LAURA%BUCHANAN%

18/296'Somerville'Rd'Kingsville'3012'

Mobile:'0431731153'

Email:'laurambuchanan@gmail.com'

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CAREER%OVERVIEW%

I'feel'passionate'about'the'development'of'efficient,'resilient'and'fair'food'systems.'With'my'extensive'professional'experience'in'community'development'and'the'knowledge'and'skills'gained'from'studying'a'Master'of'Urban'Horticulture,'I'hope'to'be'able'to'contribute'to'ensuring'that'one'day'all'community'members'have'access'to'nutritious,'sustainably'produced'and'culturally'appropriate'food.'

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CAREER%HISTORY%

June%2012%–%Present% Community%Initiatives%Officer%

% % % Volunteer%West%

Key%Responsibilities%

• Develop'and'maintain'relationships'with'key'stakeholders'including'local'and'state'government'representatives'and'community'organisations''

• Identify'and'develop'project'and'program'opportunities,'responding'to'local,'regional'and'national'trends'

• Develop'organisational'plan'to'better'engage'members'from'culturally'diverse'communities'of'Western'Metropolitan'Melbourne'

• Project'management'• Develop'and'deliver'training'for'community'organisations'in'volunteer'

management,'training'topics'including:'OHS,'recruitment,'screening'and'matching,'orientation'and'training,'supervision'and'support'and'reward'and'recognition'

• Provide'strategic'planning'support'to'the'General'Manager'• Sector'research'• Grant'submissions'• Advocate'for'volunteering'within'Western'Metropolitan'Melbourne'• Plan'and'deliver'all'aspects'of'the'monthly'Volunteer'Management'

Network'Meeting'• Provide'general'administrative'support'including'events'management,'

newsletter'and'report'writing'and'conducting'volunteer'referrals''Key%Achievements%

• Development'of'key'relationships'and'organisational'plan'to'ensure'better'engagement'with'community'organisations'and'individuals'from'culturally'diverse'backgrounds'

• Development'of'Supported)Pathways)to)Volunteering)for)the)Multicultural)Wyndham)Community)project'for'Wyndham'City'Council'Identified'Needs'Grants'(notified'of'success'in'April'2013))

• Development'of'Wyndham'Volunteer)Taster)Tours'project'for'the'Wyndham'City'Council'Community'Grants'(notified'of'success'end'January'2013))

• Strengthening'of'relationships'with'key'stakeholders'• Development'of'first'fee]for]service'training'calendar''• Development'of'network'calendar'including'expert'speakers'from'a'

variety'of'sectors'• Key'input'into'strategic'planning'for'2013]2015'

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May%2012%–%Sept%2012% Contractor%

% % % Multicultural%Hub%(AMES)%

Key%Responsibilities%

• Scoping'the'feasibility'of'the'establishment'of'a'Multicultural)Information)Service'at'the'Multicultural'Hub%

• Development'of'funding'model'for'Multicultural)Market)Food)Tours'program'with'the'objective'of'ensuring'greater'cultural'food'security'and'health'outcomes'for'members'of'diverse'communities%

• Development'and'management'of'relationships'with'key'stakeholders'including'local'and'state'governments,'multicultural'agencies'and'ethno]specific'organisations%

• Scoping'and'development'of'relationships'with'potential'funding'bodies%• Development'of'project'proposal'for'City'of'Melbourne%

Key%Achievements%• Identification'and'development'of'several'potential'projects'for'the'

Multicultural'Hub'to'conduct%• Further'relationship'building'with'key'stakeholders'including'the'Office'

for'Multicultural'Affairs'and'Citizenship,'City'of'Melbourne'and'Ethnic'Communities'Council'of'Victoria%

• Gathering'valuable'feedback'from'ethno]specific'organisations'about'AMES'services%

%

Nov%2010%–%Nov%2011% Volunteer%Engagement%Project%Officer%

% % % AMES%

Key%Responsibilities%

• Development'and'management'of'project'aimed'to'engage'people'from'culturally'diverse'communities'in'volunteering'

• Development'of'training'sessions'in'collaboration'with'sector'experts'for'community'organisations''

• Conducting'of'information'sessions'for'ethno]specific'organisations'on'best'practice'volunteering'including'OHS'and'liability'issues'

• Compilation'of'training'materials'on'best'practice'volunteer'management'

• Compilation'of'internal'recommendations'report'for'the'ongoing'improvement'of'volunteer'management'at'AMES'

• Student'placement'and'volunteer'management'• Liaise'with'key'stakeholders'including'Department'of'Planning'and'

