VNZ Update August 2009
Tuesday 1 September 2009.
Registrations climbing for "Volunteering Unleashed" Conference
With more than 100 registered for the "Volunteering Unleashed" conference and the final details of the programme nearing completion, all is looking well for an excellent conference in Wellington on 28/29 October. An updated draft of the programme can be found at this link http://www.volunteeringnz.org.nz/files/Conference09/VNZ_Programme_2009_a... . There is still time to register so if you are planning to come and have not done so we would encourage you to register now through this link to our website.
The group will provide advice to the Board on matters related to VNZ's constitution, strategic and operational plans, policies, government engagement and projects that the Board identifies and develops to support and advance Maori and Pacific volunteering.
The group has identified as areas for action the recommendations in the Mahi Aroha report and recommendations which arose from VNZ's consultation with Pacific community representatives last year.
Last year saw the first election of board members under the new constitution with the election of all six of the Board members who are elected to the Board. There are also places for three appointed members for Maori, Pacific Island and other ethnic communities.
Board members are elected or appointed for two year terms with a maximum of three terms before standing down for at least one year. There is to be an election for three of the elected positions each year so that there is a rolling cycle of elections. The three people to end their term this year were chosen by lot at the Board's recent meeting. They are Lloyd Davies, Alison Marshall and Olwen Taylor. They are all eligible for to stand for election again.
Most pleasing was the number who went on to register their interest in specific positions. In June there were 395 registrations. The previous best was in March when 375 registered. There were even more in July - 430 and the results of August are almost as good. At 30 August, there were 390 registrations.
Given the current recessionary period, there has been an increase in the numbers who register as being "unemployed/looking for work" or receiving a benefit or income assistance. Since February this year, the number in these two groups has increased both in overall numbers and as a proportion of the total numbers registering. The combined numbers for these two groups topped or has been the second biggest group since February. Students are the other group to be regularly near at the top. The third group with significant numbers each month are full time workers.
I never cease to be amazed about the many different ways in which New Zealanders give to others as volunteers. May I share an example. Recently my wife Suriah needed to have a cataract replaced. The operation was on a Friday and she was seen by her doctor the next day, Saturday morning, because he was going to Fiji.
We asked about his plans for the visit and he told us he would be doing cataract surgery aboard the specially equipped mission ship for Fijians from the outlying islands who did not have the money needed to go and have the operation in Suva or Lautoka. His wife, who been nursing in her younger days, was going to look after the autoclaving. Both would be unpaid for their work - volunteers. He added that he had done this type of service over a number of years in other parts of the world with the travel and accommodation expenses paid for. However on this occasion he and his wife were paying themselves for this. We saw him again on his return and learned about some of those he treated. They included young people and some who were completely blind and needed both cataracts done at the same time. He felt very rewarded by the great joy they had in being able to see again.
VNZ would also like to recognise its team of volunteers. The first to join our team was Peri Te Wao, who has prepared our annual report for printing for several years and also designed our promotional brochure. Our website in its present form was built by Steve Cochrane. Some transitional work was done recently by Leo Stretch and Mike Lin is helping Branka with further development. We also have a volunteer writer Nick Ruane. You will see one of his articles below.
The Social Services ITO is launching a new service to recognise the inhouse training programmes offered by social service agencies including training programmes for volunteers. ITO Chief Executive, Dr Rory Truell, said the service was a way to harness the untapped potential of inhouse training to help staff and volunteers gain national qualifications.
"Many social services have provided excellent training to their staff for years to meet the needs of their community," said Dr Truell. The inhouse training may be the only professional development made available at the social service agency, or in addition to formal training or workplace assessment.
"There are thousands of social service staff and volunteers who have no qualifications in
their field of expertise, yet they are working effectively and making significant contributions to their communities," said Dr Truell. The recognition service was one of the ITO's initiatives to support staff development in the social services sector.
The service is being established after a 12-month feasibility study. The 14 study participants included two iwi social services - Te Runanga O Raukawa and Te Runanga O Ngati Porou; youth services - YMCA, GirlGuiding, Scouts, and the Young New Zealanders' Challenge; as well as social services: Plunket, National Collective of Independent Women's Refuge, Family Support Agency (Rangiora), Taeaomanino Trust (Porirua), OUTlineNZ, Aotearoa NZ Association of Supervised Contact Services, and the Federation of Family Budgeting Services. Child, Youth and Family also participated.
By the end of the study in July 2009, 13 of the agencies had identified both how their inhouse training aligned to unit standards in social services and reviewed their training systems. "It was exciting to see how the social services were willing and enthusiastic about sharing their learning and experiences with each other, particularly through the organisational peer review process," said Dr Truell.
