Connecting Sector – Networks

Volunteering WA convenes, administrates, participates and provides stewardship for a number of different networks including those listed below. Volunteering WA’s depth of involvement within networks and committees varies, however our intent is to provide expertise and leadership to advance the volunteering sector and assist our stakeholders in building capacity and capability within their organisations.

2020-21: With a significant emphasis on connecting sector, Volunteering WA convened 33 network meetings in 2020-21 with representation from volunteers, volunteer managers, volunteer organisations and government, tertiary, research, and corporate sectors. The collaboration and ongoing communication is vital in helping Volunteering WA to lead, advance and celebrate volunteering in Western Australia.

Network and committee meetings held
International Volunteer Managers Day Forum x 1
Volunteer Managers Network x 6
Volunteer Leadership Network x 5
Volunteer Resource Centre x 5
Corporate Volunteer Council x 4
Tertiary Committee x 4
Research Committee x 4
Volunteer Community Reference Group x 4

Volunteering WA Networks

Volunteer Manager / Leadership Networks
A forum for volunteer managers to gain and share knowledge, learn from peers, and discuss industry issues.

Volunteer Resource Centre Network
Convened by Volunteering WA each quarter to discuss, and provide insight into, issues of importance within the sector.

WA Research Network
Supports a growing community of WA researchers with an interest in volunteering as a field of research. Networking is encouraged amongst researchers at all stages of their career, to share their work, develop connections, and find potential collaborations.

WA Peaks Forum
Volunteering WA is a member of the WA Peaks Forum. The Forum is an independent group of non-government human services sector peak bodies that work together to identify common policy priorities, undertake strategic planning, create joint initiatives and advocate to government for the best interests of human services, service users and the wider WA community.

State and territory volunteering peaks
Volunteering WA is a member of the CEO Network (CEON) of National, State and Territory volunteering peak bodies. The purpose of the network is to collaborate and capitalise on the collective resources, knowledge and capabilities of its members for the benefit and advancement of the Australian volunteering sector.

Councils and committees

Corporate Volunteer Council
The Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) is a coalition of businesses that recognise and promote the importance of workplace volunteering and their positive impact on the community and employees involved.

2020-21 Members: Gemma Rapson – Chair (Woodside), Traci Gamblin (Volunteering WA), Katie Voss (Beyond Bank), Carlie Jones (RAC), Kristy Thomas (RAC), Catherine Cregan (Woodside), Wendy Gauci (Bankwest), and Nienke Van der Togt (Deloitte).

WA Tertiary Committee
Aims to share knowledge and ideas relating to student volunteering, as well as foster good practice in volunteer management on their respective campuses (university-based volunteering hub).

2020-21 Members: Antonia Taylor (UWA Guild Volunteering), Clare MacNish (UWA Guild Volunteering), Krishan Shah (Curtin Volunteers!), Lydia Gibson (Edith Cowan University), Donna Tempra (Notre Dame University), Lydia De Mamiel (South Metropolitan TAFE), and Voon Kong (Murdoch University).

WA Research Committee
Meets quarterly as a Committee and hosts research related events and networking sessions. The committee supports the publication of a Research Digest twice a year, comprising new and recent research within the sector.

2020-21 Members: Tina Williams (Volunteering WA), Claire Harding (Department of Communities), Dr Darja Kragt (University of Western Australia), Elaine Healy (Uniting Care West), Janice Redmond (Edith Cowan University), Judy MacCallum (Murdoch University), Kirsten Holmes (Curtin University), Dr Megan Paull (Murdoch University (and VWA Board)), Meredith Blais (Volunteering WA), Patrick Dunlop (Curtin University), and Peter Devereux (Curtin University).

Volunteer Community Reference Group
Chaired and convened by Volunteering WA and established under the direction of the Minister for Volunteering. The purpose of the group is to provide a direct voice on volunteering issues from the sector to government.

2020-21 Members: Hon Mick Murray MLA, Minister for Volunteering – until March 2021, Hon Reece Whitby MLA, Minister for Volunteering – from March 2021, Craig Spencer (Chair), Tina Williams (Volunteering WA), Dan Minchin (Chorus – VIO Rep), Elizabeth Acason (Swan Volunteer Resource Centre – Metro VRC Rep), Esme Bowen (Volunteer Rep), Gemma Rapson (Woodside Energy – Corporate Volunteer Rep), Maija Hilderbrand (Australian Red Cross – VIO Rep), Matt Kavanagh (Senior Policy Advisor – Until March 2021), Mitchell Goff (Senior Policy Advisor – from March 2021), Dr Megan Paull (Murdoch University – Research Rep), Meredith Blais (Volunteering WA), Nick Sloan (Western Australian Local Government Association), Sue Fielding (Department of Communities), Vicki Pollard (Peel Volunteer Resource Centre – Regional VRC Rep).

Community Partnerships Roundtable
The Community Partnerships Roundtable assists the Department of Communities to partner better with the community services sector. The Roundtable first met in October 2020 and includes senior staff from Communities and the community services sector peaks. The Roundtable is co-chaired by Communities’ Director General and the Western Australian Council of Social Service Chief Executive Officer.

State Welfare Emergency Committee (SWEC)
SWEC advises and assists the Department of Child Protection and Family Support to establish an effective ‘whole of government/community’ framework capable of supporting Western Australian emergency management activities (mitigation, prepare, respond, recover) relating to the those emergency management Westplans that are delegated to the Department.