e-news member,

Welcome to the September edition of our newsletter. Make a date in your diary for 5 November which is International Volunteer Manager Day. Volunteering WA will be celebrating this day and we hope that the Volunteer Manager's among you will join us. More details in the next newsletter.

1. Volunteering WA AGM & membership renewal
2. Two important sector issues
3. Youth Volunteering update
4. Enhancing Access Project funding draws to a close
5. Wheatbelt Project update
6. Grants available for community groups
7. Volunteer stories
8. Homeless Connect 2009
9. 2009 Count Us In Awards
10. Welcome to new members...
11. September’s hot resource tip!

Volunteering WA AGM & membership renewal

Volunteering WA's AGM will be held at 3.00pm on Tuesday 27 October in the Conference Room at City West Lotteries House 2 Delhi Street West Perth. We ask all financial members to come along and show the strength of your support of volunteering in WA and that if you can't make it then please forward your proxy. Information on the AGM will be sent to all financial members by the end of August.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to renew your financial membership, it's great to have you on board again for another year.

If for some reason you haven't received a renewal email from us please contact us on 9482 4333 to rejoin or email info@volunteeringwa.org.au.

Two important sector issues

National Compact

The Australian Government, as part of its social inclusion agenda, wants to develop a new and stronger relationship with the Third Sector in Australia. One identified way to do this is through a National Compact - an agreement between the Australian Government and the Third Sector which will describe how we will work together to improve and strengthen our relationship to support the provision of policy advice and the delivery of services to the community.

Discussions centre on the National Compact Consultation Paper, which outlines why the government and the sector think that a National Compact is important. It describes the principles we believe should underpin the compact and outlines some of the areas for action that we think we should be focusing on. A copy of this is available at www.socialinclusion.gov.au/Compact/Pages/default.aspx.

If you would like to contribute you can register on their online forum at www.socialinclusion.gov.au/forums.

FaHCSIA review

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) is reviewing its approach to supporting volunteering. As a part of this process, it is undertaking a review of the services provided to Government by Volunteering Australia (VA), our national peak body for volunteering.

The impact and outcomes of a review of the national peak body for volunteering are important and will affect the whole volunteering sector. VWA members are therefore encouraged to participate in the review by providing their own independent responses in whichever way they feel most comfortable.

If you would like register an interest to receive further information about opportunities for input into the review please email: melissa.ford@fahcsia.gov.au.

For more information on the National Compact or the FaHCSIA review please feel free to contact us on 9482 4333 or info@volunteeringwa.org.au.

Youth volunteering update

UWA Hub a Step Closer!

Volunteering WA is delighted to announce that Jennifer Brown has accepted the position of UWA Guild Volunteer Hub Manager. Jenni brings over 20 years of professional experience in volunteer management and the hospitality industry and was recently working with the WA Deaf Society.

She is a qualified trainer (Cert IV in workplace training and assessment) and enjoys working with volunteers, particularly facilitating and conducting training programs. There will be a joint venture signing ceremony between Volunteering WA and the UWA Guild at UWA mid-October. From then, the Hub will begin its activities as a vibrant volunteer resource centre run by and for students.

Community Service in Schools

Give20 is still the place to go for student community service opportunities. Even though as of next year, schools will no longer be funded to have a Community Service coordinator, many will still involve their students in ongoing volunteer activities. Please continue to include service opportunities for young people at your organisation – they enjoy the challenge and want to assist you in your work!

Please also note that Volunteering WA is investigating how students involved in service can still gain credit towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and/or the International Baccalaureate (IB), which will be introduced in 30 government schools next year.

