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In this issue:
- Congratulations to the 2023 WA Volunteer of the Year Award Finalists
- National Volunteer Week Grant recipients announced soon
- $300,000 funding pool for 2023-24 projects – open now
- National Volunteer Week Toolkit now online
- Survey - what's missing in the volunteering online/digital space?
- Do you want to present at the 2023 Volunteering State Conference? Abstracts opening soon
A note from the CEO
Welcome to the March volunteering newsletter.
Volunteering heart of the community
2023 is a momentous year in volunteering, beginning with the launch of the National Volunteering Strategy (the Strategy) at the National Volunteering Conference last month. This marks a new era in volunteering by providing the blueprint for the next ten years that will enable volunteering to thrive.
Owned and designed by all of us, the National Strategy for Volunteering 2023-33 presents Australia's collective vision for a future where volunteering is at the heart of Australian communities.
From the start this has been a fully collaborative process and I’m very proud by the extent of engagement and input from the volunteering sector in WA.
We’re really excited to commence the next phase as we start to craft the Strategy implementation. As a member or key stakeholder, you are invited to attend a special webinar to explore the Strategy's vision, aims, objectives, implementation and what’s next [Register for the 5 April presentation and Q&A].
The success of the Strategy leans on our whole sector working together, towards the collective vision and we welcome and encourage your involvement in this process. Read the National Strategy for Volunteering and research.
With 83 per cent of Australian organisations needing between one and 20 volunteers to help deliver services, we are thankful to WA government for the VOL_NTEER we need U campaign which is designed to promote volunteering and urge more people to lend a hand. You can read more about the campaign below.
In this edition we also introduce our 2023 WA Volunteer of the Year Finalists. A big shout out to the nominators, who do a sterling job in recognising those who go above and beyond. We know how difficult it is to choose only a few, when so many people make incredible contributions to organisations in our sector. Thanks to our 19 judges who meticulously scrutinised each application across our seven categories and we especially thank our nominees, you are truly extraordinary humans who give so selflessly, every one of you are deserving of the highest recognition for all you do.
The WA Volunteer of the Year Awards Gala Dinner is one of the most inspiring and heart-warming volunteering events and I invite you to join us as we celebrate and showcase volunteering across Western Australia.
We hope to see you there.
Happy volunteering,
Tina
Congratulations Finalists!
>> See the list of 2023 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards Finalists
Volunteering WA is proud to announce and congratulate the incredible 2023 WA Volunteer of the Year Award Finalists! Seven judging panels were tasked with the very difficult job of selecting 21 Finalists from over 235 inspiring nominations, with the Winners announced the Gala Dinner held during National Volunteer Week.
- WA Excellence in Volunteer Management, presented by INVOLVE
- WA Volunteer for Multicultural Communities, presented by Office of Multicultural Interests
- WA Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering, presented by Silverchain
- WA Young Volunteer of the Year, presented by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation
- RAC WA Volunteer of the Year, presented by RAC
- Excellence in Corporate Volunteering, presented by NeonLogic
- WA Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year, supported by Lotterywest
The Awards team will be contacting nominees and nominators individually over the coming days with the exciting news.
Finalists will receive two complimentary tickets to attend the awards presentation. To inquire about travel subsidies for regional finalists thanks to Lotterywest funding, please contact savannah@volunteeringwa.org.
Grab your tickets for the National Volunteer Week Gala Dinner
Join us for the 2023 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards Gala Presentation Dinner, to be held during National Volunteer Week on 18 May 2023 at Crown Perth.
The gala dinner is a highlight in the Western Australian volunteering calendar and we warmly welcome you to attend one of Perth’s most inspiring events.
This wonderful evening honours incredible organisations and individuals, with awards recipients announced across seven categories.
Guests will enjoy a three course dinner, premium wines from Ferngrove Wines and wonderful live entertainment by Adam Hall and The Velvet Playboys. This year we are fortunate to have the very entertaining ABC Radio Presenter Nadia Mitsopoulos as Master of Ceremony.
*Member discounts available
International Women’s Day corporate volunteering
International Women’s Day (IWD) is recognised on March 8 each to help bring attention to existing gender bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. Our Corporate Volunteering team organised a special IWD activity at Dress for Success for Rio Tinto Volunteers.
