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Volunteering WA

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It is estimated that each family in Australia
relies on the work of more than
20 volunteers each week!

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Volunteering Western Australia
- Latest News

To receive your FREE E-mail updates containing exciting news and information about Volunteering from around the world, please subscribe to E-Volunteer™, Volunteering Western Australia's electronic newsletter.

News Items are listed with most recent additions first.

Date Item
11/11/01 Endorsed Projects

Kwinana Home Support - will be holding a presentation for their volunteers on November 19th

Blackmore Primary School will also be recognising their volunteers at a school function on December 7th

Goldfields Women's House will be hosting 100 volunteers from around the Goldfields at a celebratory breakfast on December 7th.

Finale

The Premier will host the finale to the International Year of Volunteers at a function in King's Park on December 5th - International Volunteers Day. We anticipate that 1,500 to 2,000 volunteers will join with their partners/carers at an assembly and parade down Fraser Ave. followed by a picnic and barbecue at the Pioneer Gardens.

History Book

The Hon. Tom Stephens MLC launched the book on September 26th at the Constitution Centre. Copies will be distributed to all secondary schools and public libraries. A small number are available for sale through Volunteering WA.

Regional Grants

Bridging the Gap - will be launched in Esperance on December 5th, International Volunteers Day.

Celebrate Volunteers - the project is completed and was launched in Kununurra in October.

Graffiti Volunteers - the training program is now completed and a presentation of the program will be made on November 15th.

Corporate Volunteering - Volunteering South West launched the project October 18th in Bunbury. This project has attracted the attention of the Prime Minister's Round Table, which has provided funds to print multiple copies of the handbook.

CLAN WA has completed the Strength Based Training for their volunteers.

Coast Care Conference - volunteer workshops conducted as part of the conference on November 3, 4, and 5 in Esperance.

Regional Symposiums - the third symposium was completed November 2nd

National Conference - was held in Melbourne October 21st to 23rd. Over 650 volunteers attended the conference which had a primary focus on a national agenda on volunteering to be presented to the Federal Government on International Volunteers Day on December 5th.

Valuing Volunteers Policy

Under the Policy, the Minister has formed a Working Group to develop a "compact" to establish framework for the relationship between the government and the volunteer sector.

Agreement has been reached for funding to support Volunteer Western Australia's Student Community Involvement Program (SCIP). The funding will allow the program to be substantially expanded during 2002.
 

14/10/01

WAFL Grand Final

Volunteers will be recognised at the WAFL Grand Final with club volunteers participating in the grand final parade, the flying of IYV flags and messages on the large scoreboard during breaks in the play.

Lotteries 2001 Volunteer Awards

Marie Stidwell was selected as the Lotteries 2001 Volunteer Award representative for the year. Marie nominated Drug Arm as the organisation to receive $5,000 from Volunteering WA.

Printing of certificates for the 884 nominated volunteers is proceeding with the distribution of certificates to commence by the end of the month.

Photographic Display

A display will be held in Stirling Towers at 197 St Georges Terrace from November 27th to December 7th.

A wide range of volunteer involvement will be on show.

Endorsed Projects

Streets Alive was launched on September 9th and the ABC did a live broadcast at a Streets Alive  event in Perth the following week.

Mandurah Volunteer Fisheries Liaison Officers hosted a open day on September 30th.

UWA Student guild will be holding a volunteer recognition ceremony 17th October.

A community barbecue o thank the volunteers of Mukinbudin will be held on October 19th.

"Building on Success" is the title of a conference to be held on 2nd of November by Local Drug Action Groups.

Trackswest - a volunteer group who maintain the heritage trails in WA is holding a weekend of activities October 13th and 14th to celebrate the work of the volunteers.

The Esperance IYV Group

A self-directed learning program for volunteers in remote locations.

Great interest has been expressed in the project with investigations proceeding for the project to be the pilot for a national program.

Kununurra Neighbourhood House

Recognition of Volunteers Project.

Photography is underway with proofs expected to be available for the photographic display at Stirling Towers in St Georges Terrace from November 27th to December 7th.

Graffiti Volunteers

Volunteer Training and Public Education Program.

Training has commenced with presentations expected mid-November.

PHYLOS

To establish a volunteer program for organisations that support severely disabled people and their families.

Esperance Volunteer Referral Centre

To develop and display a showcase of the work of local volunteers.

Bridging the Gap

Establishment of a volunteer centre to support local organisations in the Rockingham area.

A coordinator has been engaged to facilitate the planning and implementation of a centre catering for a small group of volunteer organisations.

South West IYV Group

A guide for corporate entities entering into partnerships with community groups.