Community'Development,'volunteer'involving'organisations,'volunteer'

resource'centres,'Volunteering'Victoria,'ethno]specific'organisations,'AMES'clients,'local'government'and'AMES'employees'

• Promotion'of'the'benefits'of'volunteering'to'new'arrivals'• Planning'and'management'of'events'in'both'rural'and'metropolitan'

Victoria''• Guest'speaker'at'various'volunteer'seminars'• Panel'discussion'facilitation'• Facilitation'of'AMES'internal'advisory'committee'on'volunteering'• Development'of'grant'application'and'selection'process'for'three'

smaller'volunteer'engagement'projects'• Supervision'of'the'implementation'of'volunteer'engagement'projects'• Budget'management'• Sector'research'• Contribution'to'external'advisory'committees'on'volunteering'• Assistance'with'the'day]to]day'operation'of'the'Multicultural'Hub'

Key%Achievements%• 150+'attendance'to'volunteer'seminars'• Involvement'of'Minister'for'Multicultural'Affairs'and'Citizenship'in'two'

seminars'• Information'sessions'on'best'practice'volunteering'booked'out'• Successful'implementation'of'volunteer'engagement'projects'• Release'of'two'external'reports'that'currently'appear'on'a'Victorian'

government'website'• Compilation'of'internal'assessment'of'the'AMES'volunteer'program'

with'recommendations'currently'being'implemented''• Asked'as'guest'speaker'at'related'forums,'including'VolunteerFest'2011'• One'volunteer'involved'in'project'subsequently'employed'with'AMES'• Project'delivered'within'time'and'on'budget'

'Sept%2009%–%Nov%2010% Community%Engagement%Officer%and%Volunteer%Manager%

% % % Foodbank%Victoria%

Key%Responsibilities%

• Development'and'management'of'relationships'with'key'stakeholders'including'volunteers,'staff'members,'funding'bodies,'government'organisations,'job'service'providers,'disability'groups,'universities,'schools,'volunteer'resource'centres,'community'organisations'and'corporate'organisations%

• Development'and'management'of'pilot'program,'the'KickStart)Breakfast)Club)Program%

• Development'of'menu'and'related'activities'to'promote'healthy'eating'and'exercise'to'students'of'participating'schools%

• Development'and'management'of'relationships'with'a'number'of'schools'in'bushfire]affected'areas'

• Development'and'management'of'relationships'with'health'promotion'partners'including'the'Department'of'Health,'Nutrition'Australia,'the'National'Heart'Foundation'and'the'Stephanie'Alexander'Kitchen'Garden'Foundation'

• Development'of'sector'relationships'with'Secondbite'and'Fareshare'• Completion'of'funding'applications'to'ensure'continuation'of'program'

• Budget'management'• Reporting'to'Board'of'Directors'and'funding'bodies'• Recruitment'and'management'of'several'paid'drivers'for'the'program'• Management'of'all'aspects'of'the'organisation’s'volunteer'program'

including'development'of'position'descriptions,'recruitment,'orientation,'training'and'day]to]day'supervision%

• Management'of'a'number'of'administration'and'research'volunteers'and'student'placements%

• Promotion'of'the'volunteering'program'within'the'volunteering'sector'as'well'as'the'wider'community%

• Sector'research%• Chief'Fire'Warden;'Secretary'of'OHS'Committee;'Management'of'First'

Aid'Officer'Training%• Events'Planning'–'media'launches'and'volunteer'information'sessions'

Key%Achievements%

• Successful'implementation'of'KickStart)Breakfast)Club)Program'with'over'20'schools'registered'in'12'month'period'

• Development'of'relationships'with'health'promotion'partners'• Funding'received'for'continuation'and'expansion'of'program'into'

metropolitan'areas'with'over'30'schools'involved'to'date'• Implementation'of'best'practice'volunteer'management'throughout'the'

organisation'• Increase'in'number'of'permanent'volunteers'by'100%%• Development'of'volunteering'partnerships'with'various'community'

groups'including'multicultural'agencies,'disability'groups,'schools'and'universities%

• Corporate'volunteer'calendar'continually'booked'out%'

Nov%2008%–%Aug%2009% Community%Engagement%Officer%

Aboriginal%Employment%Opportunities%Program%%

Key%Responsibilities%

• Maintenance'of'regular'contact'with'clients'to'ensure'they'were'presented'with'best'employment'opportunities%

• Liaising'between'clients,'Aboriginal'Agencies'(including'Local'Aboriginal'Land'Councils,'Aboriginal'Employment'Strategy),'Job'Network'Members'and'employers%

