Business Roundtable EXTEND

No matter who you are, or where you live in Australia, extreme weather, floods and bushfires have been lasting reminders of the vulnerability of society in the face of natural or man-made disasters.

While Australia has a range of systems and resources in place to respond to hazards the ability of a community to bounce back relies on how quickly local businesses recover.

Research shows that communities respond more positively and bounce back more quickly from disasters if their local businesses reopen and start operating as soon as possible after a disaster. This resilience only happens when individuals and businesses are prepared for disasters and have the ability to access resources and support that allow them to get back to work quickly.

Bouncing back means being better prepared, and being better prepared is not something you can do on your own.

In 2011 Volunteering Qld in partnership with Westpac took the lead on a natural disaster resilience program aimed at local business communities across Queensland. The program is called Business Roundtable EXTEND. Business Roundtable EXTEND operates on the premise that a vibrant local business community benefits the overall community, particularly when faced with disasters such as those experienced in Queensland over recent years.

Business Roundtable EXTEND is about helping businesses be better prepared and better connected.

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Queenslanders - Get disaster ready today

As the United States takes stock of the damage caused by super storm Sandy, Queenslanders will no doubt empathise with the affected communities. 

Being well prepared for a disaster makes a big difference in how well we recover and with the upcoming summer storm season upon us, this is the best time to get ready.

Volunteering Qld offers an innovative series of online resources which can help everyone become better prepared.

Volunteering Qld CEO Jelenko Dragisic said the most important thing is to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during the upcoming storm season. 

“Taking action now will reduce the risk of property damage and other losses as well as speed up the recovery,” Mr Dragisic said.

There are some simple things that everyone can do right now to prepare.

These include:

1. Download the free smart phone app – Ready Qld
2. Take a couple of minutes to complete the Disaster Readiness Index – an online and interactive checklist
3. Watch Disasters: Know Your Role – a short online animation, which explains what happens around you during disasters and what your role is. A quick, everyday language version of the Queensland Disaster Management Arrangements.
4. Register to be part of the Emergency Volunteering CREW – Australia’s largest online database of emergency volunteers.

All of this can be done on www.emergencyvolunteering.com.au

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Ipswich IVD Community Breakfast

Mayor Paul Pisasale and Councillors of the City of Ipswich invite volunteers to the 11th Annual free Community Breakfast to celebrate International Volunteer Day. View the invitation.

International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985, and is now celebrated worldwide with thousands of volunteers involved in International Volunteer Day initiatives including clean-up campaigns, conferences, exhibitions, morning teas and other activities that highlight the role of volunteers in their communities.

Volunteering Qld thanks over one million Queenslanders who volunteer and encourages all volunteer involving organisations to be involved in the celebration.

International Volunteer Day is held on 5 December each year.

Check out worldvolunteerweb.org for more information on the history of International Volunteer Day.

Visit volunteeringaustralia.org for event ideas, tips for recognising volunteers and facts on volunteering in Australia.

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Managing Volunteers in the 21st Century

Is your organisation engaging volunteers or thinking of engaging volunteers? If so, this training will be of significant value to you and your organisation.

Successful volunteer managers

> Are aware of current and emerging models of volunteering.
> Learn to understand and respond to the priorities of volunteers.
> Adapt their practice to changing community perceptions, demographics, and expectations.
> Take a leadership role in shaping how their organisation understands and works with its volunteers.
> Support their volunteers in safe and meaningful practice.

Subsidised training opportunity 

Skills Queensland has partnered with the Health and Community Services Workforce Council and Volunteering Qld to provide an opportunity to complete the Certificate IV in Volunteer Program Coordination (CHC42712) qualification at a subsidised enrolment fee of $722.

This qualification will support your work involving the recruitment and coordination of volunteers within a program or organisation in the community services or health sectors.

