October is behind us, and what a month it’s been. I want to take a moment to reflect on the Volunteering WA AGM, which was a wonderful opportunity for networking and recognitions amongst the formalities. This AGM was particularly meaningful as we extended our heartfelt thanks and farewelled Justine Colyer Board Director and David Morrison Board Chair. Justine’s insights and expertise have been invaluable and we thank her for dedication to Volunteering WA. As Chair, David’s leadership and contributions over the years have been instrumental in our success and we are extremely grateful for all he has dedicated to the sector. While David will be missed, as a newly adorned lifetime member he will remain forever a cherished member of the volunteering community.
We are excited to welcome back Craig Spencer to the role of Volunteering WA Board Chair. Craig’s volunteering expertise is invaluable and extends across corporate and community sectors. We look forward to working with Craig and our board in shaping our next strategic plan and developing exciting initiatives to strengthen volunteering in WA.
We all know that volunteering brings enormous benefits to WA, but we also know that volunteering isn’t free. Over the past year we listened to our members and volunteers across WA to understand what can be done to improve the volunteering experience and address the challenges in our sector. I am pleased to introduce Volunteering WA’s 2025 State Election Priorities. I encourage you to review these priorities and help promote them within your networks, so we can create the conditions for volunteering to thrive in WA.
Lastly, I encourage you to read our2023-24 Volunteering WA Annual Report and celebrate with us the impact we've made together. Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of 2024 holds.
As always, happy volunteering!
Tina Williams Volunteering WA CEO
Volunteering WA News
The latest updates from your peak body for volunteering
2025 WA State Election:
Invest in Volunteering in Western Australia
We all know that volunteering brings enormous benefits to WA, $64 billion a year in fact! And we also know that volunteering isn’t free.
It costs volunteers an average of $13.75 for every hour of time they give to the WA community – that’s a 120% increase since 2015. The cost to volunteer is now a major barrier. Over the past year we listened to our members and volunteers across WA to understand what can be done to improve the volunteering experience.
We are pleased to launch our 2025 State Election Priorities below, highlighting five investment priorities for the WA State Government. We encourage you to share this with your networks and raise awareness for the need for tangible investment to create the conditions for volunteering to thrive in WA.
Volunteering WA 2023-24 Annual Report and Financial Report Released
As the peak body for volunteering in Western Australia, Volunteering WA is committed to our purpose of empowering people and communities to enrich WA.
We are pleased to report an extremely productive 2023-24 year with collaboration from more than 800 valued members and thousands of their volunteers, which allowed us to support communities statewide.
Volunteering WA’s 2023-24 Annual Report and accompanying Financial Report demonstrate our commitment to sustainability in serving our members and advancing volunteering in Western Australia.
New Members Welcomed to the Volunteering Community Reference Group
The Volunteering Community Reference Group is a voice for the sector and provides insights to the State Government on emerging trends, issues and feedback on the implementation of the WA Volunteering Strategy. Convened by Volunteering WA in 2018 the Group includes representatives from Volunteering WA as peak body, as well as from the Department of Communities and the volunteering sector, with both metro and regional-based members.
Changes to mutual obligations (Centrelink Volunteering) since 1 July 2024
The Department of Social Services has reached out to all State and Territory Volunteering Peak Bodies with information about changes to mutual obligations that came into force on 1 July 2024. Key points are summarised below:
Services Australia no longer approves overarching organisations for voluntary work placements. Instead, each individual job seeker and voluntary work placement must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
There is a new form for Voluntary Work that came in on 1 July 2024. The new form is availablehere.The volunteer has to complete the first page and the Host volunteer involving organisation has to complete the second page on the same form.
A separate form needs to be completed for each job seeker who wants to volunteer with a Host Organisation.
Once a job seeker is approved by Services Australia to undertake Voluntary Work with a Host Organisation, the job seeker must inform that Host Organisation.
Further information about voluntary work placements is availablehere.
2024 International Volunteer Day Garden Party Tickets - SOLD OUT
We wish to announce that ticket sales for the 2024 International Volunteer Day Garden Party have now closed. We were overwhelmed by the positive response and are looking forward to hosting a fantastic event, which will take place on 5 December to celebrate International Volunteer Day.
Free AI Workshop for International Volunteer Managers Day
Thank you to all the incredible Volunteer Managers in WA! We invite you to a free online workshop on Tuesday 5 November celebrating the 2024 International Volunteer Managers Day theme, 'Future Normal'. Tailored for volunteer managers, this workshop covers AI basics and tools for social media, creating engaging content with AI platforms, ethical considerations, and more.
Don’t miss this opportunity to boost your recruitment and engagement strategies! Limited free spots are available, so register now.
Whether you're looking for the latest sector news, reminders for upcoming training sessions, membership benefits, or expert volunteer management advice, we've got you covered! Our eNewsletters are tailored to keep you informed about content that matters most to you, and now you can pick and choose which ones you want in your inbox.
Subscribe to our Volunteer Management Topic Series email for monthly features on Volunteer Management advice and subscribe to our Training Reminders to receive an email reminder of the coming month's training and events.
Save the Date: 2025 National Volunteer Week and WA Volunteer of the Year Awards
We're pleased to share that dates have been locked in for some of our major calendar events: National Volunteer Week and the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards. Taking place each May, these events are an opportunity to celebrate our incredible volunteers and encourage people to give volunteering a go.
2025 National Volunteer Week: 19-25 May 2025
2025 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards: Thursday 15 May 2025
Stay tuned for further information.
Sector News
What's new for the volunteering sector in WA?
Information on the Volunteer National Police Certificate Program has moved
Looking for information on the Western Australian Volunteer National Police Certificate Program? It has moved from the Department of Communities website to the WA Government website. The program, coordinated by the WA Police Force and the Department of Communities, offers discounted national police checks for registered Western Australian volunteer involving organisations.
Last chance to nominate for 2025 Community Citizen of the Year Awards
Each year, the Community Citizen of the Year Awards give local governments around the state the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution and celebrate community engagement of people within the community. We have some outstanding volunteers in WA who have helped make a difference within the community—why not nominate them for this prestigious award? Get in quick before nominations close on 31 October.
Westfield recently announced the winners of their Westfield Local Heroes competition, which recognises and awards individuals across Australia and New Zealand who make a positive impact to their local community or environment.
Congratulations to our WA winners: Serena Gamble (Feed It Forward), Samuel Thomas (Sam's Spares), Kate Buchan (STARZ Dance), and Kate Bettenay (Hero Hunter Foundation)!
You may recognise Samuel Thomas as a previous Volunteer of the Year Awardee – well done!
Join us for a light breakfast and meet others engaged in volunteering research in WA. Guest speakers Susannah Wills-Johnson, WA Council of State School Organisations, and Dr Katherine Sugars, Murdoch University, will be presenting.
Managing multiple platforms, creating engaging content, and tracking results can be overwhelming. This workshop will help you use AI for your organisation's social media and make life easier.
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.
Interested in getting your business involved in corporate volunteering? Hosted by Volunteering WA's Corporate Team, this session will cover our Corporate Volunteering Program and how we can assist you.
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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