Volunteering WA

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Latest news

June

20 June 2008 - 12th National Conference - earlybird extended
The earlybird deal for the 12th National Conference on Volunteering (save $100) is extended to 10th July 2008. Register here.

10 June 2008 - Public holiday on International Volunteer Day?
Tasmanian Liberal Senator Guy Barnett is pushing for reforms to the Queen's Birthday holiday and honours system, with IVD suggested as an alternate date for the public holiday (Dec 5, not Sep 5). Full story..

May

15 May 2008 - Disappointment from VWA at State budget
The State budget shows a total disregard of the social needs of the community and economic impact of volunteers. Read more in VWA's latest media release.

15 May 2008 - Interesting information we recommend looking at
To view copies of speeches and media releases made by Senator Stephens during NVW visit her media centre. Other info of interest includes the FaHCSIA budget and factsheets on the Volunteer Grants Program and Volunteer Management Program.

15 May 2008 - ABC Radio interviews on volunteering as part of NVW
Geraldine Mellet's afternoon show on ABC 720 has been running some short interviews on volunteering. Listen here.

13 May 2008 - ABC Radio interviews on volunteering
Tune in to ABC 720 radio this week for Geraldine Mellet's afternoon show at 1pm to hear short interviews on the following topics. Tuesday - Enhancing Access to Volunteering, Wednesday - Cultural and Lingustically Diverse Volunteering and Thursday - an insight into the car mechanics program run by Riverview Church.

13 May 2008 - Interfaith calendar now available for download
As part of VWA's Living in Harmony project a team of staff and volunteers have worked together to produce an Interfaith calendar. Download a copy here.

April

24 April - National Volunteer Week events
There's lots happening around WA this NVW, take a look at some of the things being organised here.

7 April - 20 years of Volunteering WA
VWA turned 20 on 11 April. Join us on a trip down memory lane...

7 April - VWA's support of PROSH
VWA has just established an exciting partnership with the UWA Guild, and as such supports the enormous and extraordinary contribution of PROSH, which takes place on Wednesday 9 April.

March

14 March 2008 - Upcoming FREE training for VWA members
As part of VWA's 20th birthday celebrations we will be hosting two workshops on Friday 11 April facilitated by Martin J Cowling, a leading international trainer in volunteer management. Alongside this we invite members to attend a policy forum on insurance issues on Monday 14 April. Download the flyer here.

**Please note the workshops on Friday 11 are now FULL. There are still places available for the policy forum on Monday 14**

25 March 2008 - Keynote speakers announced for volunteering conference
Volunteering Australia has recently announced two keynote speakers for the 12th National Conference on Volunteering - Bruno Ayres, Chief Networking Officer for the V2V Network and Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision. Read more about them on the VA website.

14 March 2008 - New positions and events added including Mural Artist
New volunteer positions have been added to the Positions of the week page and new events added to the Event volunteering page.

6 March 2008 - Corporate Social Responsibility address by the Hon Ursula Stephens
Read the recent address presented to practitioners of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by the Hon Ursula Stephens the Parliamentary Secretary for Volunteering. Download here.

04 March 2008 - Schwarzenegger's move boosts profile of volunteerism
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week recognised the power and the promise of volunteerism when he transformed the executive directorship of a state office overseeing volunteers into a cabinet position, the first of its kind in the nation. Read full story here.

February

25 February 2008 - New one off volunteering events added
Would you like to volunteer at one off events? Click here for more info

07 February 2008 - New media release added
To read Volunteering is the Aussie spirit click here

January

8 January 2008 - Bushfire volunteer teams, Mara Basanovic - CEO
During my break I was invited and took the opportunity to go out into the field and visit the command centre of the large Baldivis fire that raged for four days over Christmas. It was extraordinary and the organisational skills, hard work, dedication, good humour and commitment of the volunteers fighting the fires and also those who were part of the back-up team feeding and manning the command centre for the fire fighters and emergency police, water and power workers was just amazing.

I was informed that there were 120 fires around WA on Christmas Day alone, which is just staggering and also that there is a real shortage of and need for more volunteers. There seems to be a real lack of understanding and appreciation of all the paid and volunteer effort that goes into the protection of people, infrastructure, property and the environment at these times.

I spoke with a Salvation Army volunteer and emergency services facilities coordinator. His shopping list for one fire alone was fascinating - gallons of milk, thousands of bottles of water, eggs, pieces of fruit, burgers and toasted sandwiches, toilet items, etc. Given the shortage of volunteers during the Christmas break, he roped in his family to man the food and facilities van at the fire. They did multiple 12 hour shifts around the clock over six days - four during the actual fire and then on the two following days when there was a watch team of about 100 fire fighters and other volunteers on the ground putting out any flare-ups.

I would like people to have a better understanding, awareness and appreciation of the work and planning that goes on and the constant need for volunteers and support of their work and contribution. On behalf of VWA we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all those involved. - Mara Basanovic, CEO Volunteering WA

If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering please contact us on 9482 4333 or click here.