CEO Report
Welcome to the February edition of eNews. As we come to grips with accelerated COVID-19 spread in our community, we are witnessing once again a rapid fall in volunteering and serious impacts this has on our sector. A reminder that our Responding to the Pandemic Guides are fantastic resources for both volunteers and volunteer involving organisations in providing expert advice and informative guides to support you throughout the pandemic.
Despite the rapidly changing COVID-19 environment, the Volunteering WA team is forging ahead with incredible new programs, services and advocacy activities for the coming months to support the sector. Whilst this doesn't cover everything, I wanted to provide a brief update on some core activities for the remainder of this quarter and the next. We continue to work collaboratively with our member volunteer involving organisations to inform our work.
Upcoming
- We've redesigned our training - registrations have opened for a huge range of online workshops for members and non-members. See upcoming sessions and subscribe to training alerts.
- Funding for recognition events - National Volunteer Week Grant applications have been extended by 1-week, until 11 March.
- Delivery of our volunteering awareness campaign (ABC News | Business News | VWA News).
- Final touches to our 'Volunteering In Aged Care Settings Research Report and Guides' ~ to be uploaded to our website soon.
- Rollout of our Youth Volunteering Pathway to Job Readiness Program in March.
- Continued consultation with sector on key priorities, concerns and opportunities.
Mid-year
- Continued development and rollout of resources, training and support for VIOs impacted by the pandemic.
- Rollout of Volunteering WA's 2022 - 2025 strategy.
- National Volunteer Week (16 - 22 May) celebrations.
- Rollout of Volunteering Australia's election priorities for the Federal election.
- Launch of INVOLVE, Australia's new volunteer management software.
- Review and redevelopment of the emergency volunteering platform.
- Review and redevelopment of VIKTOR, the volunteer recruitment platform.
We know during these uncertain times you may have specific questions relating to COVID and your volunteer program, please contact VIOhelp@volunteeringwa.org.au with your queries, we're here to help.
On closing, I'm delighted to introduce three new board members to Volunteering WA - Vivian Molan, Libby Hewton and Prof Gary Martin. Their bios are available below and each of them brings valuable expertise and insight to govern and guide our organisation as we head into our new three year strategy.
SECTOR NEWS
COVID-19 Updates
Free Face Masks Available
The WA Government has a significant supply of face masks that are due to expire in April and June 2022. To ensure these resources are not wasted, the Department of Communities has partnered with Foodbank WA and WACOSS to allow the Community Services Sector to access these supplies at no cost. See details here.
Volunteers + Vaccines
We continue to update our website with the latest information on vaccines for volunteers. Please find details here.
Vaccination Hubs
There are now dedicated vaccination hubs for people working in aged care, disability care and childcare - which can also be accessed by volunteers (and people with a disability). View the list of available clinics here.
Free RATs for critical workers
The WA Government has announced that free RATs will be made available to critical workers in community service organisations, in addition to the five free RATs per household that were also announced. Details of this arrangement to follow.
PPE for community service organisations
The WA Government has also committed to procuring and distributing PPE to community services organisations at no cost to organisations. This process will be managed by the COVID-19 Management Incident Team (COMIT) within the Department of Communities.
WACOSS to receive $1 million grant to assist with cleaning costs
Department of Communities have also committed to providing a $1 million grant to WACOSS to assist community service organisations recoup cleaning costs for responding to confirmed COVID-19 cases. WACOSS is currently working with the Department to establish suitable criteria and processes and plan to have this system up and running within 14 days.
Funding announcement for Emergency Volunteering
The Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Volunteering announced a funding package for Volunteering WA to further develop its online Volunteer Community Recovery platform which is activated during emergencies to help recruit volunteers.
Applications Closing in 1 week!
National Volunteer Week Grants
Supported by Lotterywest, each year during National Volunteer Week (16 - 22 May), Volunteering WA offers grants of up to $1,000 to be used by organisations to celebrate and recognise volunteering. See our NVW Grants page for the application form, grant conditions and types of celebratory activities supported.
Show your creativity on how you will celebrate and recognise volunteering. Applications for the 2022 National Volunteer Week Grants will close 5.00pm Sunday 6 March 2022. For queries please email grants@volunteeringwa.org.au
VWA Volunteer Society
Thanks to generous support from Lotterywest, Volunteering WA is excited to be running an online advertising campaign that showcases different types of volunteer experiences targeted at 18 to 34 year olds.
- Read the ABC News article about the campaign.
- Check out our content on Instagram.
- Let us know if you have a upskill, expert or social volunteering activity that could be included.
- View the campaign website.
WACOSS - Surge Response Feedback
The WA Government has agreed to resource WACOSS to identify and develop measures to assist in surge staffing, including its proposal for the establishment of a Community Sector Secondment Pool (CSSP).
The proposal includes the establishment of a pooled secondment workforce that can be drawn on by organisations who are at risk of being unable to deliver a critical service due to furloughing of staff as a result of large case numbers of COVID-19.
WACOSS has drafted a series of principles to help govern this process on which they're seeking feedback from community services organisations.
