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2015 Sydney Inner West
Volunteer of the Year Awards Ceremony
The 2015 Sydney Inner West Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony was held at Burwood
Library and Community Hub on Wednesday 23 September 2015.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual program launched in 2007 by the Centre
for Volunteering to recognise the outstanding efforts of the two million plus volunteers in NSW,
to promote the importance of volunteering to the community and for the community to thank its
volunteers.
The 2015 Sydney Inner West Adult Volunteer of the Year and overall Sydney Inner West
Volunteer of the Year is Jane Hehir from Ashfield who volunteers with the Newtown
Neighbourhood Centre.
Jane has been a volunteer at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre for approximately five years. Jane’s
primary work is at the weekly service hub “One Stop Shop”, which is a weekly open gathering for
people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, people living with and/or recovering from
mental illness and people with complex needs. This vitally important two hour weekly session
caters for approximately 40-50 people.
The One Stop Shop is a non-funded program that relies heavily on individuals and services
volunteering their time. In its early stages it was a difficult environment with challenging clientele.
Jane has unique qualities as a volunteer of One Stop Shop and has played an important role in
developing the One Stop Shop to be the success it is today. Jane possesses a special ability to
build rapport with the vulnerable clientele of the program, assisting them to feel important and
being completely discreet. Jane has been a reliable volunteer who has shown incredible resilience
and dedication that has been instrumental to the success of this highly needed service.
Jane’s work is highly valued and beneficial to the coordination and running of a successful program
each week. The work and time that Jane has generously offered each week is irreplaceable and
supports the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre and local community members.
2015 Sydney Inner West
Volunteer of the Year Awards Ceremony
The 2015 Sydney Inner West Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony was held at Burwood
Library and Community Hub on Wednesday 23 September 2015.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual program launched in 2007 by the Centre
for Volunteering to recognise the outstanding efforts of the two million plus volunteers in NSW,
to promote the importance of volunteering to the community and for the community to thank its
V O L U N T E E R N E T W O R K
November 2015
www.volunteernetwork.org.au
Phone: (02) 9911 9855
2015 Senior Sydney Inner West Volunteer of the Year Award is Diane Hewitt from Marrickville
who volunteers with the Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
Diane connected with Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre (RNC) as a volunteer when Recreation
and Peer Support (RAPS) merged with RNC in 2014. Diane has been involved with this program
for over 24 years in varying capacities. Diane was a huge advocate for maintaining the identity
and membership of RAPS throughout the merge process.
Diane supports the RAPS calendar of activities in the community at least
three times a month. RAPS participants are a diverse group of adults with
a disability, who have varying support needs and strong shared interest
in being part of the community and making lifelong friends. When RNC
and RAPS merged, Diane became a member of the RNC Management
Committee.
In 2015, Diane has taken leadership of the RNC Management Committee
as Chairperson in a time when all community organisations are enduring
transformational change. Diane is always fair, quietly committed, selfless,
outgoing and receptive to many personalities and quirks. Diane has a dry
wit and an appreciation for creativity, community, arts, culture and adventure. Diane's kindness is
far reaching and generous. She supports in a way that encourages individuals’ confidence in their
own ability, at every level of the organisation.
2015 Sydney Inner West Youth Volunteer of the Year is Bridget Rose Kelly who volunteers
with Plumtree Early Childhood Intervention Service.
Bridget Rose Kelly from Stanmore is a student at St Scholasticas College at Glebe and volunteers
at Plumtree Early Childhood Intervention Service. Bridget has been a hardworking, reliable and
devoted volunteer with Plumtree Early Childhood Intervention Service since 2013, assisting young
children who have additional needs and their families.
Bridget assists with a multitude of tasks at the service, including the open
playgroup on Saturdays. As Bridget is particularly artistic, she creates
resources for the teachers and therapists, which include booklets, charts,
augmentative and alternative communication boards, games, fine motor
activities and workshop resources.
Bridget makes quality resources that are individual for each child depending
on the child's needs. This gives children, staff and families access to games
and activities that often take a very long time to make. With the growing
demand for services and resources, Bridget’s hand-made resources assist
the school to provide individualised and innovative services for children and
their families in a timely manner.
In addition to volunteering at Plumtree, Bridget also volunteers at FRANS, a local disability support
organisation, and continues to seek other opportunities to contribute to her local community through
her invaluable volunteering.
2 Volunteer Newslettter November 2015
2015 Sydney Inner West Youth Volunteer of the Year is Bridget Rose Kelly who volunteers
with Plumtree Early Childhood Intervention Service.
2015 Sydney Inner West Volunteer Team of the year award goes to the SPARK Volunteer
Team.
The SPARK Program's primary goal is to inspire inclusive communities. SPARK supports the
needs of newly arrived children and families of migrant and refugee backgrounds. It aims to
increase a sense of school and local community with two programs: Learning Clubs for Primary
Students through the Bright Sparks Program; and Family Engagement through the Community
Sparks Program. These programs are run in partnership with the local primary schools to provide
after-school educational, social, English language and cultural programs to newly arrived children
and families of migrant and refugee backgrounds.
The majority of SPARK Volunteers work in teams of 12-15 in weekly learning clubs. These clubs
are broader in scope than a traditional homework club. The sessions aim to: develop trusting
relationships with the children attending; build self-esteem and confidence through activity
based games; develop imagination and creativity through artistic and sporting session; support
English language development and school work; and increase cross-community inter-generational
understanding.
The family engagement programs provide a place for social engagement and social English
conversation, Sydney excursions and parenting classes. In addition, playgroup programs provide
early learning development for toddlers, while parents are engaged in their own SPARK activities.