Feedback from the participants confirmed that the service:
The training system reviews highlighted areas for development and also examples of good practice. The ITO hosted a seminar for the wider social services sector in April 2009 to showcase three of the inhouse training models: Plunket, Women's Refuge and the Federation of Family Budgeting Services.
That feasibility study concluded that the ITO's capacity and sector interest was sufficient to introduce the service through a three-year roll-out plan with a full review in late 2012. Where agencies gain recognition status, the staff or volunteers on their inhouse training will be able to enrol in training agreements with the ITO. When the inhouse training is completed, the ITO will report the unit standards aligned to the inhouse training programme to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The intention is that people who gain unit standards through inhouse training will eventually complete a national qualification in social services.
As well as continuing to work with the groups involved in the feasibility study, the ITO will offer the opportunity for recognition to five more organisations each year. Social service agencies will be invited to submit an expression of interest in late 2009. The ITO will decide in the next few weeks what fees, if any, may be charged.
The roll-out plan will include investigating how to recognise the current competency and experience of existing staff and volunteers who have already been through the inhouse training. To find out more about the recognition service, contact Jac Lynch on jac [dot] lynch [at] tkaito [dot] co [dot] nz, or phone 04 915 7711 DD, or 0800 558 558
In December last year New Zealand held its first Attitude Awards, dedicated to honour the outstanding achievements of Kiwis living with disabilities. The event was a success and is being held again this year. ACC is a sponsor, and would encourage you to consider participation, in particular for the Attitude ACC Employer Award.
The winners in each category of the Attitude Awards and an overall Supreme Award winner will be announced on December 3 at Eden Park Function Centre, ASB Lounge, Auckland, coinciding with World Disability Day.
Categories include the Attitude Community Award, the Attitude Sportsman and Sportswoman, Courage in Sport, Person of the Year, Artistic Achievement, Youth, Spirit of Attitude, Attitude Hall of Fame and ACC Employer Awards. For further information click on this link http://www.disabilitytv.com/awards/
Four out of ten New Zealanders say they cannot live without the arts and 50 percent of New Zealanders aged 15 and over actively participated in the arts in the past year, many of them as volunteers. These are big numbers and reflect a feeling by New Zealanders that the arts represent an important part of their lives, which they cannot do without.
What motivates people in New Zealand to volunteer within the arts? Research has shown that two factors are common motivating factors. Firstly, their values; showing concern for others and causes important to them individually. Secondly, understanding; the desire for self development and new learning experiences.
A great example of just such a person, is "Sarah" (assumed name for privacy reasons). Sarah has been volunteering in the theatre as an usher for 12 years, since 1996. She says her motivation is that she loves going to the theatre, that it "feeds her soul" and that it enables her to see theatre she would not otherwise be able to see. This is a great example of Volunteering that fits "Sarah's" Values. She is supporting the theatre by volunteering, and that is a cause which is important to her personally.
Margaret also sees volunteering as an opportunity to, in her own words "feed her soul": as a form of self improvement and a new learning experience.
Another great example of volunteering in the Arts is found at the Museum of Wellington City and Sea which offers opportunities for volunteers to help with the care of the permanent exhibits, cataloguing of museum items, the creation of period costumes and the development of educational resources for educational visits.
The Department of Corrections in conjunction with Arts Access Aoteroa operates a wonderful volunteer based programme that assists prisoners in the creation of artwork, culminating in the prison art awards. Hon Pita Sharples, Associate Minister of Corrections opened the 2009 International Prisoners Art Competition from 6th till the 8th of May.
David Major, Director of the Prison Chaplaincy Service said, "Many prisoners find it difficult to express themselves through language… but they often find they are able to do this well through art". Prison art volunteers provide invaluable help with prisoners facilitating their expression through art.
Volunteers who contribute their time in the Arts share a passion for the arts and a real commitment to self improvement and new experiences.
The category winners were:
Heritage and Environment Orokonui Ecosanctuary Volunteers
Health and Well Being St John's Anglican Church -Roslyn
Arts and Culture The Regent Theatre/Otago Theatre Trust Volunteers
Sport and Leisure Purakanui Amenities Society
Educational and Child/Youth Development Dunedin English Language Partners
The other finalists were Daniel Kingsley Benn of Otago Boys High School, Dunstan Brook-Miller from Kings High School, Alice Marsh from Columba College, Yifei Tang from Bayfield High School, Brendon Lee from Kaikorai Valley College, Hannah Lomas from St Hilda's Collegiate and Emma Taylor from Queens High School.
