In this issue:

Note from the CEO

Tina Williams, Chief Executive Officer

Welcome to the September edition of the volunteering sector news. As we move into the final quarter of 2023,  high on our priority list is providing training, resources and learning opportunities for our members as governance, compliance and best-practice within the sector continues to evolve. If you have not done so already, I would highly encourage you to register for the upcoming two day bi-annual Volunteering WA State Conference where you will have the opportunity to connect with 200 of your peers, be inspired by our cross-sector sessions, energised by our innovative speakers from across Australia, and be the first to preview the results from the State of Volunteering report in WA. We are extremely fortunate to have the support of Lotterywest and RAC to fund regional attendees. 

This month I was honoured to be invited to attend the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards where 59 young people achieved their Gold Award, and to celebrate amazing young people who have already achieved great things in the service of others. Congratulations to Katie Brown and her team for an outstanding celebration.

We were also delighted to celebrate Lotterywest’s 90th Anniversary at the WA Museum Boola Bardip. Lotterywest provided Volunteering WA with our very first grant back in 1988. This started a long and successful journey for our organisation and supporting volunteer involving organisations and their volunteers in WA. With Lotterywest's generous support we have been able to develop innovative projects to advance volunteering, promote the many benefits of volunteering, and provide grants to thousands of organisations wanting to recognise their volunteers. A big thank you and here’s to another 90 years! 

In response to our submission to the Productivity Commission, Volunteering WA was pleased to be selected to host a roundtable with Commissioners and our member CEOs to respond to the ambitious goal on how best to double philanthropy and volunteering in Australia by 2030. Further details are noted below. Thank you to everyone who attended to share their valuable input. We will keep you informed of any further developments.  

I’d like to extend a warm invitation to the International Volunteer Day Garden Party on Thursday 7 December. This annual celebration attracts hundreds of volunteers  and is truly a magnificent afternoon. It’s a wonderful way to thank and celebrate with the outstanding volunteers in your organisations. We hope you can join us.

Finally, I invite members and stakeholders to join Volunteering WA for our 2022-23 Annual General Meeting to be held at Bankwest Place on Wednesday 18 October. All details below. 

Happy Volunteering,

Tina

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Volunteering WA News

POLICY & ADVOCACY

Volunteering in Aged Care findings

With the leadership and support of Volunteering Australia, Volunteering WA has contributed to numerous submissions on the trends and issues relating to the significant decline in volunteering in aged care settings over the past few years.  

The Australian Government recently surveyed volunteers, volunteer managers and aged care providers about volunteering in their sector. The results are in and make for interesting reading. One of the major findings was that "volunteers are essential to aged care and delivery of person centred and quality care”.   

View the Volunteering aged care survey. 

While much of it reflects our experience, it is very encouraging to see the federal government asking the question, listening and providing a summary of their findings. We are continuing to advocate for changes to volunteering in aged care settings to support volunteers and their clients, through numerous legislative and regulatory processes underway.

FOR MEMBERS

Volunteering WA [Volunteer Centre of WA Inc.] gives notice of our Annual General Meeting

Volunteering WA Annual General Meeting 2023
Date: Wednesday 18 October 2023
Time: 3:00pm start
Venue: Bankwest - Conference Suites, Mezzanine Level
Address: Bankwest Place, 300 Murray Street, Perth WA 6000
Registrations are essential; please RSVP through the Volunteering WA website before 12 October. Register and view documents

We extend a warm welcome to all our members and representatives from the volunteer sector, State and local Government, partners and corporate supporters, volunteers, and members of the community to join us for the meeting. 

FOR MEMBERS

An even better youth volunteering portal for you to advertise positions!

Our youth volunteering platform YVolunteer.org.au is about to have exciting new 'Opportunities' interface that will showcase roles by interest area in an extremely user-friendly way. 

If you would like to get your youth-friendly volunteering position featured on Yvolunteer.org.au (in addition to volunteeringwa.org.au), follow these easy steps:

1. Log your youth-friendly role on VIKTOR as usual.
2. Select any of the following options under “suitable for”, which will automatically display the position on Yvolunteer.org.au: 

• Suitable for Young Adults – 18-24 (NEW category!)
• Younger Volunteers – under 18 
• Work Experience

POLICY & ADVOCACY

Productivity Commission Roundtable

Volunteering WA was pleased to host a special roundtable for our members this month, following our submission to the Productivity Commission’s Review of Philanthropy earlier this year. The Federal Government’s Productivity commissioners were joined by 15 Volunteering WA members to consult directly on the decline, barriers and opportunities to support volunteering.