This playgroup supports toddlers' preparedness for school. The key outcomes of all programs
are to: help address issues associated with trauma, depression and social isolation; increase
confidence and self-esteem; increase awareness of new community systems, structures and
environment especially the school community; and build aspirations for the future.
The SPARK program could not operate and achieve all its many outcomes without the passionate
and skilled support provided by a huge range of volunteers. This dedicated group of volunteers
consistently provides skilled support and meaningful, trustful relationships to children and families
across four Local Government Areas in Western Sydney. The volunteers are critical in creating
a genuine and welcoming link between newly arrived groups, local communities and the broader
Australian community.
Diane is a rare individual who is able to balance professional boundaries and genuine connections
with everyone who is involved in RNC including clients, employees, volunteers and voluntary
committee members. Diane makes a selfless contribution that enriches the organisation and its
ability to deliver this vital service.
Diane is a rare individual who is able to balance professional boundaries and genuine connections
with everyone who is involved in RNC including clients, employees, volunteers and voluntary
committee members. Diane makes a selfless contribution that enriches the organisation and its
3
4 Volunteer Newslettter November 2015
N e w d e f i n i t i o n o f V o l u n t e e r i n g
A two-year review by Volunteering Australia and peak state bodies has resulted in a broader
definition of volunteering that reflects the many and varied forms of activities undertaken in Australian
society. The new definition states that volunteering ‘is time willingly given for the common good
without financial gain’. The definition includes activism, recognises corporate volunteering by an
entity for the first time (companies that organise employee volunteers), and provides explanatory
notes on ‘what is in’ and ‘what is out’.
The definition includes formal volunteering that takes place within organisations (including
institutions and agencies) in a structured way and informal volunteering (acts that take place
outside the context of a formal organisation). While the vast majority of volunteering is undertaken
by individuals, entities also donate employee time which is why this is now included within the
definition.
In its explanatory notes to the definition, Volunteering Australia states that ‘without financial gain’
means:
Volunteers can receive reimbursement for out of pocket expenses.
Volunteers can be rewarded and recognised as part of good practice. While this process may
introduce an element of financial or material benefit to the volunteer, it does not exclude the
activity from being considered as volunteering.
Volunteers may receive an honorarium, stipend or similar payment as recognition for voluntary
services or professional services voluntarily rendered, in accordance with Australian Taxation
Office rulings. Based on the nature of such payments and the recipient’s circumstances, the
receipt of this type of payment does not preclude the person from being considered a volunteer. Volunteers cannot be exploited for profit.
and that ‘for the common good’ means:
The volunteering should directly or indirectly benefit people outside the family or household
or else benefit a cause, even though the person volunteering normally benefits as well.’ This
definition aligns with the United Nations view that volunteering ‘should be for the common
good. Volunteering is often considered as contributing to community wellbeing and volunteering
activities cover all sectors of society.
Activism can also now be considered volunteering. This is aligned to the current UN position on
volunteering that states: ‘When people participate in peaceful activism both sides seek what they
consider to be beneficial outcomes and are included in our definition. Activities involving or inciting
violence that harm society and actions not corresponding to the values attributed to volunteerism
are not included in our definition’.
Volunteering can also now include the concept of reciprocity, such as participating in groups where
a reciprocal exchange of help and services is undertaken for the benefit of others as well as the
volunteer.
There are a number of programs that fall outside the definition, such as mandated court orders
including community service and fines and any other mandatory government programs.
More detailed information can be found at http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/policy-and-best-
practise/definition-of-volunteering/
N e w d e f i n i t i o n o f V o l u n t e e r i n g
A two-year review by Volunteering Australia and peak state bodies has resulted in a broader
definition of volunteering that reflects the many and varied forms of activities undertaken in Australian
society. The new definition states that volunteering ‘is time willingly given for the common good
without financial gain’. The definition includes activism, recognises corporate volunteering by an
entity for the first time (companies that organise employee volunteers), and provides explanatory
5
Recruiting VolunteersWe�ll make it easier!
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE:
skills, knowledge, experience, time and a desire to help others!
VO LU N T E E R O P P O RT U N I T I E S
administration / clerical, graphics, design / events / fundraising / social
support / environmental / teach & exchange skills / management / committee
work / friendship / social support / maintenance/ food service / transport
people & goods / emergency relief
1. You contact Volunteer Network
2. You complete job description form
3. We advertise positions
4. We interview volunteers
5. We refer volunteers to you!
FIVE EASY STEPS TO RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS
C O N TAC T V O L U N T E E R N E T W O R K N O W !
P: 02 9911 9855E: [email protected]: www.volunteernetwork.org.au
6 Volunteer Newslettter November 2015
The conference will be held from the 6-8 April 2016 at the National Convention Centre in
Canberra.
The conference program will focus on emerging volunteering challenges, trends and ideas
and will feature:
• innovative programs and models of volunteering
• networking lounges
• tours of the National Institutions’ volunteering programs
• research roundtables
• social activities
For more information please go to: www.2016nationalvolunteeringconference.com.au
N a t i o n a l V o l u n t e e r i n g C o n f e r e n c e
The conference will be held from the 6-8 April 2016 at the National Convention Centre in
Canberra.
N a t i o n a l V o l u n t e e r i n g C o n f e r e n c e
7
V O L U N T E E R N E T W O R K
Address:
Volunteer Network
Burwood Council
Suite 1, Level 2, 1-17 Elsie Street, Burwood NSW 2134
T: 02 9911 9855
W: www.volunteernetwork.org.au
Jacqueline Martins
Recruitment & Training Offi cer
T: 02 9911 9856
Contact Details:
Julie Stralow
Volunteer Network Offi cer
T: 02 9911 9855
Your free � me is all the more precious when you give it away.
YYYYYYYYo precio.