TrustPower Community Relations Representative Melanie Gray said Griffin had proven himself to be a leader, well respected by his peers while managing to excel in his study, community service and sport. "Griffin has been raising awareness of the work of Amnesty International, not only in this community but on a worldwide scale. He both admires and personifies Amnesty International's philosophy, aims and ability to bring about change through peaceful means," said Miss Gray.
Kavanagh College Principal Paul Ferris described Griffin as "a special young man who has always been able to be part of the 'crowd' without loosing his personal integrity and independence.
"This dedicated team of volunteers have transformed an abandoned hatchery into a functioning one that incubated nearly one million salmon eggs this year, and have really boosted the numbers of adult salmon returning to our local rivers to spawn."
The category winners were:
Heritage and Environment McKinnons Creek Salmon Hatchery
Health and Well Being Heart Children South Canterbury
Arts and Culture Timaru District Choir
Sport and Leisure South Canterbury Dog Training Club
Educational and Child/Youth Development English Language Partners Aoraki
The theme on NZCOSS'biennial hui will be to look ahead towards the times of the economic recovery, how to plan for it, what positive social policies will emerge from harsh times we are living in at the moment and how NZCOSS and its member and associate organisations can have a significant part to play in the formulation of these policies. A couple of inspirational speakers will join the event and there will be enough of down time for training, interactive workshops, networking and contemplation.
NZCOSS members will be funded fully (not including travel costs). The cost for the others is $300 all inclusive (no travel included) for the two days or $100 per day without accommodation and travel included. Meals and teas on both days are included in the registration fee. Registrations will be available shortly and for further information, please feel to get in touch with either Ros or Jill at NZCOSS, 04 472 3364 or nzcoss [at] nzcoss [dot] org [dot] nz.
Asia Pacific IAVE conference will be hosted by IAVE Taiwan and Kaohsiung City Volunteer Association. "Volunteerism as a Lifestyle for Social Solidarity" will be the theme for the conference and there will be six streams:
Volunteering NZ asks any New Zealanders who plan to go to this Asia-Pacific conference to make contact with Tim Burns VNZ Executive Director at ed [at] volunteeringnz [dot] org [dot] nz. We would like to ensure any New Zealand representatives are acknowledged at the conference.
This event brings you three days of essential learning for these changing times. There will be opportunity for peer-networking, professional development and organisational capacity building in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere INCE09 represents a prime growth opportunity. It is now open for registrations - check it out on www.nfpn.com.au.
As part of the consultation, a new document has been released outlining the principles (that is the rules of engagement) and undertakings that result in a range of actions. These actions, as identified through the consultation, are to:
Volunteering Australia has invited involvement in the consultation process in a couple of ways.
Interested groups and individuals can download the consultation paper from the social inclusion website http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/Compact/Pages/default.aspx, and/or
comment on an e-forum discussion on the impact the National Compact will have on volunteers and volunteering. VA notes the Compact looks to the future sustainability and viability of volunteering. There is a registration process before comments can be added to the e-forum http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/Compact/Pages/OnlineForum.aspx
NZ Safety Week will run 7 - 13 September and this provides a great time to review the health and safety policies for your staff and volunteers. Keeping It Legal provides an excellent starting point, as Fact Sheet 10 provide a summary of all rights and duties which need to be considered. There are also a number of other resources listed below which you might use when it comes to the specific issues you might have and need advice on. Volunteering England has a great range of practical resources for tackling health and safety in different sectors such as arts. Keep safe!!
Duties owed to employees
In general, the Health and Safety in Employment Act requires employers to:
Employees are also required to take all practicable steps to ensure they are safe while at work and to ensure that they don't cause harm to others.
Duties owed to volunteers
Organisations that do not employ any paid staff owe their volunteers a general duty of care to provide for their safety. However, this duty is not enforceable under the Health and Safety in Employment Act, in that it does not attract any penalties. The duty encourages non-employers to ensure that their volunteers are safe within the workplace.
By contrast organisations that do employ paid staff also owe enforceable duties to their regular volunteers (see below).
Voluntary organisations should disclose any occupational health and safety requirements and any pending prosecutions to volunteers.
Duties owed by employers to regular volunteers
If a volunteer works on an ongoing and regular basis for an employer (an organisation that also employs paid staff) and is an integral part of its business, the employer owes the volunteer some, but not all, of the key duties that employers owe their employees, namely:
The duties involving training and supervision, and participation in health and safety processes, do not apply to these regular (or any other) volunteers. However, it is good practice for an organisation to ensure that its volunteers are adequately trained and supervised and to involve them in health and safety processes.