• Creation'and'maintenance'of'client'databases%• Administrative'support'to'Project'Manager%

Key%Achievements%

• Assistance'of'over'100'clients'to'find'employment%• Assistance'in'the'successful'execution'of'a'number'of'employer'

information'days%''''

Mar%2008%–%Oct%2008% Emergency%Services%Project%Officer%

% % % Australian%Red%Cross%(NSW%Hunter%Region)%

Key%Responsibilities%

• Conducting'of'research'across'the'Emergency'Services'sector'to'determine'best'way'to'support'‘vulnerable’'people'in'the'event'of'disaster%

• Liaising'with'various'Emergency'Services'agencies'to'determine'various'strategies'to'address'the'project'objective%

• Planning'of'workshops'with'various'stakeholders'to'address'the'project'objective'%

• Chairing'focus'groups'with'key'stakeholders%• Writing'of'a'comprehensive'report'outlining'strategies'to'address'the'

project'objective%• Volunteer'management%• Budget'management%

Key%Achievements%

• Successful'execution'of'workshops%• Successful'completion'of'report'–'recommendations'implemented'in'

NSW'Emergency'Management%• Completion'of'project'on'time'and'within'budget%

%

EDUCATION%&%

TRAINING% %

March%2011%–%Present%% University%of%Melbourne%

% % % Master'of'Urban'Horticulture'(H1'average)'

2013% Project'B'–'Working'with'Fareshare'to'explore'the'relationship'between'urban'agriculture'and'the'food'security'of'socially'marginalised'groups''

2012% % % First'Class'Honours'for'Buildings'to'Beans:'Food'in'Cities'

' ' ' First'Class'Honours'for'Climate'Change:'Agricultural'Impacts'and'Adaptation%

2011% % % First'Class'Honours'for'Therapeutic'Horticulture''

First'Class'Honours'for'Project'Management''

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August%2011' ' ABC%Licence%Training%Pty%Ltd%

' ' ' Senior'First'Aid'Certificate'

%

May%2010%–%Present% ITS%Training%

% % % Diploma'of'Management'

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July%2010% % Victorian%Equal%Opportunity%and%Human%Right%Commission%

% % % Equal'Opportunity'for'Managers'

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2006%[%2009% % University%of%Newcastle%

% % % Bachelor'of'Development'Studies'–'Urban'and'Regional'Development'

2009% Studied'‘Indigenous'Communities'of'Malaysia’'short'course'at'the'National'University'of'Malaysia'(UKM)'

2008% ' ' Awarded'WF'Geyl'Prize'in'Geography'

' ' ' Placed'on'Faculty'Commendation'List'

2007% % % Awarded'PG'Irwin'Prize'in'Geography'

% % % Placed'on'Faculty'Commendation'List'

Completed'collaborative'research'with'Larrakia'community'in'the'Northern'Territory'

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2008% % % Priority%Management%

Working'Smart'with'Microsoft'Outlook'

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2008% % % i[to[i%

% % % Teaching'English'as'a'Foreign'Language%%

%

2004%[%2005% % University%of%New%England%

% % % Diploma'in'Science'–'Natural'Resource'Management'

2004% % % Awarded'Faculty'of'the'Sciences'Undergraduate'Scholarship'

%

1998%[%2003% % Newcastle%Grammar%School%

' ' ' Higher'School'Certificate,'UAI'94.15'

%

VOLUNTEER%HISTORY%

May%2012%–%Present% Seddon%Organic%Collective%II%%

Volunteer'

' ' ' '

October%2011% % Asylum%Seekers’%Resource%Centre%(West%Melbourne)%

% % ' Foodbank'Volunteer%(Foodbank'Victoria'Staff'Volunteering'Program)%

% % % %

Jan%2011%–%Jun%2011% Sprout%Community%Garden%(Thornbury)%

Market'Volunteer'

% % % %

%

Jan%2010%–%Mar%2010% Udayan%Orphanage%(Jaipur,%India)%

Community'Health'Volunteer'

% % % %

Mar%2008%–%Jun%2010% Beanstalk%Organic%Food%Co[op%(Newcastle)%

Volunteer'

% % % %

Mar%2007%–%Dec%2009% Australian%Red%Cross%(Newcastle)%

Good'Start'Breakfast'Club'Volunteer'

%

Jun%2005%–%Dec%2006% Riding%for%the%Disabled%(Raymond%Terrace)%

Volunteer'

% % % %

REFEREES%

Available'upon'request.'

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