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Note from the CEO March was a huge month at Volunteering WA, one of the highlights being the release of the Western Australian State of Volunteering Report. Western Australia's State of Volunteering Report is the result of the largest survey of volunteers and volunteer managers ever conducted in Western Australia. The report revealed that 1.5 million Western Australians volunteer, generating $63.9 billion in benefits for the State. Another exciting result that came out of the report was the enormous contribution young people are making to the WA community. Their volunteering rate is 78.2 per cent, higher than any other age group - and higher in WA than in any jurisdiction in Australia. I wish to thank everyone who attended the launch event for State of Volunteering Report, held at Parliament House and hosted by the Hon Don Punch MLA, Minister for Volunteering and our team in guiding the publication led by our Executive Manager Policy and Research - Meredith Blais. I invite you to delve into the detail of the Western Australia State of Volunteering Report and register for the next SOVR webinar (coming soon—watch this space). This month, I also had the pleasure of joining Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth and Tania Lawrence MP for a morning tea with local organisations and volunteers in their Hasluck electorate. Both shared candid experiences of volunteering and acknowledged the incredible difference volunteering makes in the community. We’re delighted to open the 2024 project-based grants, which are supported through Volunteering WA's Volunteer Management Activity, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. See details below. With March now behind us, we look ahead to the next big event on the Volunteering WA calendar: the 2024 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards. I'm pleased to share the news that the judging panel for the awards, who have the hardest job in the process, has now determined the finalists from a pool of outstanding nominees. You can read all about the finalists and our other exciting announcements below. Happy volunteering. Tina Willaims Follow Volunteering WA on Facebook | Linkedin | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube Volunteering WA NewsWA Volunteer of the Year Awards Finalists Announced! From Broome to Bayswater, and Albany, 21 Finalists have been selected from 240 nominations as part of the 2024 Western Australia’s Volunteer of the Year Awards program. After deliberation from the external judging panel, we are pleased to announce the finalists for the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards. We invite you to read all about our finalists and their outstanding contributions. To find out who will win each category, ensure you purchase your tickets for what will be a spectacular event. Thank you to our dedicated sponsors and partners for supporting these very special awards: Aon, COTA WA, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, NeonLogic, Lotterywest and RAC. Purchase your tickets for the 2024 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards >> awards.volunteeringwa.org.au Volunteer Week Grant Recipients Announced Congratulations to the 254 organisations across Western Australia that will share in over $335,000 in Lotterywest funding to recognise their volunteers during National Volunteer Week (20 - 26 May). $300,000 Grant Pool Available for Projects Do you have an innovative idea for a project that aims to increase diversity and inclusion in the volunteer sector? Applications for the 2024-25 Volunteer Management Activity Project Grants open between 28 March - 28 April 2024. Projects must build the capacity of the volunteer involving organisations to break down barriers to volunteering by one or more of the six identified priority groups (First Nations; New Migrants; People living with a disability; Youth; Unemployed and Vulnerable Women). Newly developed resources and learnings from each project will be shared with the sector. Find out more at our online information session on April 16. You're Invited! Volunteer Management Activity Project Showcase We’re bringing together the recipients of the past round of Volunteer Management Activity Project Grants so they can share their learnings and help your organisation remove barriers to volunteering. Join Volunteering WA on Wednesday 12 June, Floreat (Perth), for a morning of learning, networking, and interactive workshops. This Showcase is free thanks to funding from the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Register now. WA's State of Volunteering Report Released Western Australia's State of Volunteering Report is the result of the largest survey of volunteers and volunteer managers ever conducted in Western Australia, with the richest data set in more than a decade. 1.5 million people dedicate their time to volunteering in Western Australia, generating a substantial value of $63.9 billion for the state. Take a look at our State of Volunteering Hub to see how the findings reflect your experience of volunteers and volunteer management. National Volunteer Week - Resources for Volunteer Managers National Volunteer Week is celebrated in May each year, with thousands of events and activities taking place across the country. In Western Australia, it is an opportunity to connect and celebrating the diverse volunteering stories across the state. Organisations and volunteers are invited to use our National Volunteer Week toolkit, which contains important information on this celebratory week and shareable resources. Further information and resources will be added to this webpage, so keep an eye on it! RAC and Volunteering WA Cultivate Change Last tree planting season, RAC joined forces with Volunteering WA to create a calendar filled with fun tree planting events. Across the season, RAC employees and like-minded community members came together to volunteer side by side. With the help of mums, dads, grandparents, kids and friends, over 25,000 seedlings were planted for cleaner and healthier air. RAC’s Manager of Community Volunteering, Carlie Jones said “We recognise the many volunteers that help our communities to thrive and send a special thanks to those that