FNQ Volunteers Inc. is pleased to

announce that the organisation has

secured Federal funding for the next

three and a half years - up to 30th

June 2021.

The Board, Member Organisations, Services Coordinator and

Volunteers thank and acknowledge the Federal Government

for its continued support of the Volunteer Sector in Far North

Queensland.

FEDERAL FUNDING SECURED 1

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK DATES

1

VEXPO / VCN Meeting 2

VEXPO Information 3-5

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS 6-7

VOLUNTEERING CENSUS

DATA 8

VEXPO REMINDER 9

STAFF ANTICS & ANTIQUES 10

Inside this issue:

FNQ Volunteers Inc. Mission Statement is to develop and strengthen volunteering in Far North Queensland

for the mutual benefit of the individual and the community.

DATE CLAIMERS

2018

FNQVI

CELEBRATES

NATIONAL

VOLUNTEERS

DAY

THURSDAY

24 MAY

FNQVI VEXPO

SUN 29 JULY

The latest Volunteer Coordinator’s Meeting was held on 21 March 2018 at the Red Cross Well-being Centre Cairns. The meeting was opened by Services Coordinator Oni Vuniyaro, who welcomed everyone and also made mention of the National Volunteers Week this year being 21-28 May. FNQ Volunteers have their celebrations on Thursday 24 May. Nominations for new and old

members are now open.

FNQVI Chairperson Annette Sheppard facilitated the

VEXPO workshop.

Introductions around the room were made by attendees:

* TTFNQ – Wayne

* Cancer Foundation – Tina

* Red Cross – Linda

* OzHarvest – Crystal

* Couch – Michael

* Pyjama Foundation—Liz

* St John’s Community Care –Vanesa

* the Benevolent Society—Melissa

* FNQ Volunteers— Judy, Rosemary, Cathy, Sandra

* TAFE Work Experience Student – Susan

First VEXPO held in November 2016

This years VEXPO 29th July 2018 9am- 3pm

Feedback re first expo – Wayne TTFNQ stated

obtained 4 quality volunteers

Tina from Cancer council stated there was a need to build up event and noted that Relay for Life on at

same time

More exposure ie radio and TV advertising is

required

We want to make it a celebration in bringing the

community together

Looking at approximately 50 participants

Targeting new recruits eg sporting, cultural, ethnic,

recreational, artistic NFP organisations

Flyers and posters to be distributed – Annette stated

she will get to these to organisations by the end of

March (tentative)

Performances and live demonstrations

Incentive prizes for lucky draw – would every

organisation like to donate a prize?

Q & A session:

Form to be created for potential volunteer info on

the day for referral to member organisations.

Suggestion—Entertainment

Suggestion—Cooking displays

Suggestion—Tropical fruit tasting

Australian Red Cross Javier discussed and invited all

attendees to a celebration session – Happy Cafe.

Next meeting date: TBA April 2018 _____________________________________________

P A G E 2

Anyone wanting more information on

the VEXPO can contact

Judith or Annette:

Email address: VExpo@fnqvolunteers.org

P A G E 3

P A G E 4

P A G E 5

Next VEXPO / VCNM

“Think Tank”

Wed 9 May 2018

Venue: TBA

P A G E 6 V O L U N T E E R T R I B U N E

FNQVI’s Community engagement thus far for 2018

involved the following Community Engagements:

Feb 14: JCU MARKET DAY

Feb 24: DEFENCE COMMUNITY EXPO

Mar 14: JCU CAREER’S DAY

The purpose of Community Engagement at various

events and

functions

around our

services area is

to maintain a

presence in the

community for

people to

engage with

volunteering for

the NFP and

NGO

community

members in the region. It also serves to let potential

volunteers know who our Member Organisations are

and what volunteer positions they have available.

JCU Market Day

is always a big

event for

obtaining

potential

volunteers.

Volunteering is

always an

excellent listing

on one’s

resume.

Oni Vuniyaro

commented that

“attending all these events is critical to our support for

and exposure to the wider community. It fulfils a

required aspect of obtaining our funding to support the

Far Northern Community, and continues each year to

supplement our registered volunteer numbers as people

come and go from our registered list of available

volunteers”.

JCU Career’s Day 14 March 2018: FNQVI volunteer staff Susan and Cristina at the FNQVI stall inside the Library.

Defence Community Expo Edge Hill State School: Services Coordinator Oni in discussion with staff member from FNQVI Member Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre.

JCU Market Day: Cathy and Cristina selling volunteer services to a student.

Defence Community Expo Edge Hill State School: Sandra discussing FNQVI services to potential volunteer.

JCU Market Day: New FNQVI staffer Judith explains to two potential volunteers the rewards & benefits of volunteering.

FNQ Volunteers Inc will have a stall at

Cairns ecoFiesta

Check our website for positions available to assist

the Cairns Regional Council

Wednesday, March 28 2018: TRINITY BAY HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SESSION

TBSH staff: Barbara Foster- Head of Dept. Senior School.

