWA) are pleased to be celebrating National Volunteer Week from 8 to 14 May 2017, once again with the positive message of ‘Give Happy, Live Happy’. Tina Williams, CEO of Volunteering WA, said that the week is a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to the extraordinary contribution of volunteers through a wide variety of events, activities and awards. “Across Australia, national, state and territory volunteering peak bodies, volunteer resource centres, as well as thousands of volunteer-involving organisations will be celebrating their volunteers and sharing the message that ‘Volunteering is something to smile about’,” Ms Williams said. “Research tells us that a helpful life is more likely to be a happier, healthier, longer one* and with over 600,000* Western Australians contributing as volunteers in thousands of community organisations across the state, WA certainly has something to smile about. “Not only are volunteers helping make the lives of everyone around them happier, they too are happier as a result.” Ms Williams said. When adding informal volunteering to the above figure, 4 out of 5 WA residents lend a hand, sharing happiness and enriching our quality of life and social cohesion. They dedicate 315,000,000 hours to our community, which equates to a contribution of more than $39 billion to the Western Australian economy each year. “Volunteers certainly are the backbone of communities in cities and towns around our state”, Ms Williams said. To launch the week on Monday, 8 May 2017, red ‘V’s (the international symbol of volunteering) will appear around the city at St George’s Cathedral, The Perth Concert Hall and at the Perth Cultural Centre and during that evening the Bell Tower will proudly shine red in acknowledgment of our wonderful volunteers. Teams of volunteers will also flood Perth City on Monday, 8 May from 12noon to 2.00pm at Barrack Square, the iCity Booth in the Murray Street Mall, Cathedral Square and the Perth Cultural Centre in Perth City and will be giving away smiles for people to use to take a selfie and post it on social media under the hashtag #givehappylivehappy. Red smiles will also be available across the state, as many volunteer-involving organisations celebrate National Volunteer Week around WA. "We encourage the public to take a ‘smile selfie’ with their volunteers or co-workers and post it on social media to show their support for volunteering,” Ms Williams said. “We invite everyone to join us in spreading the message that volunteering is indeed ‘something to smile about’.” As a part of the week’s celebrations, The WA Volunteer of the Year Awards will also be announced at the National Volunteer Week Gala Awards Presentation and Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Perth Hotel on Wednesday, 10 May 2017. For more information on National Volunteer Week 2017 events and activities around Western Australia, please contact your local volunteer resource centre, volunteer involving organisations, local government authority, or visit www.volunteeringwa.org.au. Resources for the week are available at: https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/download-resources-2017/ |
Volunteering – a tower of strength in our communitiesVolunteers are one of our nation’s greatest treasure. The role volunteers play in Australian communities is vital. Whether you volunteer or not or are helped by volunteers - we are asking for your help to ensure that Volunteer support services retains funding so we can continue to support our communities. Please take a moment and sign the petition on the Volunteering Australia website. Thank you for your support. |
State Volunteering Conference - places are filling fastThe WA State Volunteering Conference 2017 will take place on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 June 2017 at the Duxton Hotel, Perth. The 2017 WA State Volunteering Conference, with the theme EXPLORING NEW DIRECTIONS TOGETHER, is an opportunity to bring together the volunteering sector and beyond to discuss issues that affect them, and to share knowledge and skills. To prepare for the challenges ahead, our streams will focus on LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION and GOOD PRACTICE. The conference has been designed to inspire and stimulate new ideas and solutions by sharing the latest research, innovations and knowledge from sector experts. Registrations are NOW OPEN, and we're delighted that so many of you are joining us. For those who haven't booked yet - don't miss out! Volunteering WA financial members save even more, so if you're not already a member we recommend joining now! |
State Volunteering Conference Regional GrantsThanks to the generous support of Lotterywest we are delighted to be able to offer a grant to cover travel and accommodation costs for around 50 Conference attendees from regional WA. Registration costs and any additional expenses will need to be met by the attendee/organisation. Organisations are considered regional if they are based outside Perth and surrounds. Original receipts will be required for reimbursement of travel expenses by Volunteering WA. Accommodation will be booked by Volunteering WA, which has reserved rooms at the Duxton Hotel, Perth - http://www.perth.duxtonhotels.com/accommodation. The rooms offer comfortable accommodation with a king bed and the package includes free in room wifi. Breakfast is not included. If successful, applicants will be expected to book airfares or train fares straight away to ensure the best price. Applicants will also be required to register for the Conference before any reimbursements are provided. Download Regional Grants Application Form Applications will be accepted until the end of May or until all funds have been allocated so get in early . Successful applicants will be informed within 2 weeks from date of submission. |
Training update
NEW - Hosting a Corporate Volunteering Day - Wednesday 17 May 2017