Regular volunteers are, like employees, required to take all practicable steps to ensure they are safe while at work and that they don't cause harm to others.
The duties owed to regular volunteers do not apply if the volunteer is involved in any of the following activities:
(http://www.voluntaryarts.org/uploaded/map167.pdf)This piece describes how to go about managing health and safety in accordance with the rules and regulations, and how to put a health and safety policy together.
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| Level 7, 75 Ghuznee Street, PO Box 24526, Wellington. Phone 64 4 3843636. Fax 64 4 3843637. Email: ed [at] volunteeringnz [dot] org [dot] nz | ||
August 2009
VOLUNTEERING NEW ZEALAND FOCUS:
Registrations climbing for "Volunteering Unleashed" Conference
With more than 100 registered for the "Volunteering Unleashed" conference and the final details of the programme nearing completion, all is looking well for an excellent conference in Wellington on 28/29 October. An updated draft of the programme can be found at this link http://www.volunteeringnz.org.nz/files/Conference09/VNZ_Programme_2009_a... . There is still time to register so if you are planning to come and have not done so we would encourage you to register now through this link to our website.VNZ Board has established a Maori and Pacific Advisory Group
A special advisory group from within the VNZ Board has been established to provide advice and guidance on how best VNZ should develop its relationship with Maori and the Pacific Island communities. It will also lead projects which aid the recognition and development of volunteering by Maori and Pacific people. Convenor of the group is Tyron Love, (Te Atiawa) and includes Jane Poa, VNZ Board member and manager of Hawkes Bay Pacific Health Services, VNZ Chairperson Alison Marshall, VNZ board member Dianne Denny, and VNZ Executive Director Tim Burns.The group will provide advice to the Board on matters related to VNZ's constitution, strategic and operational plans, policies, government engagement and projects that the Board identifies and develops to support and advance Maori and Pacific volunteering.
The group has identified as areas for action the recommendations in the Mahi Aroha report and recommendations which arose from VNZ's consultation with Pacific community representatives last year.
Nominations for VNZ Board to be called for
VNZ will be shortly making its formal request to VNZ members for nominations for election to three positions on the VNZ Board. This will represent the final step in implementing a new process for election of board members which began with the adoption of a revised constitution at the 2007 AGM.Last year saw the first election of board members under the new constitution with the election of all six of the Board members who are elected to the Board. There are also places for three appointed members for Maori, Pacific Island and other ethnic communities.
Board members are elected or appointed for two year terms with a maximum of three terms before standing down for at least one year. There is to be an election for three of the elected positions each year so that there is a rolling cycle of elections. The three people to end their term this year were chosen by lot at the Board's recent meeting. They are Lloyd Davies, Alison Marshall and Olwen Taylor. They are all eligible for to stand for election again.
Volunteer Awareness Week results in increased numbers registering to volunteer on VolunteerNow
As has happened in previous years, one outcome of the publicity achieved during Volunteer Awareness Week in June has been an increase in the numbers visiting and registering their interest in volunteer roles on www.volunteeringnz.org.nz. As in past years, this higher level of response has also carried through into July and August. The numbers of visits, hits and pages viewed all increased to new record levels in June (the daily averages for the month were 485 visits, 12131hits and 7982 pages).Most pleasing was the number who went on to register their interest in specific positions. In June there were 395 registrations. The previous best was in March when 375 registered. There were even more in July - 430 and the results of August are almost as good. At 30 August, there were 390 registrations.
Given the current recessionary period, there has been an increase in the numbers who register as being "unemployed/looking for work" or receiving a benefit or income assistance. Since February this year, the number in these two groups has increased both in overall numbers and as a proportion of the total numbers registering. The combined numbers for these two groups topped or has been the second biggest group since February. Students are the other group to be regularly near at the top. The third group with significant numbers each month are full time workers.
The diversity of ways in which New Zealanders is amazing
A reflection from Tim Burns, VNZ Executive DirectorI never cease to be amazed about the many different ways in which New Zealanders give to others as volunteers. May I share an example. Recently my wife Suriah needed to have a cataract replaced. The operation was on a Friday and she was seen by her doctor the next day, Saturday morning, because he was going to Fiji.
We asked about his plans for the visit and he told us he would be doing cataract surgery aboard the specially equipped mission ship for Fijians from the outlying islands who did not have the money needed to go and have the operation in Suva or Lautoka. His wife, who been nursing in her younger days, was going to look after the autoclaving. Both would be unpaid for their work - volunteers. He added that he had done this type of service over a number of years in other parts of the world with the travel and accommodation expenses paid for. However on this occasion he and his wife were paying themselves for this. We saw him again on his return and learned about some of those he treated. They included young people and some who were completely blind and needed both cataracts done at the same time. He felt very rewarded by the great joy they had in being able to see again.