Supporting Stronger Communities Grant
First time applying for the Supporting Stronger Communities Grant or did you miss out last round? The Supporting Stronger Communities (SSC) grant program gives Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres the opportunity to access grants of up to $10,000 to target poverty and disadvantage in their local communities.
This grant program is offered through a partnership between Sidney Myer Fund and the Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association (ANHCA). It is available to all Metropolitan houses, centres, as well as those located within towns and cities with a population above 15,000 people.
Round 9 of the Supporting Stronger Communities grant program is currently open and closes on Thursday, 10 March at 3pm (AEST).
OUR NEWS
Upcoming Online Workshop
2022 Training Schedule
There are plenty of new workshops as well as VWA’s most popular workshops. We have revamped the Volunteer Manager Network (VMN), with a guest speaker joining each network meeting to discuss a specific topic or theme.
Subscribe to the new training alerts email for reminders on upcoming development opportunities.
Upcoming workshops in March:
- 2 Mar, Attracting and Retaining Young Volunteers, 9:30am-12:30pm
- 8 Mar, LGBTIQUA+ facilitated by S&HQ (Sexual and Health Quarters), 10-11am
- 10 Mar, Inclusive Workplace Cultures to Diverse Volunteers, 9:30am-12pm
- 16 Mar, Supervising and Mentoring Volunteers in your VIO, 9:30am-12:30pm
- 22 Mar, See Me, See You - Cultural Responsiveness Training, 9:30am-12:30pm
- 24 Mar, Implementation of the Volunteer National Standards, 9:30am-1:30pm
IT Infrastructure | Volunteer Sector
INVOLVE | One-stop-shop for volunteer management
The Business Operations team is gearing up for a busy year ahead as we prepare to rollout our new volunteer management platform, INVOLVE. Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to know when we officially launch.
Welcoming our new Board members
Libby Hewton (Treasurer) - Libby holds a Bachelor of Laws from UWA and has worked in a variety of positions in the legal and financial services industry. In 2014 she joined Woodside Energy Ltd as the Group Insurance Manager and has served as Vice President, Treasury & Insurance since November 2020.
Libby's skills and experience in the legal and financial services industry bring strong commercial and financial risk management to the Volunteering WA Board.
*Co-opted Board Member
Vivian Molan - Vivian has worked across the public sector for over 15 years in a number of leadership positions, with a focus on embedding cultures of good governance and ongoing improvement using inclusive management and effective change strategies.
Vivian will bring her strong background in public sector governance, administration and compliance to the Volunteering WA Board.
*Co-opted Board Member
Gary Martin - Emeritus Professor, Gary Martin, commenced in the role of Director of the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) Western Australia in 2012. Gary has overall responsibility for leading all aspects of the Institute's business, which is focused on building leadership, management and workplace capability.
Gary will bring incredible expertise from the corporate, government, not-for-profit and community sector.
*Co-opted Board Member
Welcoming a new member into the VWA Team
Steff Jacobs | Corporate Events Coordinator
Recently graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Events Management Degree, we are excited to have Steff join our busy Corporate team.
Steff's main role is to coordinate team-based volunteering days and events for our corporate members, which involves planning, logistics and implementation.
Read all the Volunteering WA team profiles on our website.
Tiffany Hiew | Marketing & Events Coordinator
Recruited from our Corporate Team, Tiffany works with the Manager Marketing & Communications to deliver VWA's public relations, marketing and events strategy.
Within this team, our goal is to promote and celebrate Western Australian volunteers, and advance the sector by sharing Volunteering WA's knowledge and expertise.
Read all Volunteering WA team profiles on our website.
Interested in tapping into Corporate Volunteers?
Is your volunteer organisation interested in hosting a team of corporate volunteers, or do you want to tap into the expertise of a skilled corporate volunteer to run a workshop or help with a specific project?
For more information, please contact the VWA Corporate Team at corporate@volunteeringwa.org.au.
Save the Date
16 - 22 May, National Volunteer Week (NVW)
8 - 14 August, National Student Volunteer Week (NSVW)
5 November, International Volunteer Managers Day
1 December, International Volunteer Day Garden Party
5 December, International Volunteer Day
Member Survey Results
Huge thanks to the 100 members who participated in the VWA annual member survey in November/December.
The early results show a high level of satisfaction with VWA membership (81%) and the top benefits of membership are:
- 71% agreed that membership shows the organisation's commitment to volunteering
- 72% agreed that membership provides access to volunteers and resources
Key findings will be shared with members directly over the coming weeks.
Please contact our Member Services Manager, Jane Mason at membership@volunteeringwa.org.au to find out how membership could benefit your organisation.
Welcome new and returning members
Native Animal Rescue www.nativeanimalrescue.org.au
Dandelions WA
www.dandelionswa.org.au
Melanoma Institute Australia www.melanoma.org.au
Feed it Forward facebook.com/group/feeditfoward
HeartKids
www.heartkids.org.au
Alzheimer's WA
www.alzheimerswa.org.au
WA Police Rangers
www.facebook.com/WAPoliceRangers
Aphasia WA
www.aphasiawa.com.au
www.volunteeringwa.org.au | 08 9482 4333 | info@volunteeringwa.org.au
Volunteering WA leads, advances and celebrates volunteering in Western Australia