Enhancing Access Project funding draws to a close

The end of June was a sad time for everyone at Volunteering WA, as it meant the end of the funding for the Enhancing Access Project. The project has benefitted many people around Perth and in regional areas in many ways. In fact, over the life of the project, Volunteering WA

• provided Disability Awareness Training to 1577 people in Western Australia
• directly supported 99 people into volunteering positions, including mentoring people for up to four weeks as necessary
• supported 962 independent volunteers to find positions
• distributed $52 900 in grants to VRCs and organisations committed to welcoming to people with disabilities and those recovering from mental illness into their volunteer rosters

Volunteering WA continues to be supportive of people with disabilities and those recovering from mental illness. However, due to funding restrictions, we are not able to provide the same level of support as during the project. As such, VWA will happily assist independent volunteers, and volunteers who have carers to accompany them in their volunteering efforts.

Volunteering WA wishes to express sincere thanks to Disability Services Commission and Lotterywest for their generosity in funding the Enhancing Access Project. The EA online resource is available at - http://ea.volunteeringwa.org.au.

Wheatbelt Project update

Volunteering WA is proud to announce the beginning of stage two of the Better Connections – Wheatbelt Volunteering Project! VWA has entered into a partnership with the Wheatbelt Development Commission (WDC) to empower communities in the area to deliver services and resources to their volunteer groups.

A steering committee has been formed, including FESA, Department of Sport and Recreation, Country Arts WA, WDC, and VWA. The team is working together to create a pilot project to support volunteering groups in the area, and the project should be up and running within six months.

For more information, please contact Grant Arthur (WDC) on 9622 7222 or Martha Barnard (VWA) on 9482 4310.

Grants available for community groups

FaHCSIA volunteer grants

Volunteer Grants 2009 provides funding for eligible non profit organisations to support their volunteers and encourage volunteering. Applications close on 25 September 2009. For more information see the FaHCSIA website.

Seniors Week Community Grants

Seniors Week Community Grants are available for events during Seniors Week. Details are available here.

Volunteer stories

We are featuring volunteers of all kinds and groupings on our website www.volunteeringwa.org.au and invite you to send in your volunteer profiles. Have a look at the first batch on our website.

Please send us your suggestions, with a photograph and brief description (maxiumum 100 words). The photograph should ideally be an action shot, of the volunteer or group of volunteers, preferably engaged in their volunteering activity. Even showing the volunteer dressed for the part, holding something related to the activity, would help.

Send suggestions to info@volunteeringwa.org.au.

Homeless Connect 2009

Volunteering WA is proud to partner again with the City of Perth for the second Homeless Connect event. Following on from the success of last year Homeless Connect 2009 will take place on Wednesday 25 November at Citiplace Community Centre, Perth Railway Station Concourse.

For volunteering, donation and service provider participation opportunities visit the VWA website or contact us on info@volunteeringwa.org.au or 9482 4333.

2009 Count Us In Awards

The Disability Services Commission and People with Disabilities (WA) Inc. are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2009 Count Us In Awards.

These annual awards showcase the achievements of people and organisations which strengthen opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in professional and community life. They also highlight the abilities of people with disabilities, and show how the community becomes enriched for embracing the talents and contributions of all members.

There are six award categories including the Count Us In Award for an Individual, which recognises individuals with or without a disability working in a voluntary capacity to improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities within the wider community. The awards will be presented at an event at Burswood Entertainment Complex on 3 December as part of the International Day of People with a Disability celebrations.

If you know an individual helping improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities, nominate them for a Count Us in Award NOW!

For more information and to make a nomination visit www.countusin.com.au or contact stephen.eadie@dsc.wa.gov.au. Nominations close on 19 October 2009.

Welcome to new members...

• Riding for the Disabled - Oakford
• Yirra Yaakin Aboriginal Corporation
• Westcoast Community Centre
• Amanda Young Foundation
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• WA Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation
• Arthritis Foundation of WA
• Organ and Donation and Transplant Foundation of WA

We look forward to working with you.

September’s hot resource tip!

Find Christmas volunteers early

We’ve already started to receive enquiries for people keen to volunteer some time on Christmas day. If you have any suitable Christmas positions please let us know and we will pass them on to the potential volunteers.

Contact us on info@volunteeringwa.org.au to let us know of any positions you may have or use one of our position listing forms.