August has been an active time for the volunteering sector. Students took the spotlight this month for National Student Volunteer Week, a week-long celebration of student volunteers across Western Australia. We were thrilled to see so many educational institutions and volunteer-involving organisations across WA get involved in the celebrations, taking the time to thank their student volunteers and encourage more to give it a try. In collaboration with Perth NRM, Blue Crew, Landcare WA and the City of Cockburn, we hosted an Inter-Uni Challenge where student volunteers rolled up their sleeves and planted seedlings at Coogee Beach. All together the students planted 900 coastal plants!
This month we were pleased to welcome three new Co-opted Directors to the Volunteering WA Board: Craig Hollywood, Matthew Pham, and Rebecca Hamilton. These individuals bring a wealth of experience and a shared passion for advancing Volunteering WA’s mission for a society in which everyone is inspired to make a difference. We look forward to their contributions as we continue to engage, lead and advance volunteering. You can read all about them on ourBoard webpage.
Western Australia made a substantial contribution to the development of the National Strategy for Volunteering. The next step in the process is to implement the Action Plan (2024-2027), released by Volunteering Australia yesterday. More information can be found in the article to follow.
As you may recall, we held a CEO Roundtable last month to discuss ideas to tackle some of the big issues facing the sector. These contributed to a paper that will be presented to political parties for consideration ahead of the next State Election.
I’m pleased to announce that Volunteering WA has received funding from Lotterywest to further develop our innovative tool to help volunteer involving organisations measure change that occurs as a result of their volunteering activities and programs. Read more about Measuring Change and many other exciting projects in our newsletter below.
I hope you enjoy this month’s edition and as always, happy volunteering.
Tina Williams Volunteering WA CEO
Volunteering WA News
The latest updates from your peak body for volunteering
National Strategy for Volunteering:
Action Plan (2024-2027) Released
Yesterday, Volunteering Australia hosted an online session to present the National Strategy for Volunteering’s first three-year Action Plan. Over the last year, hundreds of people from across Australia have given their time to identify key actions for the next phase of the National Strategy. With commitments from leading stakeholders, and opportunities for the whole volunteering ecosystem, the Action Plan 2024-2027 is an important step towards a better future for volunteering
Save the Date: Volunteering WA Annual General Meeting
On behalf of the Board of Volunteering WA, we invite Members to join us for our 2024 Annual General Meeting with our Special Guest – Jennifer Ball, Founder and CEO of Worthy Australia, and the 2024 WA Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year.
Date: Wednesday 16 October 2024
Time: 3:00pm start
Venue: Bankwest - Level 1 Podium Bankwest Place
Address: 300 Murray Street, Perth WA 6000
Stay tuned for formal invitations, which will be emailed to all members directly.
Volunteering WA actively advocates to reduce red tape for not-for-profit organisations. We are delighted that the WA State and Australian Governments have worked together to introduce a range of reforms which are helping to reduce the regulatory burden.
The next major change is to allow a WA fundraising licence to be granted to charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC). These licences will include a condition to comply with National Fundraising Principles.
Each year in December, more than 550 volunteers join us in the stunning gardens of Government House to celebrate International Volunteer Day. We are thrilled to once again be hosting the annual Volunteer Day Garden Party on Thursday 5 December.
Tickets will go on sale from 16 September. Tickets always sell out, so please book early to avoid disappointment,
WA students give back at the 2024 Coastal Inter-Uni Challenge
Volunteering WA recently hosted the annual Inter Uni Challenge to celebrate National Student Volunteer Week, and it was a huge success! The Challenge saw 52 students from Curtin, Notre Dame, Murdoch and UWA hop on a bus to Coogee Beach to do some environmental volunteering. Altogether the students planted 900 coastal plants, which is fantastic for the ecosystem!
EOIs open to join Volunteering WA's Measuring Change pilot project
Volunteering WA has recently developed an innovative tool to 'prototype' stage that supports volunteer involving organisations to more effectively measure change that occurs as a result of their volunteer activities and programs.
Volunteering WA is seeking expressions of interest from eligible organisations to participate in a peer-to-peer reflective learning process over a seven month period to live test and co-design refinements to the tool and undertake a formal evaluation of the process. This project is made possible due to the support of Lotterywest.
The winter season often brings with it severe weather events.
Volunteering WA has created additional resources for local government agencies and volunteer involving organisations to help plan for spontaneous emergency volunteers. The key message of Volunteering WA's recent 'Spontaneous Volunteer Engagement in Recent Emergencies Report' was that when an emergency or disaster happens in your region, the community will show up to assist – regardless of whether you’re prepared to accommodate them.