Dress for Success works hand in hand with the global movement of change, empowering women to obtain economic independence. They do this by providing work appropriate clothing, job support mentoring, access to career development workshops and a supportive network to enable women to move forward and achieve self-sufficiency through gaining employment.
Rio Tinto employees spent their day assisting Dress for Success with sorting through donated clothing. The team was tasked with unpacking bags of donated women’s clothing and were asked to price various pieces, place them on hangers, organise the items into quality and size, and recycle any items that were damaged or not fit to wear.
What an excellent way to support women on International Women’s Day! Dress for Success couldn’t be more appreciative of the help gained from Rio Tinto volunteers.
National Volunteer Week Grant Recipients announced soon!
The grant panel are doing final checks and pulling together agreements ready to announce the National Volunteer Week Grant recipients very soon. Thanks to Lotterywest, over $200,000 will be awarded to volunteer involving organisations and community groups across Western Australia.
$300,000 funding pool for volunteering projects
Applications are open for Volunteering WA’s 2023-24 round of volunteer management project-based grants. A funding pool of $300,000 is available for projects that aim to increase engagement in volunteering and break down barriers within one or more of the six identified priority groups.
The Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) Project Grants are funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and administered by Volunteering WA.
Applications accepted until 18 April 2023. Please read the grant guidelines, project scope documents and application forms thoroughly before commencing your application.
Volunteering WA State Conference 2023
Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 November 2023 | Optus Stadium, Perth
Western Australia’s most innovative, passionate, and eager to evolve, volunteering leaders will come together to share insights, skills and tools needed to advance volunteering in 2023 and beyond.
Expression of interest to present, opens 17 April
Volunteering WA will be welcoming expressions of interest (EOIs) to present, from anyone with a passion for advancing volunteering, volunteer management, and volunteer policy.
The 2023 State Conference will focus on how we reimagine the volunteering experience, for both volunteers and the incredible people who lead and manage volunteers.
>> Subscribe to our Conference Alerts where we will announce the 2023 theme and abstract form
We can do more with your support! If you are interested in a Sponsorship Prospectus, please email communications@volunteeringwa.org.au.
Are you ready to upskill in 2023?
Our 2023 training calendar is out with a vast number of free and subsidised workshops, including:
- 5 April, Attracting and Retaining Young Volunteers Part One
- 6 April, The National Standards: Commitment to Volunteer Involvement Overview
- 13 April, Implementing the National Standards: Commitment to Volunteer Involvement
- 3 May, Making the Most of Your Volunteering WA Membership
- 4 May, The National Standards: Volunteer Roles Overview
- 5 May, Implementing the National Standards: Volunteer Roles - Case Studies
- 11 May, Attracting and Retaining Young Volunteers Part Two: Developing an Actionable Plan to Attract and Retain Young Volunteers
Find out more information and register for an upcoming session >>
Enrol anytime - Volunteering WA has two free online courses that are broken down into short modules, allowing you to fit the learning into your busy schedules. Learn more about our Volunteer Engagement Planning and Writing Effective Position Descriptions online courses.
CPD Program - The Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program has also opened for expressions of interest and registration.
Handout: Storytelling and recruiting volunteers
Our creative agency partners Dear Storyteller and Lush - The Content Agency, have created a Handout to inspire your next volunteer recruitment advertising and promotion.
As the landscape for recruitment advertising continues to evolve, so too does the mindset of the people you strive to build connections with. So how can you stand out amongst the noise, mobilising people to ignite true change? This PDF document is a toolkit to support your organisation's content strategy, recruitment campaigns, and brand platforming.
Welcome New Members
Welcome to new and renewing Volunteering WA Members. Volunteer involving organisations can enjoy the benefits of membership, including significant training and events discounts.
With three subscription plans, INVOLVE has been built for any agency, organisation or community group that manages volunteers.
INVOLVE is made for coordinators, managers, and administrators to track, plan, and seamlessly mobilise your volunteers in one easy-to-use, flexible platform.
Book a demo to see how INVOLVE will provide a better user experience and a complete management solution customised to suit your needs.
Sector News
National Volunteer Week - How are you celebrating?