contributed to the RAC Community Tree Planting Season”. “As sponsors of the 2024 RAC WA Volunteer of the Year Award, I would also like to congratulate finalists: Craig Hollywood, Peter Geraghty and Tracey Cave”. Still Time to Join the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Program For Free If you want to improve your volunteer management knowledge and practice, joining Volunteering WA’s CPD program will help you to focus on your goals, commit to continuous learning, and be recognised for your efforts at the end of the year. This year’s program is proving very popular, with over 20 members registering, ranging from small to large organisations, as well as some local government authorities. Special mention to the Girl Guides of WA for not just one, but eight volunteer leaders showing interest in the program. Learn more and submit your EOI to join. Welcome New Members Welcome to our newest Volunteering WA Member: Hero Hunter Foundation. Volunteering WA advocates on behalf of the volunteering ecosystem to ensure any policy changes result in better outcomes for volunteering. Membership to your volunteering peak body helps build a stronger sector. Please contact Jane Mason to become a Volunteering WA member and make volunteering matter across WA and within your organisation. New Member Logo ~ Show that your organisation is a full member of Volunteering WA and how your organisation values volunteers. Read more about why other members want to display the Volunteering WA member logo on their website and volunteering related communications, the guidelines for using it and request the artwork. Volunteering WA Training & Events Calendar Making the Most of Your VWA Membership | Tuesday 16 April | ONLINE Register Project Based Grants Information Session | Tuesday 16 April | ONLINE Register Attracting and Retaining Young Volunteers | Wednesday 17 April | ONLINE | Register (1 CPD Point) Acknowledging Country | Tuesday 23 April | ONLINE | Register (0.5 CPD Point) Building a Volunteer Engagement Plan Workshop | Tuesday 30 April | ONLINE Exclusive to Volunteering WA Members, the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program for Volunteer Managers is free to join until 30 June 2024. Increase Your Volunteer Recruitment Potential Do you want to connect more volunteers with your available opportunities, then check out Volunteering WA’s Volunteer Position Search Widget. The Volunteer Position Search Widget allows volunteers to search and express interest in your available volunteer opportunities directly from your website and depending on your requirements, it can be set up to display only volunteer positions available in your local area/state or just the ones your organisation is listing. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with more volunteers! Contact our support team now for further information and to get a quote on the costs involved. Access Volunteer Management and Sector Expertise Do you have a question about volunteer management or best practice? Volunteer management and sector expertise is just an email away—submit your queries to our helpdesk, VIOHelp: VIOhelp@volunteeringwa.org.au. The service draws on Volunteering WA's unique position as a peak body and our wealth of knowledge and experience gained over the past 32 years working with volunteer managers, volunteers and the volunteer sector in WA. Sector NewsSave the Date! WACOSS' Emerging Issues Webinar Hosted by the Western Australian Council of Social Service, this webinar (Friday 12 April) will cover topics such as: Public education and inequality; Civil rights vs corporate interests; Heat impacts on medication; Investing in early intervention; and Workforce barriers for young workers. Learn more and register. Now More Than Ever #NRW2024 The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will – and must – continue. National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June every year – is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to recommit ourselves to reconciliation and the fight for First Nations justice in Australia. Learn more about the history of National Reconciliation Week. Celebrating Youth Week (5 - 12 April) Youth Week is WA’s largest annual celebration of young people (10-25 years), providing young people with the opportunity to express their ideas, raise important issues, make decisions, create entertainment and celebrate young people’s contribution to the community. This year, Youth Week will take place between 5 – 12 April. Did you know that young Western Australians volunteer more than any other age group, with a volunteering rate of 78.2%? Check out the youth volunteering opportunities currently available here. COTA WA Survey: Seniors' Communication Preferences Council on the Ageing WA (COTA WA) is conducting a comprehensive survey in order to better serve and understand the communication preferences of older individuals. In their commitment to enhancing the quality of life for seniors, they recognise the importance of effective communication tailored to their needs. By participating in this initiative, you'll contribute significantly to improving accessibility and inclusivity for seniors in our community. Complete the survey. Digital Inclusion Tips for Your Client and Community Tip: Passwords are essential for protecting yourself while using the internet – or even just for keeping your personal information safely stored on your device. Having many different passwords can get confusing. Click through to find resources for your clients, including how to create strong passwords. Are you onboarding new volunteers for the year ahead? Let us help you INVOLVE is an Australian-designed and built volunteer management product. We are proud to have worked with volunteer peak bodies and volunteer involving organisations (small and large) to build a platform that ticks the boxes for volunteer managers, coordinators, and administrators. Check out our Premium, Essentials, and Free Plans, which can be tailored to suit the number of volunteers you coordinate. Contact the INVOLVE team now and let INVOLVE help you manage your volunteers your way. www.volunteeringwa.org.au | 08 9482 4333 | info@volunteeringwa.org.au Volunteering WA empowers people and communities to enrich Western Australia. |