LINKS TO STATEWIDE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND OTHER VOLUNTEER NETWORKS

Australian Red Cross – The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement http://www.redcross.org.au/howyoucanhelp_becomeavolunteer_default.htm

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest voluntary organisation. Much of the work done by the organisation both in Australia and overseas is carried out by volunteers, whose contribution to the multitude of Red Cross services is invaluable.

Since 1914 Australian Red Cross volunteers have been responding to need at local, national and international levels - in fact whenever disaster or emergencies strike they are there. Today they have more than 30,000 volunteers and deliver more than 60 local services and programs, mostly funded by public donation and corporate partnerships.

By becoming a volunteer you have an opportunity to contribute to the humanitarian efforts of Australian Red Cross at home and abroad. You'll also be providing real support to an organisation that is respected the world over for its outstanding service to humanity.

For more information about ways you can help visit http://www.redcross.org.au/howyoucanhelp_default.htm

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which includes the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), is a department of the Queensland Government. The EPA strives to protect Queensland’s natural and cultural heritage, promote sustainable use of its natural capital and ensure a clean environment.

Key functions of the organisation are environmental planning, environmental policy, management of parks, forestry and wildlife, environmental operations, sustainable industries, environmental and technical services, corporate affairs, and corporate development.

Conserving the state’s native wildlife and managing national parks and other protected areas is the responsibility of the QPWS. Helping QPWS meet this challenge is a large team of volunteers.

For information on volunteering visit: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/about_the_epa/careers_and_vacancies/volunteers/

For information on volunteer programs currently available visit: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/about_the_epa/careers_and_vacancies/volunteers/where_to_start/

Indigenous Community Volunteers http://www.icv.com.au/

Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) is an independent, not-for-profit company. It is an organisation that offers wide support to Indigenous communities to pursue their community development goals in their own way - it's about making a difference by providing volunteers who can transfer their skills to people in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. ICV matches skilled volunteers with approved short term projects in Indigenous communities.

For further information on becoming a volunteer visit http://www.icv.com.au/volunteers/index.html or download the relevant application forms at http://www.icv.com.au/volunteers/apply.html

Police-Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) Queensland http://www.pcyc.org.au/

Qld PCYC in partnership with the government, community, and business - achieving excellence in youth development, through the provision of recreational, sporting, cultural and welfare programs

Since its foundation as a public company, limited by guarantee on 20th May 1948, the Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association (QPCYWA) has established forty four Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Clubs located both in Brisbane metropolitan areas and in country centres throughout the state.

Qld PCYC would not be able to offer the range of services it does without its volunteers. Over 2,000 volunteers dedicated around 200,000 hours of their time last year to enable PCYC Qld to maintain its facilities and provide a vast range of services to members and the public generally. With membership across the state now over 55,000, this organisation continues to make a positive contribution to the future of countless young Queenslanders.

If you would like to support Qld PCYC please complete the Volunteer Application Form found at http://www.pcyc.org.au/volunteer/VolunteerApp.doc and send it to Head Office (GPO Box 1440 Brisbane 4001) or lodge it with your nearest Club. Visit the website http://www.pcyc.org.au/ for branch details.

Suitability/Blue Cards are mandatory. More information regarding obtaining a Blue Card is available on the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian website at http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/index.html

Queensland Community Mentoring Program http://www.learningplace.com.au/ea/etrf/mentoring

The Queensland Community Mentoring Program was established in November 2004 to build a sustainable mentoring capacity throughout Queensland. The program aims to improve participation, retention and attainment in learning for 14 to 17 year olds. Mentors, who are typically experienced people from the community with local knowledge, expertise and standing, volunteer to work with young people at risk of not achieving.

Job Futures Ltd, a national organisation with significant experience as a provider of employment, training and support services, is delivering the program. Under the program, Job Futures is identifying partner agencies with the experience, capacity and commitment to play a leadership role in co-ordinating projects at a local level.

Please visit http://www.learningplace.com.au/deliver/content.asp?pid=27917 for more contact details.

Queensland Parents and Citizens' (P&C) Associations http://education.qld.gov.au/corporate/pandc/

All state schools offer opportunities for parents to join a Parents and Citizens' (P&C) Association. These associations are involved in a variety of school activities from policy to financial planning as well as tuckshops, fundraising activities, school functions and out-of-school-hours care.

For further information on Parents and Citizens' Associations visit the Queensland Council of Parents’ & Citizens’ Associations Incorporated website at http://www.qcpca.org.au/ OR download the information brochure at http://www.qcpca.org.au/fact_sheets/documents/PCbrochure2006.pdf

Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC)
http://www.qwalc.org.au

QWaLC is funded by the Department of Natural Resources and Water as the peak body for natural resource management groups in Queensland. These groups include Landcare groups, but encompass any group involved in on-ground environmental work. QWaLC have about 300 member groups, and cover around 16,000 individual volunteers, though interaction is made with them at the group level.

