Training for Volunteer Management

The courses on the training calendar for 2021 all link to the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Program.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Program

There are many options for volunteer management training from attending one workshop to engaging in Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Volunteering WA will be introducing the CPD program which is the practice of maintaining and developing the skills and knowledge required in your current job role, sector and beyond.

This program will support your continuous professional development by formally recognising the work you are doing to raise the standards of volunteer leadership in their organisation and across our state.

The CPD will be achieved through a range of methods including learning on the job, reading relevant articles, attending and/ or participating in events, joining industry committees and groups, as well as formal training. Enrolment for 2021 CPD will commence in June 2021. Read the CPD Fact Sheet and below for more information.

The CPD Program for Professional Leaders of Volunteers is a formal avenue to improve your knowledge and skills. The CPD Program will help raise your profile, and demonstrates your dedication to your career and to the volunteer leadership profession. By gaining 16 CPD points in 2021 you earn the right to put PLV after your name as a public declaration of your commitment.

Participants are required to accumulate a minimum of 16 points from July 2021 - June 2022.These points can be attained through any combination of:

  • Professional development, events and services offered by Volunteering WA.
  • Professional development at your organisation.
  • Reading relevant industry articles/ newsletters.
  • Mentoring colleagues/ members in volunteering management.
  • Reflective practice.
  • Read the CPD Program FAQ’s.
  • Fill out the CPD Application Form and return via email to training@volunteeringwa.org.au.
  • Plan your CPD activities using the CPD Activity Point Schedule.
  • You participate in your chosen CPD activities and complete the Activity Validation Form after each activity.
  • You update your Activity Validation Form and submit the form to Volunteering WA every two months and finalise at the end of the year.

Endorsed by Volunteering Australia, this program will be exclusive to Volunteering WA members* (conditions apply) who are actively leading volunteers and will only cost $50 (+ GST and credit card fees) in 2021.

To register for the CPD fill out the CPD Application Form and return via email to training@volunteeringwa.org.au.

Cert IV in Coordination of Volunteer Programs (CHC44015)

Volunteering WA in partnership with The Centre for Volunteering, through the National School of Volunteer Management (SVM) [RTO code 90031], is pleased to offer the Certificate IV in Coordination of Volunteer Programs (CHC44015).

This online 12 month course has been developed with the not-for-profit or community service professional in mind and is responsive to the latest trends and requirements for volunteer coordinators in Australia.

For further information, please email Volunteering WA’s Training Manager here or follow the steps under the Getting Started tab below to register.

The Cert IV course will enhance your thinking on how to operate more effectively in a challenging environment often with limited resources and you will learn new technologies and innovative processes to manage and enrich volunteer worker experiences and to channel that energy into productive outcomes.

To undertake this qualification you must be currently working or volunteering in a role with coordination responsibilities. We have put together a training package that includes the Certificate IV in Coordination of Volunteer Programs (CHC44015) which is 11 units of competency along with 1 National Standards workshop run by VWA and the attendance of 2 VWA networking events.

This intensive 12-month course will cost $3,000 and will commence on 2 March 2021.

If you are registered for the CPD program, 12 points are awarded upon completion of the Cert IV in Coordination of Volunteer Programs, up to 2 points for VWA’s National Standards workshop.

If you would like further information, please click here.

Next steps:  

If you would like to proceed with enrolment, the procedure is as follows:  

  1. Complete an application. 
  2. If you have any credit transfers, send through your transcript and give us permission to view your USI. Here’s a quick 2 minute video to show how.
  3. Provide proof of identification e.g. drivers licence or passport.
  4. Please note the course fee is payable in installments, with the first installment due upfront - we will send you an invoice for this after step 4 has been completed. No more than $1,500 will be charged upfront. 
  5. After payment of the first installment, the training and assessment program begins - you will be given access to training and assessment materials on https://cfv.mrooms.net/.

