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Logo: Volunteering WA

Newsletter September 2016

e-news member,

Welcome to the September edition of our e newsletter. In this edition we have information on staffing changes at Volunteering WA and Volunteering Australia, updates from our service areas, the next edition of our Research Digest and more so please read on.

  1. Volunteering Australia’s CEO Changes
  2. Save the date - AGM!
  3. Volunteering WA Research Digest 2016 / Issue 2
  4. VIKTOR database essential know-how & ads with impact
  5. Training update
  6. Farewell and welcome to...
  7. Corporate corner
  8. Realized Worth share knowledge
  9. Do you need/know a community group which needs a space to meet?
  10. Welcome to new members...
  11. Backyard Legend Day Launches
  12. September's hot resource tip!
Brett Williamson

Volunteering Australia’s CEO Changes

Volunteering Australia’s President, Tim Jackson, recently announced that Brett Williamson OAM (pictured) has advised his intention to resign as CEO of VA, effective 1 December 2016.

Mr Jackson said, “It is with great regret that VA has accepted Brett’s resignation. In his 3 years as CEO, Brett has done an outstanding job in building VA’s reputation, outputs and fostering a strong collaborative culture within the volunteering network as well as strengthening relationships with the sector and government.”

Mr Williamson said, “It’s been an absolute privilege to be part of a team so totally committed to growing volunteering and civic participation in Australia.

This has been a very difficult personal decision, but I am looking forward to returning home to be with my family in Queensland on a permanent basis.

Right now however, there are many strategic and operational priorities which require my and VA’s attention over the next couple of months before I finish up,” said Mr Williamson.

Mr Jackson said, “The VA Board is very appreciative of Brett’s advance notice of his resignation and will shortly finalise arrangements regarding finding a replacement for Brett.”

Save the date - AGM!

 

The Volunteering WA AGM will take place on the afternoon of Thursday 20 October so please make a note in your diary. All members and interested parties are welcome to attend.

More details will follow shortly.

Volunteering WA Research Digest 2016 / Issue 2

Our round up of recent research reports contains valuable insights into the following hot topics:

The state of volunteering in Australia

  • Gauging receptiveness to social micro volunteering
  • Building leadership skills through volunteerism
  • Youth volunteering in Australia
  • Developing Generation Based volunteer Management Practices
  • Giving and Volunteering in CALD and Indigenous Communities

The Research Digest provides bite sized summaries and links to the full reports if you have an appetite for more!

Thanks go to Gary Arcus (Volunteer Researcher) for compiling this.

Please send any comments or queries to  jane@volunteeringwa.org.au.

VWA logo

VIKTOR database essential know-how & ads with impact

Thursday 29 September 2016
9.00am —11.00am

If you are responsible for recruiting volunteers for your organisation the VIKTOR database is your new best friend, or could be if you know how to use it effectively to get best results.

Invest two hours gaining some essential know how and save hours of wasted time and effort later on.

In a small group you will discover:

  • The facts about VIKTOR — is it really that powerful?
  • What can you do with VIKTOR (and what you can’t do!)
  • No more guess work—how to post a position in VIKTOR
  • Expressions of interest - what to do with all that information
  • Trouble shoot - simple solutions to frustrating problems
  • Get creative — how to write ads that work


FREE for financial members and $22 for non-financial members.

To check your membership status contact Jane Mason, Member Services Coordinator on jane@volunteeringwa.org.au or call 9482 4325.

Pledge image

Training update

Valuing Volunteer Managers – Research Workshop3 dates in September

Would you like to contribute to important on-going research by joining us for a two hour workshop to explore the topic of Valuing Volunteer Managers?  You will be asked to contribute by providing individual and group feedback, in writing and in discussions, about your role as a manager, the challenges and highlights, as well as about the recognition you and your program receive in your organisation. 

If you are interested in this research but unable to attend any of these workshops please let Dr Megan Paull know M.Paul@murdoch.edu.au and we will put you on the mailing list to be kept up to date with the project. 

Masterclasses – Communication and LeadershipThursday 22 September 2016

Communication Skills - 9.30am - 12.30pm 
As cross-culture communication becomes the new norm we need to be ever mindful of the way we communicate. Learn to understand your communication style and how to deal with other people’s differing communication styles, listening bad habits and learn to feel at ease communicating assertively and confidently, especially when needing to influence-upwards to get the funding and support you need.
 

Leading Volunteers - 1.00pm – 4.00pm
A fully functioning organisation requires strong leadership at many different levels. Essential for Volunteer Managers, this workshop is also useful for anyone on a Committee or Board. The workshop focusses on the importance of leadership in the management of volunteers, explores different leadership styles and the forces that influence style. We also have a quick look into ego, developing strong cultures, and discuss how to deal with the new breed volunteer.

Writing Winning Grant ApplicationsThursday 13 October 2016, 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Developed with assistance from Lotterywest, Department of Communities and Bid Write, you will learn what funders are looking for, what funders worry about, why applications fail, the four different types of grants, and the five steps for putting together successful applications. This practical workshop is really popular and very useful for those who are time poor and have minimal grant writing experience.

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.

Farewell and welcome to...

A fond farewell to Katie Tillson (shown left) who has taken up a Community Engagement position at Beyond Bank. Katie will be missed by all of us at Volunteering WA. We wish her all the best in her new role!

A warm welcome to Laura Koh, who has taken up the role of Corporate Engagement Manager. Laura looks forward to working with our fantastic corporate partners on their volunteering programs. Please get in touch with Laura if you are looking to engage corporate volunteers, team or skills-based, or if your business is interested in establishing a corporate volunteering program.

Soup team

Corporate corner

Soup of the day: The Deloitte special

Over $9400 was raised through the recent Homeless Healthcare Soup Kitchen sponsored and supported by Deloitte Perth.

