National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week (NVW) is an annual event which started in 1989 and aims to promote volunteering. Traditionally volunteer involving organisations have used the week as a way of attracting new volunteers but recent research by Volunteering Australia shows that this focus has changed. The week is now seen as a way to celebrate volunteering and thank volunteers.
In 2010 NVW ran from 10 - 16 May, and the theme is 'Volunteers: Now, more than ever'.
Message from Patron & Chair
National Volunteer Week 2010 begins today and across Western Australia it gives us an opportunity to come together and celebrate the wonderful spirit of volunteering that contributes so much to the social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being of our state.
Each year more than 583,400 Western Australians over the age of 18 generously give their time, energy and expertise to formally help others in need, the environment, or a special cause. This equates to more than 146,000 full time jobs and annually contributes more than $2.1 billion to the state's economy – truly an extraordinary gift that deserves recognition and support.
It is particularly inspiring to see that currently the fastest growth area in volunteering is the 18 – 34 age range. Young Western Australians want to and are willing to step out and make a difference.
Volunteers young and older are a precious resource vital to the health and well-being of Western Australia that we collectively need to value, maintain and invest in as we move into the future.
If you are thinking of giving something back through volunteering, National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to discover the enormous diversity of experiences available. By lending a hand you will soon appreciate that volunteering is mutually rewarding with volunteers gaining as much as they give.
As Patron and Chair of Volunteering WA, we pay special tribute to all Western Australia's volunteers during this week of celebration – Thank you - where would we be without you?
- Stan Perron AM CitWA - Patron and Matt Rutter- Chair
NVW breakfast
Western Australia's annual National Volunteer Week (NVW) Breakfast was held on Wednesday 12 May in the Astral Room at the Burswood Entertainment Resort. This year the theme ‘Now more than ever" promotes the importance of a strong, sustainable, innovative volunteering sector to the community, economic and environmental well-being of our nation.
Volunteering WA officially signed the National Compact at the breakfast along with other Volunteer Resource Centres who attended. More information on the Compact can be found on the National Compact website.
Promotion and media
Information on National Volunteer Week was sent by Volunteering WA to over 72 media outlets throughout WA. In addition to this Volunteering Australia also sent out media releases nationwide.
On Monday 12 May there was a NVW feature liftout in the West Australian newspaper.
Also on Monday 12 May Volunteering WA had a stall in Murray Street Mall where we promoted volunteering to the general public.
Joondalup VRC
Joonalup VRC hosted a morning tea on Friday 14 May at The Gallery, Joondalup Reception Centre. Guests included VWA volunteers, member organisations in the Joondalup area, local volunteer involving organisations and City of Joondalup staff. Yummy cupcakes that were more like works of art were on offer.
Launch of Online Governance Tool for volunteering sector
Volunteering WA are pleased to announce the launch of an online Governance Tool. The Tool is a web based resource that has been developed through a partnership between Volunteering WA and Blue Zoo. Blue Zoo is a boutique business Advisory practice specialising in governance, strategy and risk whose headquarters are in WA.
The Tool can be used by Volunteer Resources Centres, in the first instance, to assess and raise management standards in the voluntary sector. Volunteering WA is delighted to be able to offer this resource for free to VRCs. We hope to then be able to role it out to our members and to a wider range of volunteer involving organisations in the community.
The Governance Tool is easy to work with, users complete a checklist which covers where they are at the start, lets them select where they would like to be and gives them advice on how to get there. It provides the ability to benchmark and report on the maturity of an organisations governance capability against a framework, standard, process or philosophy. It will promote good practice in governance in our sector and will allow users to see where they fit in with the average.
Free volunteer training modules
Volunteering WA have purchased 500 training places on a new training module which we are offering to our members for free. To find out more take a look at our training page.
Launch of award nominations
Do you know a person who has made a significant contribution to the community through volunteering or excellence in volunteer management?
Nominations will officially open for the annual volunteering awards, presented by Volunteering WA, during National Volunteer Week. Read more about the awards here.
Sample Volunteer Manual
One final thing we will be launching during National Volunteer Week is a sample Volunteer Manual. This resource will be available for download for free from our website and can be used and customised by other volunteer involving groups.
More information
For more information and facts on NVW including resources, please see the Volunteering Australia website.