This project has received additional support from the Commonwealth. The guide will be launched in October and negotiations are underway for a possible national launch as part of the National Conference in Melbourne.

Livingstone Foundation

Training for Volunteer councillors in suicide prevention counselling.

The first training program is underway.

CLAN WA

  1. Self - maintenance training for volunteers working with families.
    Training is about to commence on this project.

  2. Establishment of a "Grandfriends" program linking seniors to families without parent or grandparent contact.

  3. Develop an instrument to measure the motivations of volunteers.
    A researcher has been appointed to commence on this project.

Coast Care

Volunteer Management Training modules included in Coast Care nation conference.

Agreement on an appropriate training program and facilitators to deliver it has now been reached.

Shire of Shark Bay

A workshop and community forum on volunteer recruitment and maintenance.

Dr Judy Esmond will attend Shark Bay to facilitate the community forum.

Peel IYV Group

To promote the contribution of volunteering and volunteer training in the region.

This project is scheduled for December.

Mid West IYV Group

To develop a volunteer management reference guide for use by groups throughout the region.

A draft has been prepared and final editing is taking place before launch of the guide.

History Book

The Hon. Tom Stephens MLC Minister for Housing and Works will launch the book at the Constitution Centre on September 26th.

Challenge, Choice and Change was the theme of the Vision Conference held in Fremantle, August 8, 9 and 10.

International, national and local representatives declared the conference an outstanding success. A communique setting out the major issues for continuing debate and resolution was released at the Volunteering WA AGM on September 26th.

 

It Makes a Difference to This Jellyfish

Good news - the History book is at the printers and a launch is scheduled for September 26th. Invitations will be issued in the next two weeks.

Photographic Collection

The exhibition has now closed at the Fremantle Museum and Arts Centre. Negotiations are underway for an exhibition at a venue in the city to coincide with International Volunteer Day on December 5th.

Lotteries 2001 Volunteer Award

Marie Stidwell, a volunteer with Drag Arm, was selected as the volunteer representative for 2001. Marie was presented with a trophy and certificate at the Vision Conference Dinner on August 9th.

Over 880 nominations were received and each nomination will be recognised by the rewarding of a certificate. During the next two weeks certificates to be printed and distributed so that presentations may be made before the end of the year.

Kimberly Youth Project

The initial stages of the project were completed with workshops conducted at Derby, Halls Creek and Kununurra primarily involving indigenous groups. A report and recommendations was presented to the State Manager Family and Community Services at a presentation on Tuesday August 7th.

Follow-up work to progress the development of volunteering in the region is scheduled for later in the year.

Regional Volunteer Centre Guides

A Guide for the establishment of volunteer centres in regional areas was presented to the State Manager Family and Community Services on August 7th. The essence of this project is that the unique differences between regions were identified and their impact accommodated in the guides. It is anticipated that the Regional Volunteer Centre Guides will be an evolving project which will be modified by the experiences of establishing centres in regional areas.

Vision Conference

The Vision Conference is over and the outcomes are being prepared. Four days of very positive energy generated by the 200 participants has resulted in recommendations for the future direction of volunteering in WA.

The Minister for Community Development announced:

  • funding for the Student Community Involvement Program (SCIP) project. The project was funded by Volunteering WA and the minister's announcement will allow the project to be developed.

  • the establishment of a Working Group to develop a Compact agreement setting out the future relationship between State Government and the volunteer sector.

Speakers attended from the United States of America, the United Kingdom and from most States and Territories in Australia. The feedback declares the Vision Conference to have been a outstanding success in identification of volunteer issues and in developing options for addressing them over the next ten years.

Volunteering WA will be featured at the National Conference presenting the outcomes of the Vision Conference. Many of the issues are common to other jurisdictions so the options developed by WA may provide a guide for the other State and Territory Volunteer Centres.

16/06/01

History Book

The issues that caused the delay in the history book have now been resolved and launch will be rescheduled for later in the year. The manuscript is ready for printing and a final decision on the design of the cover will be made by June 22nd.

Vision Conference

Challenge, Choice and Change is the theme of the Vision Conference to be held in Fremantle August 8, 9 and 10th

The conference seeks to:
Identify the Challenge the future environment will present to Volunteers in Western Australia
Identify and select Choices for meeting the Challenge
Identify the Changes required to achieve the Choices

The outcomes of the Conference will be a blueprint for the development of volunteering into the future and identify the support necessary for its development.