Working with Children Check – free workshops in Perth For more information or to register for any of these sessions please visit the training section of our website or contact gilda@volunteeringwa.org.au. |
Corporate cornerNulsen is a disability services organisation that provides accommodation with 24-hour support and community activities for people with profound intellectual and physical disabilities. To achieve this, Nulsen employs over 380 dedicated and courageous support workers and other staff to support more than 100 residents in close to 40 homes. They also rely on volunteers to contribute to their work and support the needs of their residents, and here’s where Realmark stepped in to assist. On a sunny Autumn day the team of volunteers from Realmark embarked on their first team volunteering event with Volunteering WA. The team set about painting the exterior of one of Nulsen’s homes located in Maddington. The home was newly renovated and in need of some finishing touch ups of paint. Nulsen take pride in creating a sense of home and comfort for not only their residents but their family and the staff who spend time there and this is exactly what the paint job achieved. Despite it being the first time painting for some, the team painted the entire front, back, and sides of the home, all in just a few hours! As one volunteer expressed, it was an experience that provided a positive outcome which “felt really good just making a small change to someone else’s life”. An added bonus to the day was some of the volunteers learnt new skills – cutting in and painting! All in all the team experienced a sense of team work and achievement and had a chance to work in a different environment. We look forward to sending them out on another team day later this year! Would your organisation like to host a team of efficient and enthusiastic volunteers like Realmark? Do you need help with home renovations? Gardening? Setting up for an event? Volunteering WA have access to teams of corporate volunteers throughout the year and are able to assist you with scoping, planning and facilitating the project from start to finish. If you have an idea in mind, get in touch with Angelina, Coordinator of Corporate Events on angelina@volunteeringwa.org.au. Alternatively, you’re not sure where to start or what your organisation may need help with, feel free to attend our free (for members) workshop on ‘Hosting a Corporate Team Volunteering Day’ held at City West Lotteries House on 17th May from 9:30am-1:00pm. For more information visit our website here or email Angelina. |
Thank a Volunteer Day Grants ProgramApplications are now open for the Department of Local Government and Communities Thank a Volunteer Day Grants Program. Community organisations and local governments are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $1,000 to recognise the contributions of Western Australian volunteers.The grants will support community events held 5 December 2017 on WA’s Thank a Volunteer Day. To ensure that activities are supported across the State, only one grant will be provided per community (defined as a Local Government Authority area). Applications close at 4:00pm on Thursday, 22 June 2017. The grant guidelines and application form are available online. For more advice contact: grants@dlgc.wa.gov.au. |
Community grants
Westpac Foundation Community Grants Community and Philanthropy Partnerships Week - grant round open The launch of the Community and Philanthropy Partnerships Week (the Week) grant funding round was announced by Minister Porter on 5 April 2017. Community organisations can currently apply for a share of $160,000 in Australian Government funding for projects that showcase their philanthropic partnerships, with applications closing 12 May 2017. Grant recipients receive up to $10,000 to showcase their work and highlight their achievements at events to be held during the Week, 20-26 November 2017, with the theme building stronger communities together. The Week is a chance for grassroots community groups and their philanthropic partners to showcase and promote the great work they do for their communities. It is also an opportunity to share knowledge and best practice, and to strengthen or develop new relationships and partnerships. Further information about the Week and the grant application process can be found at Community and Philanthropy Partnerships Week. |
Welcome to new members...
We look forward to working with you. |
10 May - WOW DayThe purpose of the WOW Day campaign (Wear Orange Wednesday) is to inspire people to wear orange on 10 May in recognition of the efforts of thousands of SES volunteers across Australia who give up their time to serve their communities in floods, storms and other emergencies. WOW Day is a great way to show support for all SES Volunteers. Find out more on the WOW Day website. |
May's hot resource tip!WA Volunteering Strategy A strategy to encourage and support volunteering across Western Australia has been launched to coincide with National Volunteer Week. The WA Volunteering Strategy was developed by DLGC and is a call to action for the whole community to work together to recognise and support volunteers, and ensure the sector's sustainability. It provides a broad framework for action and suggests strategies that can be implemented by all levels of government, non-government organisations, the private sector and the community, to encourage and support volunteering. The strategy builds on national and international research, as well as extensive consultation with and guidance from a wide range of stakeholders including State Government agencies, Volunteering WA, local governments, resource centres, volunteer-involving organisations and, most importantly, volunteers. |
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The information and materials presented in this newsletter and at the web site are distributed by Volunteering WA as an information source only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, no guarantee is given nor responsibility taken by Volunteering WA for errors or omissions.