VWA Workshops and Online Training Webinars

Volunteering WA’s formal workshops and Online Training Webinars for professional volunteer management align with nationally recognised qualifications and the VWA Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Program.

Choose from the below fee-for-service VWA workshops (see upcoming dates below) to build and achieve recognition for your commitment to professional development.

Key Issues of Volunteer Management (half or full day)

(up to 2 CPD points) *Full day earns 2 CPD points; half day earns 1 CPD point.

This fast-paced, information-rich workshop is essential for anyone new to volunteer management. This workshop covers the key principles for effective volunteer management and additional topics to support your volunteer management role. The following topics are covered: 

  • Volunteer motivation, volunteer involvement, marketing, connecting with volunteers and matching expectations, acknowledging volunteers, and evaluating outcomes. 
  • Bonus topics cover attracting and retaining the different generations, influencing up-wards, and volunteer rights and responsibilities. 

National Standards for Volunteer Involving Organisations (half or full day)

(up to 2 CPD points) *Full day earns 2 CPD points; half day earns 1 CPD point.

If you coordinate volunteers or have management or governance responsibility, the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement is a very useful tool.

The followings topics are covered:

  • Challenges and benefits of implementing Standards, and understanding how the eight (8) National Standards can be applied. 
  • Organisational volunteer gaps, how you can manage change, and developing an action plan. 

6 CPD points for implementing the National Standards into your organisation.

3 CPD points for reviewing your organisations alignment to the National Standards.

Masterclasses

Each Volunteering WA Masterclass accounts for up 2 - 4 points towards your CPD Program.

Leading the Way

Leading the Way has been specifically designed for Volunteer Managers who work in small to medium volunteer-involving organisations. It outlines a best practice approach to launch or re-invigorate volunteer programs and supports the ongoing effective management of volunteers.

This full day workshop is divided into the following four (4) topics:

  1. Building a solid foundation. 
  2. How to connect with volunteers. 
  3. How to support volunteers in an organisation. 
  4. Reviewing your volunteer programs and volunteer engagement planning. 

Bespoke Workshops

The following masterclass workshops can be run face to face or online for up to three hours as an organisational request.

Organisational Readiness

Eliminate any volunteer program anxiety and discover the information you need to recruit volunteers. This session includes having the culture you want, making your organisation attractive to volunteers, understanding volunteer motivation, and the legal stuff to make sure you are working within the law.

Marketing, Connecting and Matching Expectations

Are you having difficulty finding volunteers?  It is no longer about recruiting, it’s about connecting volunteers and matching their expectation with yours. This session focuses on target markets, writing effective messages and winning advertisements to different target groups. It also focuses on how to screen, select and prepare for interviews and conducting interviews.

Supporting Volunteers for Success

Supporting volunteers is more than saying “thank you” and having an end-of-year party. This session will show you ways to support and re-engage with your volunteers and how to eliminate the expensive of recruitment. Learn contemporary ways of retaining your volunteers by looking after their interests and needs.

Evaluating Volunteer Outcomes

Managing the performance of workers can be quite daunting. Having smooth systems in place will protect volunteers and will support you to manage day-to-day challenges. Topics for this session include appraising and managing disputes, performing evaluations, disciplinary action, engaging in difficult discussions with volunteers, dismissals and saying farewell.

Leadership

A functioning organisation requires strong leadership. Essential for all Volunteer Managers, this workshop is also advantageous for anyone on a Committee or Board. It focuses on the importance of leadership in the management of volunteers and explores different models of leadership and how they can help you to engage and retain volunteers.

Supervision

Increase productivity, loyalty and commitment from volunteers by exploring your supervision style. Learn how to negotiate tricky volunteer situations and how to communicate effective feedback to volunteers. We’ll also uncover common reasons for conflict and grievances and how to avoid them.

Enhancing Access to Diversity

By expanding your recruitment to include a diversity of volunteers you’ll open a whole new world that may be extremely rewarding for your organisation, clients and volunteers. This session looks at different recruitment methods to attract multicultural volunteers, provide a welcoming and inclusive environment, and how to avoid discriminatory practices. This is critical for all modern organisations.