The conference has attracted a wide range of speakers including:
Kenn Allen, President of the International Association of Volunteer Effort (IAVE) the United Nations organisation responsible for delivering the United Nations International Year of Volunteers program
Sharon Capeling-Alikja - the United Nations Executive Coordinator of Volunteers
Stuart Hetherington from the United Kingdom's National Council of Volunteer Organisations
Susan Ellis - a prolific writer on volunteer issues from the United States of America
Sha Cordingley from Volunteering Australia, the Reverend Nick Francis from the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Mr Des Pearson the Auditor General

13/06/01 Working Together Grants
The Governor of Western Australia announced the successful recipients for the Working Together grants

The Esperance IYV Group - to produce a self directed learning program for volunteers in remote
Locations

Kununurra Neighbourhood House - to provide a permanent reminder of the contribution of volunteers in the East Kimberley

Graffiti Volunteers - to accredit volunteers in the use of hazardous chemicals; and
to develop a public education program for delivery by volunteers

PHYLOS - to establish a volunteer program for organisations that support severely disabled people and their families

Esperance Volunteer Referral Centre - to develop and display a showcase of the work of local volunteers

State Regional Volunteer Centre Group - to establish guidelines for the creation and operation of regional volunteer centres

Bridging the Gap - to establish a volunteer program to support local organisations in the Rockingham area

South West IYV Group - to produce a guide for corporate entities entering into partnerships with community groups

Livingstone Foundation - to accredit Lifeline volunteers and others volunteer counsellors in suicide prevention counselling

CLAN WA - to provide self - maintenance training for volunteers working with families; to establish a "Grandfriends" program linking seniors to families without parent or grandparent contact; to develop an instrument to measure the motivations of volunteers

Coast Care - to include volunteer management training as part of the Coast Care national conference

Shire of Shark Bay - for a workshop and community forum on volunteer recruitment and maintenance

Peel IYV Group - to promote the contribution of volunteering and volunteer training in the region

Mid West IYV Group - to develop a volunteer management reference guide for use by groups throughout the region
15/05/01 Lotteries 2001 Volunteer Awards

The Awards were announced during National Volunteer Week on channel 7's Perth at Five program and the following week in the metropolitan and regional newspapers.

The Awards provide an opportunity for organisations and individuals to recognise the volunteers in their community. Each volunteer nominated will be recognised. Certificates will be provided to the nominating organisation for presentation to their volunteers. One volunteer will be selected as the representative of volunteers for the year and at the Vision Conference that volunteer will be able to nominate to which organisation a $5,000 Lottery grants will be made. The Awards close July 12th.
28/01/01 ThinkShop 28th February
The OnlineWA Community Services Division of the Department of Commerce and Trade is interested in exploring the possibilities of developing access to Volunteering Western Australia on-line services as a pilot for other community on-line services.
This will be an extension of the online access already available.
The first step in the assessment phase is to conduct a "Thinkshop" with people involved with organising volunteers, referring volunteers, with volunteers and with those providing the services.
Regional Volunteer Centres, Managers and Coordinators of Volunteers are very important components in the volunteer sector and as such their input is essential.
On February 28th you are invited to share your thoughts and expertise on extending and developing on line volunteer services.
A "Thinkshop", facilitated by Dept of Commerce and Trade, will be conducted at City West Lotteries House on 28th February 2001.
We need your contribution.
27/01/01 Commonwealth Govt IYV Resource Kits
The IYV Secretariat is expecting to receive a quantity of IYV Resource Kits developed by the Commonwealth Government.
Agencies wanting to access these kits are asked to colllect them in person or to forward stamps to the value of $4.30 in order that one kit can be posted to you.
Included in the packages are poster, postcard, sticker and numerous information sheets from various sources such as Volunteering Australia, Department of Family and Community Services and Centenary of Federation.

Messages For The Future
What would you say to your great, great grandchildren if you had the chance?
Well now you do have that chance, through the time capsule on display at the Swan Bells. You can tell your great, great grandchildren about your life and what its like living in Western Australia. You can also provide a pen picture of your volunteering and your volunteer organisation, which will add to the knowledge of future communities.
This is a great opportunity to tell future generations about you and your organisation, about the roles performed and the benefits provided to your community. Each Message For The Future is limited to 250 words and may be sent electronically by e-mail to -
www.millenniumwest.wa.gov.au
Or by mail to -
Office of Citizenship and Multicultural Interests,
Level 2, 81 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
(Photographs and drawings must be mailed for scanning into the capsule.)
Do it now as the time capsule will close on March 21st
19/01/01 Volunteer Wellbeing project
Volunteering WA has engaged International Risk Consultants (IRC) to conduct a survey measuring the impact that volunteering has on volunteers. Consulting psychologist Ms Ming Yeu of IRC conducted an earlier study which suggested that volunteers receive significant benefit from volunteering .
A copy of the questionnaire will be available shortly from this site.

