VQ supports over 300 member organisations | Get involved in volunteering!
For the past eight months Volunteering Queensland has joined a number of other social services sector leaders to work with QCOSS on the Make Queensland Fair campaign. The campaign aimed to address the significant impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on Queensland households. As a result, we saw a number of strategies announced by the State Government in the recent Budget to ease some of these costs – including electricity and public transport cost relief.
This week QCOSS released the Living Affordability in Queensland 2024 report based on their biannual cost-of-living survey. Housing, energy bills, food and transport were the leading categories of increased household costs. Whilst the strategies currently in place have made a tangible difference in helping to keep some families afloat temporarily, the report found that more targeted and sustained support is needed. Households are spending a greater percentage of their income on rent, they may choose to compromise basic food or healthcare needs, are struggling to meet schooling costs and are highly vulnerable to financial shocks and indebtedness, with no capacity to meet unplanned expenses.
This has a significant impact on volunteering and the ability of some volunteers to continue giving. More individuals and families in crisis places rising demand on community services which in turn increases the need for volunteers who may themselves be struggling and having to step back. We encourage organisations to support volunteer costs through travel or food/cost subsidies where possible.
We know this is a difficult time for volunteer involving organisations to balance these demands, and to recruit new volunteers from communities that have little left to give. This places extra pressure on staff to cover these roles, as well as provide support and assistance to their volunteers. It is timely to consider how you can provide increased support to your volunteer managers/coordinators and other impacted staff. There are excellent training and education resources available through the VQ website and across the web. There may also be additional workplace support and resources that can be accessed through your existing employee assistance providers.
Jane Hedger
Volunteering Queensland CEO
Action Plan 2024 – 2027
Volunteering Australia has released a three-year Action Plan designed to address priorities for implementing the National Strategy for Volunteering. It provides opportunities for everyone in the volunteering ecosystem to flexibly contribute to advancing items in the Plan. The Action Plan identifies lead stakeholders who bear responsibility to progress their actions. It also details dozens of supporting actions: opportunities for others in the volunteering ecosystem to flexibly contribute to Action Plan 2024-2027 and the implementation of the National Strategy.
The Action Plan has 22 actions, which include:
- New volunteering data collection, including a survey to measure the volunteer experience;
- Greater consistency and alignment of volunteering funding, policies and strategic initiatives;
- Establishing forums and communities of practice to share knowledge;
- Campaigns to raise awareness of volunteering and share volunteering stories;
- Sharing research insights and identifying future topics to explore;
- Development and sharing of resources to support volunteer management.
If you’re interested in engaging further with the implementation of the Action Plan and the National Strategy, join the Coalition of Support.
Introducing the Volunteering Gateway
Introducing the Volunteering Gateway, designed for Volunteer Managers, Coordinators and Leaders across Australia. Whether you’re looking for a new tool, help with recruitment, training opportunities, or access to resources from e-learning to research – the Volunteering Gateway can help.
Built with you in mind, it’s easy-to-navigate and offers a wealth of curated resources to make your job easier. We know how much work people who manage volunteers do, now finally everything you need is in one place.
Spotlight Resource of the Month
Breaking Down the Barriers to Youth Volunteering
Young people are invaluable. They can bring creativity, enthusiasm and new perspectives to an organisation as employees and volunteers. This course is designed for youth volunteer managers and coordinators, you will explore some ideas to: engage youth volunteers, retain youth volunteers, reframe and redesign volunteering projects to better accommodate youth volunteers.
Volunteer Management Essentials:
Management Skills
Thursday 10 October
1pm – 2pm
Volunteer Leadership
Network Meeting
Wednesday 16 October
10am – 11:30am
Implementing the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement
Wednesday 23 October
10am – 12pm
Volunteer Management Essentials:
Designing Roles
Tuesday 29 October
10am – 11am
Ready to elevate your volunteer programs?
Join us for the launch of our Non-Accredited Active Volunteering Course and start empowering your volunteers today!
This course offers structured, yet flexible training designed to boost the competencies of volunteers, enabling them to take on a broader range of roles and responsibilities.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to foster continuous learning and development within your organisation.
Sign up now and take the first step towards a stronger, more resilient volunteer program!
Contact training@volunteeringqld.org.au
Nominations are open for the Queensland Community Impact Awards
Run every year by QCOSS, the Queensland Community Impact Awards are a great chance to celebrate and recognise the many people who make a huge difference in our community – many of whom are volunteers of course!
There are six categories:
- Frontline Hero,
- Human Rights,
- Community Impact,
- Social Impact Leader,
- Prevention Excellence, and
- Women’s Equality Advocate.
Be prepared for disaster season
Being prepared before a disaster hits could be the difference between staying safe or putting yourself and those you love in danger.
What do you do in the good times to ensure you’re ready to help each other when it matters?
Prepare yourself and find out more here.
Research Project on Effective Leadership in the Community Social Services Sector
Researchers at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) are seeking volunteers and staff to take a short survey to help explore the effective leadership practices most likely to satisfy and retain volunteers and staff in particular, and the workforces of the Social Services sector in general.
Your responses will be sent directly to the research team and your anonymity is ensured. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Tram.Tran@utas.edu.au (Tram Tran – UTAS PhD candidate).
Note: This study has been approved by the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee (H0030286).
VQ supports over 300 member organisations | Join our community
news@volunteeringqld.org.au | volunteeringqld.org.au
Ph. 07 3002 7600 | Level 12, 127 Creek St, Brisbane, 4000