Training

• 4 x 2-day workshops in late Nov 2012 and mid Feb-Mar-Apr 2013. These workshops will be held in Logan Central, Townsville, Nambour, Dalby and Maryborough, covering:
  • #1 Understanding Volunteering in the 21st Century; Recruit & co-ordinate your volunteers
  • #2 Communicating with your volunteers
  • #3 Training your volunteers
  • #4 Risk management & WHS
• Almost all assessment completed at workshops thus workshop attendance is important.
• Supervision and support provided by your dedicated assessor by email / telephone / Skype.

FIND OUT MORE

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2 weeks till International Volunteer Managers Day

Not long to go now until International Volunteer Managers Day. Held on 5 November, the day educates about the important role volunteer managers play in enhancing and enabling the spirit of volunteerism.

VPM Health Network - Event for International Volunteer Managers Day

The VPM Health Network would like to invite all Volunteer Managers/Coordinators to join them for lunch to celebrate International Volunteer Managers Day.

Where: The Irish Club, 175 Elizabeth St, Brisbane

When: Monday 5 November 2012

Time: 12noon

Price: Varies - please see menu at queenslandirish.com

If you work in South East Queensland or happen to be in Brisbane for the day then please join your colleagues. To reserve a seat please call DJ Cronin on 3394 6753 before Wednesday 31 October 2012. 

Plus, check out the teaser videos we have produced below... and find out more at volunteermanagersday.org

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Small grants available for Qld community groups

Queensland community and volunteer groups who help others can now apply for a share of $1.35 million to buy essential items to help their local communities.

Communities Minister Tracy Davis said a total of $4 million would be made available for small grants over the next three years as part of the Newman Government’s Caring for our Community election commitment.

“We understand the invaluable contribution community groups and their volunteers make to Queensland and we’re providing $1.35 million this year for these small grants to support their terrific activities,” Ms Davis said.

“Grants of up to $5,000 are available for the purchase of small equipment items and materials, such as computers, upgraded software or white goods.

“Bigger grants of up to $15,000 may also be considered for more substantial projects, such as making food preparation areas compliant with regulations.

“These small grants can go a long way to helping community organisations who are helping others.”

Organisations can apply for funding from today at communities.qld.gov.au

Ms Davis said applying for funding under the new Caring for our Community program would be simple, effective and online.

“We are keeping it simple so community organisations aren’t hit with onerous paperwork requirements,” she said.

“Whether it’s for a printer, computer, a fridge or microwave, the cost of equipment mounts up quickly for community groups and a small boost like this can go a long way.”

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Disasters: Know Your Role - Launch

What is it? Disasters: Know Your Role is a fun, interactive, online learning resource that uses everyday language to introduce Queensland’s Disaster Management Arrangements (QDMA) and help people understand what happens when Queensland takes action before, during and after a disaster.

Why is it important? Natural disasters are confusing and scary enough without knowing where to go, what to do, or what’s happening around you. It’s really important for people to understand how government and non-government organisations work together when disasters happen and the role you play so we can all be prepared and equipped with the information and skills to look after ourselves and our loved ones.

This is exactly what the QDMA does – but it’s a technical, operational document aimed at the people directly involved in disaster response. Volunteering Qld has been spending up to a whole day of our Disaster Resilience Workshops getting into the nitty-gritty of the Arrangements for our participants. What have we learnt from this? That there’s a real need for a useful, everyday-language version for all Queenslanders that distills the content of the QDMA into what we really need to know.

Who’s involved in the project? Creating a resource that > takes a complex, operational document designed for emergency management practitioners > transforms it into information all Queenslanders need to know > explains it in everyday language in an interactive way…is seriously tricky business!

In a great example of government/community partnership Volunteering Qld worked closely with the Local Government Association of Queensland, Queensland Department of Communities and Emergency Management Queensland and other stakeholders across the state to make sure that the original document is accurately represented and that Disasters: Know Your Role is relevant to all Queenslanders.

Where to from here? Once you’ve participated in the first module of Disasters: Know Your Role, you may find yourself saying:“That was awesome! But what can I do from here?!”

Well, now you can share the love with those around you: family, friends, neighbours, coworkers and your local community.