FNQIV presented a volunteer information session to year 11 & 12 student undertaking a Certificate II in Volunteer

Services.

Services Coordinator Oni outlined the services FNQVI carries out; the role FNQVI play in placing potential volunteers

into volunteering member organizations and provided a brief on organizational members and location of the

FNQVI shop. Oni delivered this using a slideshow.

Cathy (Referral Officer) then explained further the volunteer referral process and benefits of volunteering.

Cathy discussed with students the benefits of volunteering. This was explored with questions they may be

considering with career path ways. Cathy suggested volunteering could assist in many ways. Some of which

included an opportunity to make an impact in someone’s life; an opportunity to help an organization by sharing and

refining your talents; give back to your community; develop new skills, build self-esteem and confidence; and

building networks.

Examples of volunteer positions and member organizations were provided. During question time volunteer

positions sheet and brochures were handed out. Pens and key rings were given to Barbara for distribution to

students. The presentation closed with thank you to staff and students of TBSHS. (Report by Cathy—Referral Officer)

P A G E 7 V O L U N T E E R T R I B U N E

Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre April 2018 Newsletter

now available on FNQ Volunteers’ website.

LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Cairns Regional Council 's

Disaster Management Unit

provides administrative, financial

and operational support to:

* T h e L o c a l D i s a s t e r

Management Group - Cairns

R e g i o n ( L D M G )

* The Local Disaster Coordination

C e n t r e

* Th e Q u e e ns l a n d S t a t e

Emergency Service (SES) Staff

from the Disaster Management

Un i t work d i rect ly wi th

communities to help support

their capability during disasters.

FNQVI will support with the

LDMG in the event of an

emergency.

We do this by simply keeping a

register of volunteers who can

be contacted in the event of an

emergency.

If you would like to participate in

this register Click Here

P A G E 8 V O L U N T E E R T R I B U N E

“Take some time to give back with the guidance of FNQ

Volunteers. When you want to help but don't know where to

start, start here.”

Article by Luke Michael, Journalist from Pro Bono News

“A consultation on volunteering data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has found that statistics on informal volunteering are a critical data gap that needs to be addressed, in order to better inform policy development and effective service delivery.

The ABS launched a national public consultation on statistics for volunteering and giving in April 2017, to “clarify the data needs of Australian communities and decision-makers for information on volunteering and giving activity”.

The ABS has now released an information paper detailing findings from the consultation.

It noted that an increase in “informal” volunteering had led to calls for the ABS to change its current definition of volunteering, which is: “The provision of unpaid help willingly undertaken in the form of time, service or skills, to an organisation or group, excluding work done overseas”.

“By 2013, Volunteering Australia had deemed this definition to be too narrow to capture the breadth of volunteer practices undertaken in Australia, as it only recognises formal volunteering for not-for-profit organisations,” the paper said.

“They note that the term ‘volunteering’ covers a wide range of activities, including formal activities (which take place within organisations, institutions and agencies) and informal activities (which take place outside the context of a formal organisation and structured volunteering activities).

“The revised 2015 VA definition is much broader in scope: ‘Volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.’ There was strong support in both the government and national consultations for the ABS to adopt this new definition of volunteering.”

The ABS said while it recognised “the importance of capturing data that reflects emerging trends and changing data needs”, it also wanted to retain time series continuity for the formal volunteering rate.”

More from this article can be read here….

P A G E 9 V O L U N T E E R T R I B U N E

P A G E 1 0

Address: Shop D 377 Mulgrave Road Bungalow Cairns Old 4870

FNQ Volunteers Inc. wishes to express thanks to the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services

We’re on Facebook: FNQ Volunteers Inc.

Phone: (07) 4041 7400 Fax: No longer available E-mail: info@fnqvolunteers.org Website: fnqvolunteers.org.au Mobile: m.fnqvolunteers.org.au

V O L U N T E E R T R I B U N E

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admin@fnqvolunteers.org Attn: Newsletter

STAFF ANTICS & ANTIQUES

In February, our

long serving staff

volunteer Loani

had a double

celebration—her

birthday and her

sad departure.

Always with a

c h e e r y

disposition and

gorgeous smile,

she warmed the

hearts of many

volunteers with her referral duties, but also the hearts of fellow staff

volunteers. She was very well regarded in the volunteer community by our

Members. Loani was with FNQ Volunteers for just over 6 years, beginning in

Reception and working her way up to be Referral Officer. She has decided

that she needs to concentrate on finding work. She would be a wonderful

addition to any organisation, but she is a no-nonsense lady. FNQ Volunteers

thanks her sincerely for her past efforts on behalf of the organisation and

volunteers, and wishes her all the very best in her future endeavours.

ABN: 28 719 411 457