QWaLC Roles:
o Advocacy, including making sure our groups are considered when funding-distribution schemes etc are negotiated.
o Representation, including sitting on various steering committees and initiatives.
o Networking, including information dissemination from other organisations to our groups, and between the groups themselves.
o Promotion, including coordinating the QLD Landcare Awards.
o Administration. QWaLC administrates public, personal and association liability insurance to our incorporated groups on behalf of the Department of Natural Resources and Water.

For further information
To find a community natural resource management group in your area
For upcoming events

Sport & Recreation Queensland http://www.sportrec.qld.gov.au/

Get Active Queensland! http://202.139.232.99/get_active.cfm
Sport and Recreation Queensland is proactively working towards helping Queenslanders become more active.

As the lead agency responsible for implementing the Queensland Government's sport and recreation policies, Sport and Recreation Queensland work with sporting organisations, councils, schools, Indigenous organisations and the wider community to increase participation, develop better skills in the industry and create better places and opportunities for sport and recreation.

For further information on community programs visit http://202.139.232.99/community_programs_1.cfm
For further information joining a club visit http://202.139.232.99/join_a_club.cfm

State Emergency Services (SES) & Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/ses/

The State Emergency Service (SES) is a volunteer organisation, established by an Act of Parliament in 1975. Under the Act, every local authority in Queensland is responsible for maintaining SES Units within their communities. The SES Units are made up of local people who have volunteered to prepare themselves and their communities to minimise the effects of a disaster. SES volunteers to not receive payment.

Under the motto, "Be Aware", the basic concept of the SES is to encourage self-help and mutual assistance within each community. The SES Units support the statutory services (Police, Fire and Ambulance) where an emergency or disaster is beyond the resources of those services.

To join the SES visit http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/ses/join/ses.asp
To join the VMR visit http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/ses/join/vmr.asp
For unit location and contacts http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/ses/info/units_disc.asp

Tourism Queensland http://www.tq.com.au/index.cfm

Tourism Queensland is a statutory authority of the Queensland Government and is the most progressive destination management organisation in Australia.

Visitor Information Centres play an important role in Queensland's tourism industry. Centres make a significant economic contribution to tourism, particularly in regional areas, by providing information to visitors that encourages them to stay longer, spend more money, experience more attractions and revisit a region. Visitor information centres also create significant social benefits, as many rely heavily on a volunteer workforce and operate as an important community facility. In recent years there has been increased recognition of the role of visitor information centres and their importance in providing high quality tourist information.

For further information about becoming an accredited visitor information centre click here http://www.tq.com.au/tqcorp_06/index.cfm?647A2BA0-088E-1E05-DABA-63F9649FC22E
For contact details of Queensland Visitor & Information Centres visit http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/travel-info/contacts.cfm
For the Queensland Tourism Industry Directory visit http://www.tq.com.au/tqcorp_06/resource-centre/industry-directory/industry-directory_home.cfm

Volunteer x Change www.volunteerxchange.com

Volunteer x Change is the world's first Virtual Volunteer system that delivers valuable professional services, skills and advice to the Community Sector via the web, 24x7, anywhere in the world.

Volunteers get the flexibility and convenience of volunteering at their computer by using their experience and skills to help solve the challenges that community organizations face. Contribute when you want, for as long as you want. You also receive feedback on contributions and get a record of work for professional development.

For information about becoming a virtual volunteer visit http://www.volunteerxchange.com/for_volunteers.html

If you are a community group, charity or nonprofit, Volunteer x Change gives you a network of professionals who can respond immediately to help solve many of your problems, via the web, where ever you are in the world. For more information visit http://www.volunteerxchange.com/for_community.html

Youth Mentoring Network http://www.youthmentoring.org.au/index.php

The Youth Mentoring Network is an initiative of the National Youth Mentoring Partnership which consists of four not-for profit organisations (The Smith Family, Dusseldorp Skills Forum, Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia and Job Futures) and the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

The Youth Mentoring Network aims to work with interested youth mentoring organisations and practitioners to foster the growth and development of high quality mentoring programs for young people in Australia by providing a national base of collaboration, support, guidance and expertise.

For information on how to become a mentor visit http://www.youthmentoring.org.au/be_a_mentor.php
For information for mentors/mentees visit http://www.youthmentoring.org.au/mentors_mentee.php
To find a mentoring program visit http://www.youthmentoring.org.au/programs.php

 

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