VNZ would also like to recognise its team of volunteers. The first to join our team was Peri Te Wao, who has prepared our annual report for printing for several years and also designed our promotional brochure. Our website in its present form was built by Steve Cochrane. Some transitional work was done recently by Leo Stretch and Mike Lin is helping Branka with further development. We also have a volunteer writer Nick Ruane. You will see one of his articles below.
NEW ZEALAND NEWS
Social Services ITO launches service to recognise inhouse training programmes
The Social Services ITO is launching a new service to recognise the inhouse training programmes offered by social service agencies including training programmes for volunteers. ITO Chief Executive, Dr Rory Truell, said the service was a way to harness the untapped potential of inhouse training to help staff and volunteers gain national qualifications.
"Many social services have provided excellent training to their staff for years to meet the needs of their community," said Dr Truell. The inhouse training may be the only professional development made available at the social service agency, or in addition to formal training or workplace assessment.
"There are thousands of social service staff and volunteers who have no qualifications in
their field of expertise, yet they are working effectively and making significant contributions to their communities," said Dr Truell. The recognition service was one of the ITO's initiatives to support staff development in the social services sector.
The service is being established after a 12-month feasibility study. The 14 study participants included two iwi social services - Te Runanga O Raukawa and Te Runanga O Ngati Porou; youth services - YMCA, GirlGuiding, Scouts, and the Young New Zealanders' Challenge; as well as social services: Plunket, National Collective of Independent Women's Refuge, Family Support Agency (Rangiora), Taeaomanino Trust (Porirua), OUTlineNZ, Aotearoa NZ Association of Supervised Contact Services, and the Federation of Family Budgeting Services. Child, Youth and Family also participated.
By the end of the study in July 2009, 13 of the agencies had identified both how their inhouse training aligned to unit standards in social services and reviewed their training systems. "It was exciting to see how the social services were willing and enthusiastic about sharing their learning and experiences with each other, particularly through the organisational peer review process," said Dr Truell.
Feedback from the participants confirmed that the service:
- Created a professional pathway for staff and volunteers
- Strengthened their inhouse training systems and programmes
- Could contribute to enhancing quality control for service delivery
- Could acknowledge volunteer contributions
- Could provide a framework for planning training.
The training system reviews highlighted areas for development and also examples of good practice. The ITO hosted a seminar for the wider social services sector in April 2009 to showcase three of the inhouse training models: Plunket, Women's Refuge and the Federation of Family Budgeting Services.
That feasibility study concluded that the ITO's capacity and sector interest was sufficient to introduce the service through a three-year roll-out plan with a full review in late 2012. Where agencies gain recognition status, the staff or volunteers on their inhouse training will be able to enrol in training agreements with the ITO. When the inhouse training is completed, the ITO will report the unit standards aligned to the inhouse training programme to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The intention is that people who gain unit standards through inhouse training will eventually complete a national qualification in social services.
As well as continuing to work with the groups involved in the feasibility study, the ITO will offer the opportunity for recognition to five more organisations each year. Social service agencies will be invited to submit an expression of interest in late 2009. The ITO will decide in the next few weeks what fees, if any, may be charged.
The roll-out plan will include investigating how to recognise the current competency and experience of existing staff and volunteers who have already been through the inhouse training. To find out more about the recognition service, contact Jac Lynch on jac [dot] lynch [at] tkaito [dot] co [dot] nz, or phone 04 915 7711 DD, or 0800 558 558
Attitude Awards - call for entries
DEADLINE: 4 September 2009In December last year New Zealand held its first Attitude Awards, dedicated to honour the outstanding achievements of Kiwis living with disabilities. The event was a success and is being held again this year. ACC is a sponsor, and would encourage you to consider participation, in particular for the Attitude ACC Employer Award.
The winners in each category of the Attitude Awards and an overall Supreme Award winner will be announced on December 3 at Eden Park Function Centre, ASB Lounge, Auckland, coinciding with World Disability Day.