National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering with thousands of events and activities held across the country during 15 – 21 May 2023.
In Western Australia, it is an opportunity to connect and celebrate the diverse volunteering stories across the state.
The theme for National Volunteer Week 2023 is The Change Makers. Our vision for the future will see volunteering thrive. We are the change makers.
>> Find all the National Volunteer Week messaging, statistics, social media graphics, and logos in the online NVW Toolkit
VIO Online Accessibility Survey - Tell us what's missing
Measuring the digital inclusion of volunteer involving organisations
As your peak body, we want to ensure that all volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) have access to best practice knowledge and tools to attract and engage volunteers across Australia.
Funded by the Federal Government, Volunteering WA and all Volunteering Peak Bodies across Australia are undertaking important research to investigate the digital capacity and capability of VIOs. You're invited to contribute to this research by completing the VIO Online Accessibility Survey.
Conducted by
independent research agency, Survey Matters, the results from this survey will help identify any barriers to online access and technology use. It may also help your own organisation to assess its readiness to use digital resources, and to assist in your advocacy and funding efforts. All participating organisations will receive a copy of the final report.
Please contribute to the next phase in online resources for Australian volunteering organisations
We want to provide all VIOs, whether they are large or small, with access to best practice knowledge and tools to attract and engage volunteers across Australia, so thank you for taking part.
All participating organisations will receive a copy of the final report with results of the research. The survey closes on 5pm Friday 21 April 2023.
2023 WA Seniors Week - dates announced
Department of Communities and COTA WA have confirmed the dates for 2023 WA Seniors Week as Sunday 12 November 2023 to Sunday 19 November 2023, with Have a Go Day confirmed for Wednesday 15 November 2023. View more information.
Coders for Causes - helping build software for NFPs
Coders for Causes is a not for profit organisation that empowers charities and other not for profit organisations by connecting them with university students to develop software and technical solutions free of charge. They are a student-run club based in Perth, Western Australia with a wide range of clients. Whether you are looking for technical advice or a long term project, get in touch for more information.
Coders for Causes develops software for non-profit organisations and charities during the semester break, and has previously worked with organisations such as Foodbank, Western Australian Institute of Sport, Pets of Older Persons, and Western Australian Debating League.
If your charity or not-for-profit might be interested in working with Coders for Causes for their winter (June - July) or summer (December - February) projects, please email hello@codersforcauses.org and let them know Volunteering WA sent you.
Local vollies transforming their communities
With the help of vollies, places across WA are being transformed at a grass roots level. Proactive locals and councils are driving change for the better by creating connected public spaces so people can more easily get around, access local businesses and make new social connections.
RAC is proud to support this growing group of doers. They've partnered with the City of Kwinana to make The Strand in Wellard a more connected and inviting space. A Seven Day Makeover will be designed and delivered by the community with leadership from David Engwicht, Master Placemaker and Director at Creative Communities. To find out how you can get involved in this iconic project, visit here.
Young people are also stepping up and taking the lead. A group of teens and young adults have come together to design a refreshed youth space in Mosman Park. With the designs ready to go, more young people are needed to help bring this project to life during a fun and exciting Build Week in early May. To get involved, check out the Mosman Park Better Block for more details.
VOL_NTEER We need U campaign blitz
- WA Government launched their state-wide media campaign urging more people to volunteer
- The VOL_NTEER We need U campaign encourages everyone to make an impact through volunteering
- Volunteers are the backbone of our community, making WA a better place to live, more help is always needed
The campaign will help organisations to promote opportunities and show how helping others can give a sense of purpose and appreciation.
The VOL_NTEER We need U campaign will run between March and June across traditional broadcast and online media.
National Standards for Volunteer Involvement Refresh Project
The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement (NSVI) are being refreshed to ensure they reflect the contemporary environment and continue to support the volunteering ecosystem. The NSVI Refresh Project will involve consultation with the volunteering ecosystem and draw on the extensive engagement undertaken during the development of the new National Strategy for Volunteering.
The current National Standards should continue to be used until the refresh program is completed.
www.volunteeringwa.org.au | 08 9482 4333 | info@volunteeringwa.org.au
Volunteering WA empowers people and communities to enrich Western Australia.
