CEO Report
Welcome to the June edition of the volunteering sector news.
As we move into the new financial year, I am thrilled to launch Volunteering WA's 2022-25 Strategy. After incredibly valuable workshops and planning days with the Volunteering WA Board, team and members we have landed on the core priorities that will guide our sector for the next three years.
This year we have continued to grow to advance the capacity of volunteer involving organisations (VIOs), with a huge range of free and subsidised training on offer for volunteer managers, a new VIO mentoring program providing 1-on-1 tailored support, recruitment of a youth volunteer coordinator, and the development of the emergency.volunteer portal and INVOLVE, the national volunteer management software.
Our team is continuing to lead our sector by championing its needs and unearthing the latest trends, including the release of our Volunteering in Aged Care Research Report in partnership with Murdoch University and through submissions to Government on the seniors strategy and the Review into the ABS General Social Survey. We have ensured the inclusion of our members in Australia's largest national volunteer survey, and formed Volunteering WA New Migrants Advisory Group, Disability Advisory Group, and First Nations Advisory.
We are very proud to have recently developed Volunteering WA's first Reconciliation Action Plan. As we embark on a journey to advance reconciliation, we recognise that we have much to learn and look forward to receiving guidance from others.
We engage current and emerging communities to attract more people into volunteering, through events, digital campaigns, media opportunities and collaborations. We recently championed National Volunteer Week with over 6,000 organisations and people using the #NVW2022 hashtag, 175 organisations benefiting from Volunteering WA's National Volunteer Week activity grant, a digital advertising campaign to reimagine volunteering (and another launching in July), opinion pieces in The West Australian on volunteering issues, many radio interviews across metro and regional outlets, and a radio advertising campaign with 6PR.
It has been another challenging year, but I continue to be spurred on by the innovative ways our team, and the volunteer sector at large, have been empowering WA through volunteering. I am very much looking forward to the coming year and our continued work together.
Happy Volunteering,
Tina Williams | CEO Volunteering WA
SECTOR NEWS
Advocacy and Policy
WA Seniors Strategy
The Department of Communities is developing WA's first ever Seniors Strategy. Volunteering WA has made a formal submission recommending:
- Increased opportunities for organisations that deliver services with, to or for Seniors in WA to provide input into the Strategy;
- That the Strategy acknowledges the significant role of Seniors who volunteer in the economic, social and cultural fabric of WA and in delivering WA State Government outcomes (including some essential services); and
- Specific consultation with Seniors on tangible programs that would support their participation in volunteering in WA.
Our latest submission is available here.
Changes 'Mutual Obligations' for job seekers
The Commonwealth Government is changing employment services for job seekers, effective from 1 July 2022. It is intended to provide an additional level of service for job seekers requiring more tailored support. As part of the changes the settings to meet Mutual Obligations, including volunteering, are also changing:
- 'Participant sourced voluntary work' will receive 5 points for 5 hours and;
- 'Provider sourced voluntary work' will receive 20 points for full time (25 hours/week) and 15 points for part time (15 hours/week) involvement
Changes to Commonwealth Government Mutual Obligations
In return for receiving taxpayer-funded income support from the Australian Government, unemployed people have mutual obligation requirements. Some of these obligations may be met through volunteering. More information is available here, provided by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Thank you for your participation in Australia's largest volunteering survey
Volunteering Australia, in partnership with Curtin University, Griffith University, and the University of Western Australia conducted the largest ever survey of volunteer involving organisations in Australia.
Thank you to all the volunteer managers, program leaders, CEOs and individuals representing groups of volunteers for participating in the survey. Your voices are highly valued as it helps build the most comprehensive understanding of volunteering in Australia's history.
The findings of this research will inform the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering, which will provide a blueprint for a re-imagined future for volunteering in Australia.
Save the date - National Student Volunteer Week 2022
This year, National Student Volunteer Week (NSVW), held 8 - 14 August, acknowledges and celebrates all types of student volunteers and promotes volunteering to students and young people across Australia.
We invite all students (including primary school, high school, universities, graduates, and TAFE), education providers, and volunteer involving organisations across Western Australia to participate in National Student Volunteer Week.
Be sure to check our website regularly for this year's NSVW toolkit, theme, and resources to start planning and celebrating this youthful week!
Thank a Volunteer Day Grants
Community organisations and Western Australia's local governments are encouraged to apply for the McGowan Government's Thank a Volunteer Day Grants Program funding to celebrate the vital contribution of volunteers in the community.
Grant applications are now open and will close at 4pm on Thursday July 28.
