Volunteering Australia - a busy time

Following the announcement of the appointment of Acting CEO Maureen Cane, we want to share with you Volunteering Australia's plans for 'moving forward'.

Earlier this year we were fortunate to receive confirmation of funding from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to transition the office from Melbourne, to its new home in Canberra. To the credit of the Melbourne team, the move has been extremely well managed. A welcome staff suggestion will see excess furniture distributed to local not-for-profit organisations next week, while the IT equipment makes the move to Canberra - everyone benefits.    

As one door closes another opens and with the appointment of the Acting CEO (as reported in a media release 12 September), we will shortly be setting up our team in the VA Canberra office.    

During this VA transition, it has been business as usual thanks to the enthusiastic support of VA's Foundation Members, the State and Territory Peak Bodies, who are always ready to roll up their sleeves and assist where necessary. 

During the initial transition period, Volunteering ACT will generously share their premises and support structures with VA. Volunteering SA&NT has in partnership with VA been planning the 15th National Conference on Volunteering to be held in Adelaide, 4 to 6 September 2013. In addition to their work on the conference, Volunteering SA&NT has commenced work with Volunteering Tasmania and Volunteering WA to review the National Standards for Involving Volunteers in Not for Profit Organisations. While in the West, Volunteering WA has also been diligently working with Seek, web developer Eduka and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to launch the new national GoVolunteer site. It is now in place and with the high levels of usage and positive feedback being received from users across Australia, it is clearly a success.

It has been a busy and productive time around Australia and with the support of the State and Territory Peak Bodies, Volunteering Australia looks forward to keeping you updated on our progress and sharing and promoting the forthcoming International Volunteer Manager's Day on 5 November, and International Volunteer Day on 5 December with both the volunteering sector, and broader Australian community.