Volunteering WA submitted five recommendations to support the growth of volunteering (as a form of charitable giving). The recommendations included the development and adoption of a volunteering impact measurement tool and the urgent development of a standardised, streamlined, free and portable volunteer screening system in Australia.

You can view our May submission on the Volunteering WA’s website under the 2023-24 Submissions tab.

RESOURCES & TOOLS

Retain and utilise your Volunteers with INVOLVE

INVOLVE allows you to create and enrich your volunteer profiles so you can record all the information you need to coordinate your volunteers.

You can customise what information you require for your volunteers, set statuses and tag them how you like. The import feature lets you import your existing volunteers with smart matching to make the transition to INVOLVE easier.

The smart search feature lets you quickly find, sort or update your volunteers and you can search your volunteers by location, status, skills certification and more to assist you in finding the perfect volunteer for the role you are trying to fill.

Get INVOLVED and join other organisations already benefitting from managing their volunteers through this flexible and fully-featured app.

“The process with importing all our volunteers was very simple and effective, and the process of adding new volunteers is also very simple and effective. We chose INVOLVE because we wanted to be able to capture the hours delivered in each of our Op Shops and INVOLVE has an easy sign in process with the QR code. Our Board also liked that all the data is stored in Australia. I have accessed INVOLVE support and found the INVOLVE team to be very responsive and helpful.”
Jessica Walker, Mingary Care

RESOURCES & TOOLS

Online accessibility report - now live!

A national survey was recently conducted by volunteering peak bodies across Australia to measure digital inclusion in the volunteering sector. This ground-breaking survey helps the sector better understand online accessibility challenges faced by organisations with volunteers.

• Over 630 organisations responded, with nearly half based in regional, rural or remote Australia.  
• A substantial 43 percent named a lack of digital skills and knowledge in their organisation as a barrier to accessing online resources, while 31 percent said lacking technology and internet was a factor.

You can view the full report on our national Knowledge Base.

RESOURCES & TOOLS

Connect more volunteers to the opportunities you have available

Adding our Volunteer Position Search Widget to your website is the best way to connect volunteers to the opportunities you have available.

It can be configured to list only your opportunities and enables volunteers visiting your website to search, view and express interest.

Email our support team to find out about the costs involved and how the volunteer position search widget can increase your volunteer recruitment potential.

RESOURCES & TOOLS

Volunteering WA and the WA Digital Inclusion Project

The recent VIO Online Accessibility Report identified that “while most volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) have some access to technology, there is a clear digital divide between metropolitan organisations and their rural counterparts.”  The study further indicated that 25% of respondents in remote areas and 19% of micro organisations rely on mobile communications as their only method of internet access, with 17% reporting that they had no internet access at all.  The challenge, therefore, is to find ways meaningfully engage with these diverse communities and ensure that resources and supports we provide are not limited by geographic convenience.

As part of addressing this challenge Volunteering WA has recently become a project partner in the WA Digital Inclusion Project. Led by WACOSS, the WA Digital Inclusion Project aims to improve digital inclusion across the community service sector by equipping front line workers with digital skills and knowledge that they can share with their clients, supporting them to gain independence online. By being a partner in this project we hope to help support volunteer involving organisations that may be struggling with online access.  

In addition to this, over the next few months, our Engagement Coordinator, Jan Lucas, will spend time visiting and listening to the needs of communities across WA.  Time spent in these communities will inform the development of an inclusive and authentic strategy to engage, learn from and work with regional, remote and rural communities in ways that best meets their needs. 

TRAINING & WORKSHOPS

A special ask to workshop participants

Your professional development is important to Volunteering WA and on occasions we run workshops and network meetings free of charge for volunteer managers. Although these may be free for participants, Volunteering WA still needs to pay the venue, catering and facilitators, therefore if you are unable to attend a workshop or network meeting, please let our training team know at training@volunteeringwa.org.au so we can offer your spot to those on our waitlists. We appreciate your assistance with this. 

TRAINING & WORKSHOPS

October and November Workshops

Whether you are an experienced or emerging volunteer manager or coordinator, our training and development team has a workshop for you.

View and attend an upcoming workshop. 