Held in the heart of Brookfield Place in Perth’s CBD, the soup kitchen is an annual initiative run by Homeless Healthcare and supported by Brookfield Place that is aimed at increasing awareness of homeless health issues and raising important funds to support the doctors and nurses employed by Homeless Healthcare. Homeless Healthcare is the largest healthcare provider to the homeless and marginalised community in Perth.

Five gourmet restaurants from the Brookfield Place precinct each donated chef inspired top quality soups on each day of the week (1-5 August). This followed with hundreds of supporters throughout the week purchasing a hearty soup and buttered bread roll for $10. All proceeds go towards Homeless Healthcare to source much needed medical equipment and to fund their operations. Just to give you an idea of what was on offer, the soups included Minestrone, Broth of Chicken, Leek, Pine nuts & wild herbs with a soft cooked egg, Bacon, Leek and Potato Soup, and Mushroom and Truffle Oil Soup (an absolute hit!).

A highlight of the week included having Aresh Anwar, Executive Director of the Royal Perth Hospital come down and support with the service. Homeless Healthcare works closely with Aresh and his team at the Royal Perth Hospital where their medical team provide “in reach” services to homeless patients that have presented through RPH’s Emergency Department.

CVC logo

Realized Worth share knowledge

The Realized Worth tour, sponsored by the Corporate Volunteer Council, was a great success in Perth and our partner cities across the country. We would also like to thank our corporate partners RAC, Deloitte and Bankwest for hosting the sessions! Realized Worth is a global consulting firm started by Chris Jarvis and Angela Parker who through their consultancy aim to equip companies to develop corporate volunteering programs with meaning.

Chris and Angela provided insightful sessions in Perth for our not-for-profit friends as well as for corporates covering how to create partnerships between NFPs and corporates, making employee volunteering work and making employee volunteering matter.

What did we learn from Chris and Angela? Among many things, one of the key takeaways was around the importance in corporate volunteering to create experiences that transform us as individuals. It’s not just about a transaction but about volunteering experiences which change us for the better and fuel us to continue making a difference in our communities.

Here’s what a few attendees had to say:

  • “WOW – extremely valuable workshops, kudos Volunteering WA and Realized Worth”
     
  • “Fabulous content this morning on creating essential corporate partnerships. Thanks Volunteering WA.”
     
  • “Insightful presentation today by Realized Worth on Creating Essential Partnerships in corporate volunteering”

Check out the Realized Worth blog here.

Are you corporate interested in spreading your volunteering footprint in WA? Are you a not-for-profit interested in engaging with corporate volunteers? Get in touch with Laura Koh, Manager Corporate Engagement, today to find out how - laura@volunteeringwa.org.au.

TSC logo

Do you need/know a community group which needs a space to meet?

The Spiers Centre Inc. (TSC) aim to work together with the community. They invite community groups to use their facilities and consider their low cost room hire opportunities.

They have two rooms available at 2 Albatross Court in Heathridge – one for 20 people and one for 50 people. There is also a fully equipped kitchen, toilets and air-conditioning/heating for your convience. The rooms are available during the day, on the evenings and even over the weekend.

If you are interested, please call Leanne at The Spiers Centre on 9401 2699.

VWA logo

Welcome to new members...

 

Financial

  • Alzheimer's Australia (WA)

Listing Only

  • Fusion Perth
  • Kununurra District High School
  • Karratha Family Centre
  • Port Kennedy Primary School P&C
  • Perth Symphony Orchestra
  • Starting Over Support Association Inc
  • Womens Health & Family Services

We look forward to working with you.

Backyard Legends logo

Backyard Legend Day Launches

Community initiative to recognise Australia’s informal volunteers 

The inaugural Backyard Legend Day campaign is a community initiative that encourages Australians to volunteer to complete a household chore for someone who could really do with a bit of help around the house or yard: someone elderly, disabled, sick or injured, a single parent or a struggling family. 

Backyard Legend Day Ambassador, Mike Whitney, an Aussie legend himself, says he supports the campaign because it goes straight to the heart of Australia’s soul and our willingness to help other, less fortunate, members of the community. 

Backyard Legend Day is all about the Australian community spirit, which is something that runs deep in our veins. It’s in our nature to rally behind anyone who genuinely needs a helping hand and, what might seem like a small thing to us, can be a huge support to someone else.” 

The most recent ABS data on volunteering shows that the rate of volunteering in Australia has declined for the first time in 20 years with the rate of people who have volunteered dropping from 36% to 31% over a four-year period1. 

According to Volunteering Australia CEO, Brett Williamson, this is concerning because the rate of volunteering is a key indicator of healthy communities. “We are seeing a shift away from formal volunteering through organisations because we are increasingly time-poor. Despite this drop in overall numbers, Australians are still very much a charitable bunch who want to support their communities.” 

These statistics, however, only account for formal volunteering through an organisation and do not include informal volunteering.

Backyard Legend Day is taking place on Sunday 16 October. For more information on how to get involved visit www.backyardlegendday.com.au.

AIC

September's hot resource tip!

WA: New Associations Incorporation Act 2015

The Associations Incorporation Act 2015 has commenced in Western Australia, replacing the Associations Incorporation Act 1987. All associations incorporated under the old law will continue to be incorporated under the new law. The aim of the new legislation is to bring associations in line with current good governance principles.

The Western Australia Department of Commerce has urged associations to review and update their rules or adopt the new Model Rules. Associations should also take note of other key changes including a new three-tiered system of financial reporting, the formalisation of governance obligations for committee members, and a new amalgamation procedure.

Not-for-profit Law is currently updating its WA resources on the Information Hub to reflect the new Act. For more information, you can visit the WA Department of Commerce website.