VQ News supports over 300 member organisations | Get involved in volunteering!


As we commemorate 40 years of being your state’s peak body for volunteering, we look forward to celebrating the many stories and incredible moments that have shaped our sector since 1983.   Watch this space!

It is also an important time to consider the future of volunteering across Queensland as we continue to respond to your ever-changing needs and the broader volunteering ecosystem.

Last year at our Annual General Meeting we informed members of our intentions to transition from an Incorporated Association to a Company Limited by Guarantee, enabling Volunteering Queensland to operate more efficiently as well as deliver on the goals outlined in Volunteering Queensland’s 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan.

From Andy and the VQ Membership Team

Hear from our President Mr Brett Johnson on the planned changes to our constitution.

Welcome to our newest members!

GREAT NEWS!

The nomination period for the Queensland Volunteering Awards has now been extended until 5pm March 24th!

If you haven't had the chance to nominate your volunteers or your volunteer program you still can!


We can't wait to read all the stories about our Queensland volunteers.  Finalists announced April 14.

Bookmark this page! See the latest training events to support your management of volunteers below or visit the Volunteering Queensland website.

Have specific needs for your team? We also offer bespoke training sessions covering a range of topics. Contact reception@volunteeringqld.org.au for more information 

Volunteer Management Essentials: Recruitment Methods 09 March, 1 pm - 2 pm
Volunteer Management Essentials: Onboarding 22 March, 10 am - 11 am
Volunteer Managers Network Meeting 18 April, 11 am - 12 pm
Implementing the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement 16 March, 10 am - 12 pm
New Volunteering Queensland Member Onboarding 30 March, 10 am - 11 am
Engaging Corporate Volunteers 27 April, 1 pm - 2 pm

My Governance Journey Launch

Life just got a little easier for the local volunteers who keep our community organisations running.  To help, Volunteering Queensland is about to launch its new online tool: My Governance Journey. 

It’s a plain English guide to what you need to know when you join a Committee or Board and points people to the best available resources depending on where they are on their journey as a Governance member. 


My Governance Journey has been designed to help you enjoy the experience of volunteering in a governance role in an organisation that means something to you.

Volunteering Queensland is pleased to provide new resources to help you to meet best practice and align with the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.  The Volunteer Manager’s Marketing Kit features guides on Recruiting, Onboarding and Retaining Volunteers as well as a Brochure and Presentation to assist in marketing volunteering in your community.   

Access the resources here.

We have been reviewing the results of the 2022 Volunteer Sector Survey. We received close to 150 submissions thank you! Work has started that will give an update on trends, challenges and successes in the volunteering sector. 

In the meantime, here are some of the key things that you’ve told us: 

  • Leadership, governance and boards are big concerns for volunteer involving organisations. Training on management and governance were the top suggestions for workshops, and "difficulty finding people for boards or other leadership roles" was the most common emerging challenge. 

  • Another significant challenge was "volunteers' cost of living affecting their ability to commit or turn up". More than nine in ten of the people who identified this challenge said that it is getting worse.

  • COVID-19 is still a challenge, but some people feel that its negative impact on recruiting and retaining volunteers isn’t as bad as earlier. 

Stay tuned for the full report! 

A group of representatives from Volunteering Queensland were proud to participate in the National Volunteering Conference 2023 held last month in Canberra.  Recordings are now available!

It was a fabulous opportunity to meet many of our colleagues from around Australia, all uniting to share, learn and celebrate the launch Australia's first national strategy for volunteering in ten years. Read the strategy document here.

Congratulations to the 14 participants who completed the Volunteering Queensland Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program for Volunteer Managers in 2022! The CPD Program is a nationally recognised accreditation for volunteer managers, enabling individuals to enhance their skills and knowledge to better support and manage volunteers.  

Expressions of interest for the 2023 Program are now open to Volunteering Queensland member organisations. To find out more about the program, click here.

Volunteering Queensland is delighted to be working with volunteer involving organisations to deliver support and resources through the Volunteer Management Activity Program, funded by the Australian Government. 
 
6 partnership projects are currently funded to break down barriers for three identified priority groups: 

  • People with disability 
  • First Nations People 
  • Newly arrived migrants 

We look forward to sharing stories of the outcomes of these programs.  Volunteering Queensland will develop further partnership opportunities through grant funding, targeted programs and sharing resources over the coming year. 

Read more

Volunteer Management Report 2023

"As we rebound from the immense impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on
volunteer-driven organizations, we have cause to be optimistic. Overall volunteer
numbers are up, as well as volunteer hours. And nonprofits understand, now more than ever, the need for active volunteers to meet their missions." 

Read the US report from VolunteerPro by clicking on the image.

The Commonwealth, State and Territory treasurers have announced Australia will have a nationally consistent set of fundraising principles to replace the outdated and ineffective web of existing rules.
The Government will continue its commitment to those who give up their time to help improve their communities through an additional $4 million funding boost for up to 37 Volunteering Resource Centres until 2024.

“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”  Winston Churchill

 

David Crosbie nominates is his three most important recommendations from a report he calls the most important one he has read in years. It summarises all major recommendations from the key national inquiries into charities and NFPs over the past 30 years.

(courtesy of ProBono News)

Read the opinion piece
VQ News supports over 300 member organisations | Get involved in volunteering!

Thank for your continued membership with Volunteering Queensland.   We look forward to supporting you throughout 2023.
 
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news@volunteeringqld.org.au | www.volunteeringqld.org.au

Ph. 07 3002 7600 | 127 Creek St, Brisbane, 4000

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Volunteering Queensland acknowledges and recognises the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to reconciliation with our First Nation's People - Australia's First Volunteers.