Photographic Exhibition
An invitation is extended to all volunteers and volunteer organisations to submit photographs of volunteers in action. Photographs will be scanned to a CD and a number selected for enlargement, mounting and display at various metropolitan and regional venues.

Vision Conference
Promaco are managing the details for the conference. Expressions of interest are sought from anyone interested in submitting papers, making presentations, conducting workshops etc. The Vision Conference will be at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle 8,9,10 August. - it will also be broadcast on the Internet watch out for the site details.

Youth Forums
Lyn Deveraux from the Office of Youth Affairs in the Kimberley is organising youth forums at Derby, Halls Creek and at Kununurra for April/May. Details will be posted shortly.

Regional Grants
Don't forget the grants applications need to be submitted by March 8th.
30/12/00 Volunteer guides project
Dr Anna Alderson has now completed the South West and Great Southern round of meetings, collecting data on establishing volunteer resource centres. The next round will focus on the Pilbarra and Kimberley.

IYV Displays
Displays may now be viewed at Veterans Affairs in the AMP building, and at the City of Perth Library

26/12/00 Governor's speech added to the website
Click here to view it!
13/12/00 Development of Guides for Volunteer Centres
Dr Anna Alderson has been appointed to research the project, and will be visiting regional centres in December.
13/12/00 Media reference group established
A media reference group has been establishedto set the direction of media programs for 2001.
The members are: Bob Cronin, Barrey Williams and Kevin Campbell.
5/11/00 Mobile Referral Service
Establishing volunteer referral services in metropolitan centres is one strategy for encouraging local volunteering in local communities. A promotional program will be undertaken to generate local community involvement. Once local positions are registered trained Volunteer Referral Officers will attend the centres to conduct referrals. The program will commence in January 2001
Corporate Partnerships

An encouragement for Corporations to form partnerships with community groups to solve local problems and aid development. Being a “good corporate citizen” requires local involvement on an ongoing basis.
Corporate Recognition
                       
Encourage corporations to recognise the volunteer role performed by their staff in either a corporate program or of their own volition. The Western Australian Trotting Association for example is dedicating a race meeting to volunteering in recognition of the contribution that volunteers play in their existence. Free tickets will be distributed to volunteers for the evening
Indigenous Youth Forum
A joint project with the Commonwealth, Volunteering WA and the Office of Youth to introduce the concepts of volunteering into youth leadership forums in the Kimberley. The forums will be conducted in May/June 2001 after the wet season is over
National Volunteer Week May 14 to 20th 2001

National Volunteer Week in 2001 will be a special week with national activities, a range of activities arranged by VWA, and the cooperation of other organisations to recognise the International Year of Volunteers.
Photographic Display
To arrange a display of volunteer photographs depicting volunteering in their communities. All photographs will be digitally stored and a number selected to form a display at either the Art Gallery of WA or at the Alexander Library and at IYV events during the Year.
History Book
Volunteers have almost completed the drafting of a history of VWA manuscript. Funds have been allocated for the editing and publishing of the book during National Volunteer Week May 14 to 20th 2001
Regional Volunteer Services
A guide to the establishment of regional volunteer services will be undertaken during the first half of 2001. A number of regional centres have expressed an interest in establishing volunteer resources and the guide will assist them to do so. The guides are scheduled to be completed for National Volunteer Week May 14 to 20th 2001
Lotteries Volunteer Awards
An enhancement of the Difference Awards will be conducted during the Year. The Awards will be in two parts – one for the individual nominated and one for the nominating organisation. The award to the organisation may then be used as a perpetual award for the organisations own volunteers.
Research Projects
Two projects will be funded during 2001. The first is to test the efficacy of the United Nations developed Measuring Volunteering Toolkit as a universal measure of volunteer contribution.
The second is a follow-up to a project, which measured the levels of stress applicable to a group of long term unemployed. A group involved in volunteer work exhibited lower levels of stress – it is this group that will be explore further to clarify the lower levels of stress experienced. The results of both projects will be announced at the Visioning Conference in August 2001
Vision Conference – August 2001

The keystone event of the year will be a Visioning Conference where participants will attempt to profile volunteering over the next ten years.
The outcomes will assist in policy and strategic decisions by both governments and by volunteer organisations
Finale
The Premier and Governor will conduct the finale to the Year at Government House on International Volunteer Day - December 5, 2001
Notes
The National Volunteer Conference will be conducted in November 2001.
The above calendar doesn’t include any of the volunteer organisation’s events, State or Commonwealth Government events.
An endorsement program will be introduced to encourage smaller organisations to focus their events on the IYV and be listed in promotional materials during the year
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Comments, suggestions and corrections
accepted with enthusiasm.
E-mail the author here.

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