Developed especially for clubs, community groups and smaller organisations, these valuable workshops provide critical information needed for participants to feel in control of volunteer programs and to help their groups to flourish.

Each workshop can be delivered in one and a half hours or combine two or more workshops to enhance your participants needs. The series follows the new Volunteer Management Model so participants get similar information to their larger organisation counterparts, but a more localised, short and sharp and relevant experience.

Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers

Volunteers will be motivated to stay you’re your organisation when they understand your organisations Vision, Mission and Values and the reason why you have the systems and structures in place for them.

This workshop covers and is not limited to the following topics:

  • Recruiting and retaining volunteers.
  • Developing a recruitment message to attract volunteers.
  • Aligning your vision and purpose with recruitment.
  • Volunteer rights and responsibilities. 

Rewarding and Recognising Volunteers

Discover the most cost effective ways of making your organisation somewhere volunteers will love to work.

  • This workshop covers and is not limited to the following topics:
  • Orientation and the values of education and training.
  • Rewarding and recognising volunteers.
  • How to keep and motivate great volunteers.

Team Dynamics

Why do some teams work well together and other teams don’t?

No two teams are exactly the same, so improving team dynamics starts with identifying any issues and developing a tailored strategy for your team.

This workshop covers and is not limited to the following topics:

  • How to manage team conflict.
  • How to build an effective team.
  • Enhancing team culture and communication.

 Building Leadership Skills

Good leaders nurture the strengths and talents of people and build teams committed to achieving common goals.

This workshop covers and is not limited to the following topics:

  • Essential leadership qualities.
  • Understanding a range of communication styles.
  • Making hard decisions and recognising success.

Resolving Conflict, Grievances and Dismissals

Wherever possible, an early resolution of difficulties and conflict between volunteers and or employers is to be preferred by using a structured and systematic approach. 

This workshop covers and is not limited to the following topics:

  • Handling conflict, grievances and dismissals fairly, efficiently and effectively.
  • Organisations policies and procedures.
  • Accountability and learning.

Volunteer Communication Skills

The ability to communicate effectively with anyone is essential, no matter what organisation you work for. You must know how to effectively convey and receive messages in person as well as via the telephone, email and social media.

This workshop covers and is not limited to the following topics:

  • Communicating cross generational.
  • Face to face and written communication.
  • Communicating with confidence and an open mind.

Writing Successful Grant Applications

Each year millions of dollars are given away to community groups in grants funding. The trick is ensuring your group or organisation is one of the recipients.

This workshop covers and is not limited to the following topics:

  • What does a funding agency look for in a grant?
  • Developing relationships or partnerships with other not for profit organisations.
  • The five steps to putting together a successful grant.

Enhancing Access to Diversity

By expanding your recruitment efforts to include a diversity of volunteers you’ll open a whole new world that could be extremely rewarding for your organisation, clients and existing volunteers.

This workshop covers and is not limited to the following topics:

  • How to reach and manage diverse volunteers.
  • Providing a welcoming and inclusive environment.
  • Avoiding discriminatory practices.

Please contact our Manager Training and Development, to find out more information including pricing structure.

Workshop Fees

All Foundation and Masterclass workshop fees include credit card fees and GST. For more details about the workshop fees, please click on Upcoming Training and choose the course you are interested in or contact our Manager Training and Development

Upcoming volunteer management training sessions

Volunteering WA offers cutting-edge workshops as well as Continuous Professional Development (CPD), which is the practice of maintaining and developing the skills and knowledge required in your current role, sector and beyond.

This program will support your continuous professional development by formally recognising the work you are doing to raise the standards of volunteer leadership in their organisation and across our state.

The CPD will be achieved through a range of methods including learning on the job, reading relevant articles, attending and/ or participating in events, joining industry committees and groups, as well as formal training. 

There are now events scheduled.