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Note from the CEO
Thank you to all our members and partners who joined us for the Volunteering WA Annual General Meeting. This year's AGM gave us the opportunity to reflect on our achievements throughout the year, which we were extremely proud to share with you all. Volunteering WA is steadfast in our mission to empower people and communities to enrich Western Australia, and we continue to strive towards our vision for a society in which everyone is inspired to make a difference.
We have a magnificent board taking us into the next year and look forward to their governance and expertise in guiding our organisation’s success.
We are pleased to report a successful and extremely productive 2021-22 year with collaboration from our 758 valued members, allowing us to extend our reach and support many sectors and regions. The National Volunteering Strategy will provide the much needed blueprint for the future of volunteering and direct us to unexplored territory in identifying new opportunities to build capacity in the sector, work to reduce the decline in volunteering and explore unchartered ground to strengthen our vision.
With just over a week until the internationally celebrated Volunteer Managers (IVMD) Day and the IVMD Forum in Perth, I want to pay a special tribute Western Australia's volunteering leaders - it's been another testing year as organisations face the challenges of labour shortages in both staff and volunteers. Our volunteer coordinators and managers continue to do an incredible job in the face of such uncertainty.
I am delighted to announce His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson APM, Governor of Western Australia has accepted the invitation to become Patron of Volunteering WA. We are thrilled to have His Excellency join us at the International Volunteer Day Garden Party at Government House in December. We hope to see you there.
Happy volunteering,
Tina
Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Volunteering WA is proud to launch our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.
At its heart, it represents our commitment to strengthen relationships with the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work, rest and play.
Volunteering is the concept of giving time freely to help others. We have much to learn from First Nations peoples across Western Australia about traditional ways of giving and sharing within families and communities and caring for country. Recognising the significant contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in both formal and informal volunteering both historically and today, is an important part of this journey.
Our Reflect RAP is a framework that we will follow on our reconciliation journey and reflect upon what reconciliation means. It is an opportunity to learn, have conversations, and preserve the stories, cultures, and connections to Country that make our country diverse and united.
We recognise as we embark on this next step that we have much to learn. We look to receive guidance from others who are experts in the field such as Reconciliation Australia and Reconciliation WA and thank them for their support.
Volunteering WA 2021-22 Annual Report
As the peak body for volunteering in Western Australia, Volunteering WA is committed to our purpose of empowering people and communities to enrich WA.
Throughout the 2021-22 Annual Report you will see how Volunteering WA continues to support our members and the sector, with the creation of new programs, delivery of volunteering resources, increased advocacy, and research projects to shape the future of volunteering.
Read Annual Report and Financial Report.
International Volunteer Day Garden Party
Over 50% of tickets already sold | Please join us on Thursday 1 December in the stunning lower grounds of Government House for the annual International Volunteer Day Garden Party.
Date: Thursday 1 December 2022
Time: 4:00pm - 6:30pm
Venue: Lower Gardens of Government House
Member tickets: $39.50 + fees
Non-member tickets: $49.50 + fees
Includes canapés, refreshments and entertainment. View photos from last year's beautiful afternoon garden party on Facebook.
Tickets on sale until 18 November, or until sold out.
Is your volunteer involving organisation (VIO) able to accommodate corporate volunteer teams of 20+ people?
We invite all member-organisations to contact our Corporate Volunteering team if you have activities for our employee volunteers. We are especially excited to hear from VIOs who have activities that can accommodate 20+ people (indoor or outdoor). We have active corporate activities in Perth, Port Hedland, and Newman, delivering 185 teams across 65 different member organisations.
Learn more about Volunteering WA's Corporate Volunteering program on our website and in the 2021-22 Annual Report (pages 14 & 15).
Welcoming new Volunteering WA team members
Read all staff and Board bios on the Volunteering WA website.
Jazmin Ealden
As Events and Marketing Coordinator, Jazmin works on a number of large-scale annual events and supports year-round marketing activity for Volunteering WA. Previously trained as a classical musician, Jazmin has coordinated and performed in concerts, festivals, and conferences both within Australia and overseas, bringing varied events and performance experience to the role. She is passionate about creating and supporting outreach opportunities and initiatives for the wider community.
VACANCY - Regional Community Engagement Coordinator (Port Hedland or Newman)
Based out of Port Hedland or Newman, we're seeking a passionate and energetic Regional Community Engagement Coordinator to connect with volunteer involving organisations and ensure widespread awareness and implementation of the resources and services offered by Volunteering WA. >> Read more.
Upcoming Workshops & Courses
With 2022 quickly coming to a close, we have a series of workshops to help round out the year and fill you with confidence and motivation to start 2023 with a bang. View all our scheduled workshops and training.
7 November | International Volunteer Managers Day Forum
Managing volunteers is complex and challenging but highly rewarding. The IVMD Forum is a highlight in our training & development calendar, as it’s specifically designed for volunteer managers who are ambitious, driven and committed to self-development and continuous improvement. Join us on Monday 7 November in Perth, and be inspired.
>> LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER: View the speaker line up and register
15 November | Volunteer Manager Network (VMN) Meeting
Guest Speaker: Louise Giles, Celebrating Volunteer Managers in WA
Engage with Volunteering WA, and your volunteer manager and coordinator peers. This interactive network meeting will run for two hours.
22 November | How to Create and Manage Volunteer Opportunities in VIKTOR
*For Volunteering WA Members
In this session we will walk you through the steps involved in creating volunteer opportunities, how to find and manage information on VIKTOR as well as how to update information if and when you need to.
