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From the CEO
In late November, the UN General Assembly resolved that volunteering was a key part of achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Centre for Volunteering welcomes this global recognition of the importance of volunteering to civil society.
The resolution - “Integrating volunteering into peace and development: the plan of action for the next decade and beyond” was adopted during the seventieth session of the UN General Assembly.
It encouraged Governments and other stakeholders to incorporate volunteerism to build peace and development, and called out using volunteerism to enable youth to contribute to an inclusive society as personal development. Why volunteering is seen as critical is due to its ability to:
- Provide technical support such as corporate volunteers to public institutions or communities
- Volunteer organisations can serve as brokers of engagement, connecting governmental strategies and initiatives with complementary, yet essential, community voluntary action.
- Volunteers facilitate changes in mindsets by raising awareness or championing changes for the long term
- Volunteerism, as a form of civic engagement, is a way to strengthen state-citizen accountability mechanisms for the coming decades.
From a NSW perspective, we can see, how volunteering has such far reaching impact on our society through the 2015 Volunteer of the Year awards. The story and work of each volunteer connects, improves and lifts communities.
As we move into 2016, we hope to continue to bring volunteerism to the forefront and highlight its positive impact on uplifting our communities.
I would like to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas. I look forward to working with you in 2016.
Regards
Gemma.
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(from L-R) MP John Ajacka, Paula Duncan AM, Mark Rushton
Overall 2015 Volunteer of the Year is Mark Rushton
This year, Mark Rushton was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award for his incredible work founding and developing Blowfly Cricket Club. We congratulate all our finalists and winners for 2015, which were announced at a Gala held at 99 on York on December 4 2015. The winners are:
Volunteer of the Year - Mark Rushton, Blowfly Cricket Club
Lifetime Achievement Award - The Holocaust Survivor Volunteer Guides, Sydney Jewish Museum
Senior Volunteer of the Year - Eleanor Blow, from Broken Hill, Far West Local Health District
Adult Volunteer of the Year- Mark Rushton, Blowfly Cricket Club
Volunteer Team of the Year -Sailors with disABILITIES, Sydney
Excellence in Volunteer Management - Managers of the DigiVol Program, Australian Museum, Sydney
Youth Volunteer of the Year - Joshua Osborne from Armidale, Armidale Dumaresq SES
Student Volunteer of the Year - Tegan Butts, from Newcastle, St John Ambulance NSW
Corporate Volunteer Team of the Year - The Atlassian Foundation, Sydney
Corporate Volunteer of the Year - Melissa Booth from Surgical Specialties, Frenchs Forest
Thank you to everyone who attended our awards and everyone who nominated a volunteer this year.
The awards would not have been possible if not for the support of our principal partners, Department of Family and Community Serivces, ClubsNSW and sponsors, BUPA Aged Care, Nova Employment, Etchcraft and Seiko.
For more images from the day, visit our photo gallery
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Early Bird registration for the National Volunteering Conference 2016 closes 22 January 2016
Keynote speakers include Jean Kittson, who will bring her humour and quick wit to The Great Debate: Which Generation makes the Best Volunteer as well as John Brogden whose keynote address will be Want to be a better Leader? Put Yourself First.
Full conference program is now available here.
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Networking Events in 2016
Thank you to everyone who attended our events in 2015 - making them an invaluable experience for all. 2016 is fast approaching so book your spot at our first networking events in 2016 today.
Panel Discussion - Spotlight on innovation volunteer program
25 February 2016, from 2 - 4pm, at The Centre for Volunteering
Find Out More/ BOOK NOW
Exclusive Onsite Tour for Volunteer Managers - The Royal Easter Show
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW - Volunteer Program
22 March 2016 from 10am -12pm
Find Out More/ BOOK NOW
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Christmas/ New Year Operating Hours
The Centre will be closed from Monday, December 21, 2015 and will re-open on Monday, January 11, 2016
Volunteer Referral Service will be closed from Wednesday, December 16, 2015 and will re-open on Monday, January 11, 2016.
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Woolloomooloo Wharf Raffle Winners
The Raffle was drawn on Friday, December 4. Congratulations to all our raffle winners and thanks for all your support. See here for more details.
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Donate
The Centre for Volunteering is a not-for-profit organisation and we rely on external funding, partnerships, membership and donations to provide services to volunteers and the community. Your tax-deductible donation will help us provide awareness, recruitment, advocacy and capacity building projects to the volunteering sector and the community.
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