Categories include the Attitude Community Award, the Attitude Sportsman and Sportswoman, Courage in Sport, Person of the Year, Artistic Achievement, Youth, Spirit of Attitude, Attitude Hall of Fame and ACC Employer Awards. For further information click on this link http://www.disabilitytv.com/awards/
What motivates youth to volunteer being surveyed-
Youthline are trying to establish a picture about why and how young people like to volunteer, what young people would like to get out of volunteering and what barriers might get in the way of volunteering. The results from this survey are to help establish ways in which to get young people more involved in their communities. The survey can be accessed through the following link http://youthvoices.co.nz/index.php?option=com_rsform&formId=4&Itemid=999...VOLUNTEERING PEOPLE
Volunteering with passion in the Arts
by Nick Ruane, volunteer writer for VNZFour out of ten New Zealanders say they cannot live without the arts and 50 percent of New Zealanders aged 15 and over actively participated in the arts in the past year, many of them as volunteers. These are big numbers and reflect a feeling by New Zealanders that the arts represent an important part of their lives, which they cannot do without.
What motivates people in New Zealand to volunteer within the arts? Research has shown that two factors are common motivating factors. Firstly, their values; showing concern for others and causes important to them individually. Secondly, understanding; the desire for self development and new learning experiences.
A great example of just such a person, is "Sarah" (assumed name for privacy reasons). Sarah has been volunteering in the theatre as an usher for 12 years, since 1996. She says her motivation is that she loves going to the theatre, that it "feeds her soul" and that it enables her to see theatre she would not otherwise be able to see. This is a great example of Volunteering that fits "Sarah's" Values. She is supporting the theatre by volunteering, and that is a cause which is important to her personally.
Margaret also sees volunteering as an opportunity to, in her own words "feed her soul": as a form of self improvement and a new learning experience.
Another great example of volunteering in the Arts is found at the Museum of Wellington City and Sea which offers opportunities for volunteers to help with the care of the permanent exhibits, cataloguing of museum items, the creation of period costumes and the development of educational resources for educational visits.
The Department of Corrections in conjunction with Arts Access Aoteroa operates a wonderful volunteer based programme that assists prisoners in the creation of artwork, culminating in the prison art awards. Hon Pita Sharples, Associate Minister of Corrections opened the 2009 International Prisoners Art Competition from 6th till the 8th of May.
David Major, Director of the Prison Chaplaincy Service said, "Many prisoners find it difficult to express themselves through language… but they often find they are able to do this well through art". Prison art volunteers provide invaluable help with prisoners facilitating their expression through art.
Volunteers who contribute their time in the Arts share a passion for the arts and a real commitment to self improvement and new experiences.
VOLUNTEERING RECOGNITION AWARDS
Dunedin English Language Partners win Trustpower top regional award
The Dunedin English Language Partners have won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards. They work to assist people to settle in New Zealand by helping them, not only with English language skills, but also by supporting them with help to access services, advocating for them and helping them to understand our Kiwi ways. The Partners' team includes 135 volunteer tutors who meet with immigrant and refugee learners every week for at least an hour. On top of their free time, they pay their own travel costs.The category winners were:
Heritage and Environment Orokonui Ecosanctuary Volunteers
Health and Well Being St John's Anglican Church -Roslyn
Arts and Culture The Regent Theatre/Otago Theatre Trust Volunteers
Sport and Leisure Purakanui Amenities Society
Educational and Child/Youth Development Dunedin English Language Partners
Dunedin Youth Award Winner also announced
Griffin Leonard from Kavanagh College has been named as the winner of the inaugural TrustPower Dunedin Youth Community Award. All secondary schools in the Dunedin region were each asked to recommend one student to be considered for the Award.The other finalists were Daniel Kingsley Benn of Otago Boys High School, Dunstan Brook-Miller from Kings High School, Alice Marsh from Columba College, Yifei Tang from Bayfield High School, Brendon Lee from Kaikorai Valley College, Hannah Lomas from St Hilda's Collegiate and Emma Taylor from Queens High School.
TrustPower Community Relations Representative Melanie Gray said Griffin had proven himself to be a leader, well respected by his peers while managing to excel in his study, community service and sport. "Griffin has been raising awareness of the work of Amnesty International, not only in this community but on a worldwide scale. He both admires and personifies Amnesty International's philosophy, aims and ability to bring about change through peaceful means," said Miss Gray.
Kavanagh College Principal Paul Ferris described Griffin as "a special young man who has always been able to be part of the 'crowd' without loosing his personal integrity and independence.
The McKinnons Creek Salmon Hatchery takes Timaru top Award.
TrustPower Community Relations Representative Melanie Gray said the volunteers from the McKinnons Creek Salmon Hatchery had done an incredible job of increasing salmon numbers in the area. "Around 50% of all fish caught in the Rangitata River over the last season were fish that originated from the hatchery," said Miss Gray."This dedicated team of volunteers have transformed an abandoned hatchery into a functioning one that incubated nearly one million salmon eggs this year, and have really boosted the numbers of adult salmon returning to our local rivers to spawn."