Connecting Volunteer Managers to meaningful resources and advice
Volunteering WA is here to support you in your volunteer management journey, striving to help you achieve volunteer management excellence.
Each month our Volunteer Management Topic email series looks at a topic relevant to volunteer managers to support best practice and guide you along your journey. Subscribe via the button below!
Managing volunteers in dementia care: A pilot project
Are you a lifestyle coordinator/manager of volunteers in Dementia and Aged Care settings? As part of a Volunteering WA funded research project designed to better understand aspects of volunteer management in dementia settings, you're invited to an online workshop (Tuesday 3 September, 10.30am-12.30pm).
If you would like to participate in this workshop or you have queries, please emails.paulin@murdoch.edu.auto find out more.
Meet Margaret, the volunteer who has been supporting WA women for 55 years
When she first moved to Mt Madden, Margaret Hector found herself and her two young daughters isolated from the rest of the town. When she set up a Country Women's Association branch, it changed everything.
Thank you Margaret for sharing your story with us. We encourage our community to hear Margaret's story in her own words via the link below.
Strong and Resilient Communities Activity (SARC) - Small Grants for Volunteer Involving Organisations
The Australian Government Department Social Services announced funding for volunteer involving organisations through its ‘Strong and Resilient Communities Activity (SARC) - Community Support - Small Grants for Volunteer Involving Organisations’ program.
Small volunteer involving organisations will be able to apply for grants ($10,000 - $20,000) for one-off, time limited projects that build volunteer management capability, and help the organisation to support the social and economic participation of vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
Grants are opening soon - keep an eye on our website and social media.
Now open: 2025 Youth Engagement Grants Program
The Department of Communities recently announced that applications are open for their 2025 Youth Engagement Grants Program! The program provides grants (up to $10,000) for local governments and community service organisations to implement projects that engage young people (aged 10 to 25 years) in creative ways and help to achieve positive outcomes for young people in the community.
This year there is a focus on funding opportunities for young people to develop valuable life skills that support them to transition to independence, be involved in community life, and achieve their goals.
For eligibility and how to apply, click on the link below. Applications close 2:30pm Thursday 26 September 2024.
WACOSS seeking sector feedback on Lived Experience participation and engagement
In 2020 WACOSS developed aLived Experience Framework Principles and Practices for Lived Experience Partnerships. To support the sector, an Implementation Plan is being developed for the Framework. A survey has been developed to gain sector feedback on what would be useful to include in the implementation plan, and to gather case studies and information on policies and resources being used by the sector.
WACOSS would appreciate your input into the survey, which is available via the link below. Please note that more than one person from your organisation can fill out this survey.
Australian community sport volunteering survey | Victoria University
Volunteers have an important role in promoting a community sport environment that is safe, positive and nurturing for all children. Victoria University researchers are seeking survey responses from adults who volunteer in children’s community sport to better understand their current capability, opportunity, and motivations to recognise and respond to abuse of children in sport.
If you are 18 years or older and working in community sport you are invited to participate in this study and complete an online survey. The survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes. Please click on the link below to find out more about the project and consider participating in the survey.
Managing Volunteers in Dementia Care: A Pilot Project
Research Project | Online
Are you a lifestyle coordinator/manager of volunteers in Dementia and Aged Care settings? You're invited to participate in a two-hour online workshop on Tuesday 3 September, 10.30am-12.30pm, hosted by Murdoch University.
Join us for this 60-minute, interactive workshop to learn more about what is needed in a position description, why one is needed for every role, and the benefits of having one.
Volunteering WA has recently developed a prototype tool to help organisations to more effectively measure change that occurs as a result of their volunteer activities and programs. We are now seeking expressions of interest from eligible organisations to participate in Phase Two of the project, and this session is designed for organisations that are interested in finding out more.
Making your Online Content Accessible for Everyone
Online | 1 CPD Point
This workshop explores the importance of plain language, easy English and the differences between the two in supporting the language needs of people with disability.
This interactive information session will explore the refreshed eight National Standards for Volunteer Involvement, implementing them, aligning them to your program, and more.
Volunteering WA empowers people and communities to enrich Western Australia.
Volunteering WA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and to other Aboriginal people and communities across Western Australia where we work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Volunteering WA, Level 1, 3 Loftus Street, West Leederville, WA 6007, Australia, +61 8 9482 4333
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