OUR NEWS
Aboriginal Cultural Immersion Workshop
Volunteering WA is thrilled to offer a free Aboriginal cultural immersion workshop on 5 July, facilitated by Volunteering WA's First Nations Advisor, Sharon Wood-Kenney. The workshop will focus on a Learning Journey ' Karditjin Bidi'. Participants will be provided with a safe space for real questions and where volunteering fits into Aboriginal culture.
For more information or to register, please visit our website.
Volunteering WA Research Grant Program
Volunteering WA, with the support of the Volunteering WA Research Committee, has established an annual volunteering grant program for Western Australian researchers. The first two projects to be funded will address the research question of “how has COVID-19 impacted tertiary student volunteering programs in WA?" Read more.
Re-engaging volunteers into residential aged care facilities
If you or someone you know could spare some time to support aged care residents who are looking for companionship and social support, then please reach out and help. Click here.
The Re-engaging Volunteers into Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and is proudly delivered by the volunteering peak bodies.
New email alert for experienced and emerging volunteer leaders
Volunteering WA has launched a new enewsletter for experienced and emerging volunteer managers, coordinators and leaders. Here we will share upcoming training and development opportunities from Volunteering WA and external providers, discuss trends within the sector, and facilitate knowledge-sharing on key issues. We welcome feedback from subscribers on topics, knowledge and training you would like to see covered in the professional development newsletter as it evolves.
ABC90for90 - Pledge Now
To celebrate 90 years of the ABC connecting communities, ABC has partnered with Volunteering Australia and state volunteering peak bodies to encourage Australians to come together and make a pledge: 90 minutes of kindness in your community.
There are so many ways to give back through both formal and informal volunteering opportunities. Need some ideas to kick-start your pledge? Check out ABC's website for inspiration and access to the toolkit.
Make the pledge and share your #ABC90for90 with your friends, family and colleagues.
Emergency volunteering - platform upgrade
With thanks to funding from the Department of Communities, we will shortly be rolling out several upgrades to our Emergency Volunteering platform including increased automation and capability in volunteer recruitment in times of emergency, community recovery, and other significant events that require efficient access to volunteers.
The increased automation and ability to connect volunteers to volunteer positions streamline the process for both volunteers and community recovery organisations. Improved integration also means that emergency volunteer pools can be easily managed within our new volunteer management platform, INVOLVE.
Play a part in the development Australia's volunteer management software - sign up for the pilot program
The management of volunteers should be easy.
INVOLVE is a flexible and fully featured app, centred around your volunteers. The core functionalities of development of our new volunteer management platform are nearing competition and a pilot will commence shortly and run from July to October, enabling us to gather real time data about how users interact with the system and the most used features.
A six-month digital advertising campaign will commence in September with market launch in January 2023.
Sign up to be the first in the know and be a part of the pilot program.
2022 Training Schedule
Subscribe to the new training alerts email for reminders on upcoming development opportunities.
Registrations open for July and August workshops (delivered online)
New format of learning coming soon
Our training and development team is excited to be trialing a micro online form of training for busy volunteer managers. Our first micro-learning course will go through how to develop and write effective volunteer position descriptions, and it will be broken up into a series of short modules so you can complete the workshop at your own pace. More information on this course will be shared soon, so check out the website and social channels throughout July for further details.
Free Helpline for volunteering organisations
Do you have a question about volunteer management or best practice?
Volunteering WA has established VIOHelp to answer queries from volunteer-involving organisations about issues relating to volunteers or volunteer management practice.
Submit your queries to the VIOHelp team at VIOHelp@volunteeringwa.org.au
Welcome new and returning members
PBF Australia
Ability Heroes
Fortuna Foundation
Kulungah-Myah Community Centre
Woodvale Waters Friends of Beenyup Channel
Port Walcott Yacht Club
With annual membership starting from as little as $50 per year, every volunteering involving organisation can enjoy the benefits of membership. Significant training and event discounts apply. Find out more.
Member Spotlight - Rahul Smith
"I am the Founder of Activate Mental Health. It's a cause where people take active action to improve their well-being through running and participating in fun social events".
"Volunteering WA is an integral organisation within Perth's not-for-profit sector. Volunteers are the backbone of supporting the wider community with services that help many worthy causes. It's brilliant to see how Volunteering WA assists organisations like ours to help our ability to support volunteers, which leads to more positive outcomes in the community".
To read more about Rahul's story as a Volunteering WA member, click here.
www.volunteeringwa.org.au | 08 9482 4333 | info@volunteeringwa.org.au
Volunteering WA empowers people and communities to enrich Western Australia.