The category winners were:
Heritage and Environment McKinnons Creek Salmon Hatchery
Health and Well Being Heart Children South Canterbury
Arts and Culture Timaru District Choir
Sport and Leisure South Canterbury Dog Training Club
Educational and Child/Youth Development English Language Partners Aoraki
NATIONAL EVENTS
Biennial Hui: Looking Towards a New Dawn
6-7 October 2009 The Brentwood Hotel, Kilbirnie, WellingtonThe theme on NZCOSS'biennial hui will be to look ahead towards the times of the economic recovery, how to plan for it, what positive social policies will emerge from harsh times we are living in at the moment and how NZCOSS and its member and associate organisations can have a significant part to play in the formulation of these policies. A couple of inspirational speakers will join the event and there will be enough of down time for training, interactive workshops, networking and contemplation.
NZCOSS members will be funded fully (not including travel costs). The cost for the others is $300 all inclusive (no travel included) for the two days or $100 per day without accommodation and travel included. Meals and teas on both days are included in the registration fee. Registrations will be available shortly and for further information, please feel to get in touch with either Ros or Jill at NZCOSS, 04 472 3364 or nzcoss [at] nzcoss [dot] org [dot] nz.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
12th IAVE Asia Pacific Regional Volunteer Conference
26-29 November 2009 Kaohsiung, TaiwanAsia Pacific IAVE conference will be hosted by IAVE Taiwan and Kaohsiung City Volunteer Association. "Volunteerism as a Lifestyle for Social Solidarity" will be the theme for the conference and there will be six streams:
- Volunteer Management in the Large Scale Event
- Corporate Volunteering and Its Impact on Asia Pacific Society
- Volunteerism and Information Communication Technology (ICTs)
- Volunteering within the Asian Pacific Region of Culture Diversity
- National Volunteer Centers
- International Volunteering
Volunteering NZ asks any New Zealanders who plan to go to this Asia-Pacific conference to make contact with Tim Burns VNZ Executive Director at ed [at] volunteeringnz [dot] org [dot] nz. We would like to ensure any New Zealand representatives are acknowledged at the conference.
International Not-For-Profit Convention & Exhibition
11-13 November 2009 Sunshine Coast, AustraliaThis event brings you three days of essential learning for these changing times. There will be opportunity for peer-networking, professional development and organisational capacity building in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere INCE09 represents a prime growth opportunity. It is now open for registrations - check it out on www.nfpn.com.au.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Volunteering Australia reports on plans for a National Compact for the not for profit sector
In its latest issue of Involve, Volunteering Australia reports that the Australian federal government is working to develop a national compact with the not for profit sector, as part of the Government's social inclusion agenda. The proposed National Compact will be an agreement for a new approach of working together.As part of the consultation, a new document has been released outlining the principles (that is the rules of engagement) and undertakings that result in a range of actions. These actions, as identified through the consultation, are to:
- Improve working relationships
- Achieve better results for people and communities
- Strengthen the viability of the third sector.
Volunteering Australia has invited involvement in the consultation process in a couple of ways.
Interested groups and individuals can download the consultation paper from the social inclusion website http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/Compact/Pages/default.aspx, and/or
comment on an e-forum discussion on the impact the National Compact will have on volunteers and volunteering. VA notes the Compact looks to the future sustainability and viability of volunteering. There is a registration process before comments can be added to the e-forum http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/Compact/Pages/OnlineForum.aspx
Volunteering on air
Life Matters is a unique daily interview program on Australian ABC radio about social change and day-to-day life. Every Monday morning from around 9.30am the show covers volunteering and related issues under the title Vita active. You can download or listen the show here (http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/index/subjects_Volunteers_2009.htm).RESOURCES and EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
NZ Safety Week will run 7 - 13 September and this provides a great time to review the health and safety policies for your staff and volunteers. Keeping It Legal provides an excellent starting point, as Fact Sheet 10 provide a summary of all rights and duties which need to be considered. There are also a number of other resources listed below which you might use when it comes to the specific issues you might have and need advice on. Volunteering England has a great range of practical resources for tackling health and safety in different sectors such as arts. Keep safe!!
Organisations' duties towards staff and others
Excerpt from Keeping It Legal, legal responsibilities of voluntary organisations in New ZealandDuties owed to employees
In general, the Health and Safety in Employment Act requires employers to:
- generally provide a safe workplace for their employees
- identify and control hazards
- train and supervise their employees
- keep their employees informed
- involve their employees in health and safety processes
- record all accidents and report all serious injuries to the Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH).