• Take our Disaster Readiness Index and see how prepared you and your household are
• If you’re a member of a community group, sports association or church group you could organise a screening of Disasters: Know Your Role
• Email your friends and family a link to Disasters: Know Your Role and encourage them to have a look
• Talk to your neighbours about Disasters: Know Your Role and what you can do together to make your community a safer place to live

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‘Innovate’ Research Bulletin - Resilience Edition

Over the last week we ran the inaugural Resilience Week (15-19 Oct 2012). It was all about helping you realise how prepared you and your loved ones are for disasters, and encouraging you to act.

Throughout Resilience Week we blogged about what happened at all the events and activities, profiled our Step Up Program, and encouraged everyone to get involved in the resilience conversation. Check out the daily blogs...

Day 1 The importance of community leadership
Day 2 Sharing + Engaging - A youth focus
Day 3 Engaging + Understanding - Launch of Disasters: Know your role
Day 4 Connecting + Doing - Business Resilience Roundtable
Day 5 Special Resilience Week Edition of 'Innovate' Research Bulletin - launches today

At the end of the week we released a special resilience edition of our ‘Innovate’ Research Bulletin. This bi-annual bulletin has been compiled as a part of our ongoing research and stakeholder engagement with the aim of broadening discussions and sharing learnings.

It explores a range of issues and questions that arise when considering community resilience and provides a range of approaches and case studies of different projects that have been successful in building community resilience in communities across Queensland, Australia and abroad.

We encourage you to download a copy and share your thoughts and perspectives around resilience in the comments below, or on our Facebook and Twitter.

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Call for Content Committee Members

The Executive Conference Committee is seeking expressions of interest from highly experienced representatives from the voluntary and not-for-profit sector to be a member of the Content Committee for the next National Conference on Volunteering (4-6 September 2013, Adelaide).

Expressions of Interest are being sought Australia wide. Successful applicants must be available to attend regular meetings, either face to face or via teleconference. The meetings will be held at Volunteering SA&NT Head Office in Victoria Square Adelaide CBD.

The Content Committee will have voluntary membership of 7 people (max).

Selection criteria for applications:

• Proven experience of more than 7 years within the voluntary or not-for-profit sector
• Work as an executive or manager in a paid or voluntary role
• An understanding of the qualities of outstanding speakers
• In depth knowledge of the sector's key issues and future challenges
• Be dedicated and committed to the objectives of the committee

To apply, download the application form and return it to Volunteering SA&NT via fax 08 8221 7188 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Enquires to be sent to Chair of Conference Content Committee, Tracey Fox via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Deadline for applications COB Monday 22 October 2012

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Volunteering opportunity to help kids with cancer

This week, we’d like to introduce you to a great organisation, Redkite, and a fantastic event volunteering opportunity they are currently offering on Linkki.

Redkite’s mission is to support children living with cancer and their families through what is inevitably a difficult and emotionally-draining experience. Currently, there are 8,000 Australian families affected by childhood and adolescent cancer, but Redkite is there to provide support for the whole family from hospital to home. They offer a broad range of services including grants; financial counselling; music therapy; telephone, email and face-to-face counselling; bereavement support and family days.

This year, Redkite is the joint charity-beneficiary of the proceeds of the PwC Cool Night Classic Run, a corporate charity event which is expected to attract 4,500 participants. The circuit will take runners from the Botanic Gardens Riverstage, over the Goodwill Bridge, through South Bank Parklands, up and over Victoria Bridge, down the ramp along North Quay and back to the Riverstage. Volunteers will be needed all along the way.

On the November 1 race day, volunteers will be needed to help with the marshalling, showing runners the way or serving drinks along the course. If you help out, you will be more than welcome to join the traditional ‘cool down’ which offers live entertainment, sausage sizzle and a free bottle of water at the end of the day.

This is a very worthwhile event that will contribute enormously to those children living with cancer and their families. It could also be a great resume addition for any budding event managers who want to get some vital practical experience.

Find out more information on this opportunity

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