Many of our Workshops are free for Members, with a subsidised fee for Non-Members. 

Making the most of your VWA membership 
Tuesday 3 October    |    9:30am - 10:30am

Building a Volunteer Engagement Plan workshop
Thursday 26 October    |    10:00am - 11:00am

Making the most of your VWA membership 
Wednesday 1 November    |    9:30am - 10:30am

Volunteer Managers Network Meeting (VMN) 
Wednesday 29 November    |    10:00am - 11:30am
Topic of discussion: celebrating leaders of volunteers and discovering the most effective tools for networking and engagement 

Designing Volunteer Roles and Position Descriptions
Wednesday 29 November    |    10:00am - 11:00am

Sector News

Power of Volunteering

The power of volunteering transforms individuals and communities and creates positive change. It's a force that continues to shape a better future for all.

Positive change happens when people stand up for what they care about. That's why more than 30,000 people across Australia have signed up to talk to people about why voting Yes on Saturday 14 October is so important.

Volunteering WA acknowledges the passion and commitment of the volunteers working towards a positive future. Thank you for being Change Makers. See further details on the Referendum. 

RESOURCES & TOOLS

Thank a Volunteer Day Certificate 2023

Taking time out to thank your volunteers is an important way to recognise the incredible contribution they make to our communities.

Thank a Volunteer Day WA, held each year on 5 December, is also known as International Volunteer Day. 

To help celebrate, Department of Communities provides a certificate template, signed by Hon Don Punch, MLA Minister for Volunteering, to acknowledge the volunteers in your team. 

To download the certificate follow the link: Thank a Volunteer Day Certificate form (digital.wa.gov.au)

GRANTS & FUNDING

2023-2024 Volunteer Grants Open

The Federal Government has launched the 2023-24 Volunteer Grants, a program that provides small grants for organisations and community groups to use to support their volunteers. 

The 2023–24 Volunteer Grants Opportunity is open for Expressions of Interest (EOI) through Members of Parliament (MPs). Organisations interested in a grant must contact their local MP to submit an EOI and confirm when their EOI closes. Organisations that are nominated by their MP will be invited to apply for a grant in November 2023.

Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 will be available to assist eligible not-for-profit community organisations support the efforts of their volunteers. Examples of what grant funding can assist with include small portable equipment purchases, contributions towards the cost of training volunteers, reimbursement of fuel costs for volunteers and undertaking background screening checks for volunteers.

If you have any queries, contact the dedicated Community Grants hotline on 1800 020 283 or email support@communitygrants.gov.au and visit the GrantConnect website. 

GRANTS & FUNDING

International Day of People with Disability 

Developmental Disability WA is offering funds to support organisations and groups to hold inclusive community events or activities on or around International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD). 

Celebrated annually throughout the world on the 3rd of December, the recognition day aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. The WA theme for 2023 is 'My Life, Our Community'. 

This sponsorship funding aligns with the vision of A Western Australia for Everyone: State Disability Strategy 2020-2030 to build a more inclusive Western Australia and empower people with disability to participate meaningfully in all parts of society.
See information: International Day of People with Disability Event Sponsorship up to $1000 (ddwa.org.au)

GRANTS & FUNDING

Women in community services eligible for leadership development scholarships

Women & Leadership Australia has announced new scholarships to enable more women to access world-class leadership and workplace skill development programs. By combining cutting-edge leadership theory with practical application, and a flexible part-time delivery, Women & Leadership Australia offers an unparalleled learning experience designed to fit into your busy schedule. With partial scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, there are four programs to suit women in non-leadership roles all the way up to senior executives. 

Don't miss this incredible opportunity! Learn more and apply now by visiting: www.wla.edu.au/industry/grants

Applications close Friday 24 November 2023. Limited places available.

VOLUNTEERING IN THE MEDIA

CEO Voice: Appreciation isn’t enough. Sporting organisations need a sustainable business case to thrive 

Volunteering WA Board Member, Professor Gary Martin (CEO of the Australian Institute of Management WA), shared his opinion on the importance of building a strong business case for sport in Western Australia.  
 
Read Gary’s opinion editorial: CEO Voice: Appreciation isn’t enough. Sporting organisations need a sustainable business case to thrive | The West Australian 

www.volunteeringwa.org.au  |  08 9482 4333  |  info@volunteeringwa.org.au

Volunteering WA empowers people and communities to enrich Western Australia.