Employees are also required to take all practicable steps to ensure they are safe while at work and to ensure that they don't cause harm to others.
Duties owed to volunteers
Organisations that do not employ any paid staff owe their volunteers a general duty of care to provide for their safety. However, this duty is not enforceable under the Health and Safety in Employment Act, in that it does not attract any penalties. The duty encourages non-employers to ensure that their volunteers are safe within the workplace.
By contrast organisations that do employ paid staff also owe enforceable duties to their regular volunteers (see below).
Voluntary organisations should disclose any occupational health and safety requirements and any pending prosecutions to volunteers.
Duties owed by employers to regular volunteers
If a volunteer works on an ongoing and regular basis for an employer (an organisation that also employs paid staff) and is an integral part of its business, the employer owes the volunteer some, but not all, of the key duties that employers owe their employees, namely:
- the general duty to provide a safe workplace
- the duty to identify and control hazards
- the duty to keep them informed
- the duty to record all accidents and report all serious injuries to OSH.
The duties involving training and supervision, and participation in health and safety processes, do not apply to these regular (or any other) volunteers. However, it is good practice for an organisation to ensure that its volunteers are adequately trained and supervised and to involve them in health and safety processes.
Regular volunteers are, like employees, required to take all practicable steps to ensure they are safe while at work and that they don't cause harm to others.
The duties owed to regular volunteers do not apply if the volunteer is involved in any of the following activities:
- Fundraising
- Assisting with sport or recreation
- Assisting schools (and other similar organisations) outside of the organisation's premises
- Providing care in the volunteer's own home
Duties owed by employers to other volunteers
In the case of volunteers, whose work is not ongoing and regular and who are not an integral part of the organisation's business, an employer owes them a lesser duty. The employer must take all practicable steps to ensure the health and safety of these volunteers while they are working, in particular by taking hazards into account when the organisation is planning their work activity.
This duty is not enforceable. Non-employers owe that same, unenforceable duty to all their volunteers.
Duties owed to contractors
If your organisation has independent contractors working for it (whether or not you also have employees), you must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the contractor is not harmed while doing the work.
An organisation must also ensure that no hazard in the workplace harms a contractor. An employer must also ensure no action or inaction of any employee harms any other people, including contractors.
Duties owed by employers to other people
An employer must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that no hazard in the workplace harms any people in the vicinity of the workplace, including people who are in the vicinity for recreation or leisure.
To read the full fact sheet on health and safety in community organisations please click here
(http://keepingitlegal.net.nz/learn-more/health-and-safety/#providing).
Other useful resources and contacts on NZ health and safety at workplace regulations
- Working Safely for your Community, Health and safety guidelines for community and voluntary sector (VNZ_Update_August_09.doc)
- Mana Mahi, A Guide to the Employment of People in tangarta Whenual, Community and Voluntary Sector Organisations, fact sheet 11 (http://communitycentral.org.nz/workplace-wellbeing)
- New Zealand's Accident Compensation Scheme www.acc.co.nz
- Occupational Health and Safety www.osh.govt.nz
- Department of Labour www.dol.govt.nz
Overseas resources
Although the issues of health and safety are often very much linked to national legislation, it is worth having a look into some of the overseas practice examples as many of them are applicable in our NZ settings. Volunteering England's Good Practice Bank Health and Safety section (http://www.volunteering.org.uk/resources/goodpracticebank/Core+Themes/he...) contains several very practical resources such as "Just how safe are you? Health and safety for voluntary arts organisations"(http://www.voluntaryarts.org/uploaded/map167.pdf)This piece describes how to go about managing health and safety in accordance with the rules and regulations, and how to put a health and safety policy together.
Volunteer Management Education Books for SaleVolunteering NZ has for sale copies of four books written by Linda Graff on developing policies and risk management for volunteering programmes. The titles and prices are: Best of All - Quick reference Guide to Best Practice $46.00 Better Safe - Risk Management for Volunteer Programmes $46.00 Beyond Police Checks - Screening Guidebook $46.00 By Definition - Policies for Volunteer Programmes $36.00 We also have copies of Mary Woods' book Volunteers, A guide for Volunteers an their Organisations $25.00 Postage and Handling Up to 2 publications $5.50 3 or more publication $10.00 All the prices are GST inclusive. Posters "Do a World of Good - Volunteer" suitable for general promotions and recruiting volunteers are available free from VNZ. Orders for all may be faxed to 04 3843637 or emailed to office [at] volunteeringnz [dot] org [dot] nz. Payment may be made by cheque or credit card. If wishing to pay by credit card we will send you documentation to complete and return. |