22 November | LGBTQIA+ Diversity facilitated by SHQ (Sexual Health Quarters)
This session will provide a chance to participants to gain awareness of LGBTQIA+ diversity and ask questions in an informal manner. This workshop will look at how you can be more inclusive with clients, consumers, and colleagues and strategies to address discrimination in the workplace.
NEW Online Course - Volunteer Engagement Planning
Volunteering WA is thrilled to launch a new Volunteer Engagement Planning online course. This self-paced learning is perfect for busy volunteer managers and coordinators, and can be completed in sections, from your computer, smart phone or tablet. Participants will be awarded a certification upon successful completion of the five modules.
Who's ready to play Volunteer Bingo?!
Tools for volunteer information & induction sessions
There are so many diverse volunteering experiences out there, and we're using #VolunteerBingo as a mechanism to tell them - we encourage you to play along.
- Volunteer information session icebreakers: Play VWA Volunteer Bingo at in-person volunteer induction/information sessions as an icebreaker to showcase the incredible benefits and experiences that can be achieved through volunteering.
- Marketing tool for social media: We also encourage you to create short video clips of your current volunteers sharing their experiences for your social media channels as an advertising tool to reach prospective volunteers (make sure to tag @VolunteeringWA and #VolunteerBingo).
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services
Welcome new and renewing members
Volunteer involving organisations can enjoy the benefits of membership, including significant training and events discounts. Find out more.
Volunteering WA has affiliates across Western Australia who use our national volunteer
recruitment platform, VIKTOR, helping to engage the volunteering ecosystem across metro, rural and regional WA.
Welcome to new Affiliates: ABC Friends (WA) Inc; Frontier Services; Kids Cancer Support; Ozfish Unlimited; Port Hedland Golf Club; Tom Price Bowling Club; and Roeburn District High School.
Case study | Volunteer South West
Attracting new migrants to volunteering: A win for volunteer managers and volunteers
Risma, Widi and Mary talk about their personal experience of volunteering. By sharing how much volunteering helped them in various ways and changed their lives for the better, Volunteer South West promoted the benefits of volunteering for new migrants. In addition, Volunteer South West promoted how volunteer involving organisations can attract new migrants to volunteering and help to build bridges and strengthen cultural awareness. >> Read the case study.
INVOLVE | Watch the system demos videos
>> Check out the demos of the new volunteer management platform on Youtube
Volunteer management is about to get a whole lot easier, with INVOLVE! The all new, all-inclusive new volunteer management platform launching in 2023!
From December organisations can sign up for a demonstration of the platform and find out how INVOLVE can support your organisation. In the meantime, sign up to our mailing list to be the first to receive exciting updates!
Introducing VIKTOR Lite! A simplified version of the volunteer advertising and recruitment tool VIKTOR, with even better outcomes
VIKTOR Lite is easier to use, faster, and more user friendly. For organisations who already use VIKTOR, your account will be upgraded to VIKTOR Lite automatically, and all your existing positions and users will be transferred over.
Like VIKTOR, volunteer positions advertised in VIKTOR Lite will be displayed on many websites, including GoVolunteer, SEEK Volunteer, the appropriate state or territory peak, Volunteering Australia, and many more.
SECTOR NEWS
Thank a Volunteer Day Certificate of Recognition template
Department of Communities
The Department of Communities (DoCs) invites you to access the Certificate of Recognition template to award to your volunteers on International Volunteer Day 2022 (5 December). The certificate is signed by the Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, and recognises the valuable contribution volunteers make to the community. See website for further details.
Governance Toolkit: Cybersecurity
The recent Optus data breach is a good reminder to us all that cyber-crime is a significant risk for all organisations, however large or small. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has produced a governance toolkit which covers issues of cybersecurity, including how they may affect organisations and what you can do to reduce risks of cyber attacks. There is a very useful cyber security assessment you can use, and asset register template and a plan for responding to a data breach.
2023 National Volunteering Conference: The Future is Now
Volunteering Australia is delighted to announce the theme for the 2023 National Volunteering Conference: The Future is Now. This theme will challenge delegates to explore how our actions today will build a better future for volunteering.
Volunteering Australia look forward to welcoming the sector on Ngunnawal Country, Canberra on 13-14 February 2023. As we come together to launch Australia’s first National Strategy for Volunteering in ten years, this theme reflects that we need to implement change today to ensure volunteering thrives for future generations.
Scholarships available - Applications now open
The Department of Social Services has provided funding towards scholarship to support attendance at the National Volunteering Conference 2023, in Canberra.
The scholarships are designed to enable attendance for individuals who would not otherwise be able to attend. Volunteering WA is managing arrangements for this in WA on behalf of Volunteering Australia.
Scholarship applications close 18 November
>> Please visit our website for guidelines and application form
Grants | Community Sector Grants
Volunteering WA Research Grant Program - Closes Friday 5 November 2022
Volunteering WA, with the support of the Volunteering WA Research Committee, has established an annual volunteering grant program for Western Australian researchers.
Community Capacity Building grants - ongoing
These grants of up to $5,000, as part of the Community Grants Program, support initiatives that aim to strengthen the skills and abilities of CaLD communities to take leading roles in the development of their community, and that respond to specific needs and issues identified by the community.
Youth Week WA Grants - Closes Friday 25 November 2022
Funding of up to $1,500 for individual events and up to $3,000 for collaborative community-wide events is available for organisations to host a Youth Week WA event that brings young people together.
Support services for volunteer involving organisations
If your organisation has a volunteer management query or requires support please contact Volunteering WA. For common queries we can reply with information and resources, and if you require one-on-one support we can escalate your need to our volunteer management team thanks to support from the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
www.volunteeringwa.org.au | 08 9482 4333 | info@volunteeringwa.org.au
Volunteering WA empowers people and communities to enrich Western Australia.
