Volunteering Victoria Incorporated

Volunteering Victoria Incorporated is the state peak body for volunteering in the state of Victoria, Australia. As a nonprofit organisation, its primary focus is on advocating for volunteers, developing the volunteer sector, and promoting the value and benefits of volunteering throughout the community[1][3][4].

History and Mission

Volunteering Victoria emerged to support, represent, and strengthen the volunteering sector in Victoria. The organisation aims to build an inclusive and thriving volunteering culture by providing advocacy, resources, training, and development opportunities for volunteer-involving organisations and volunteers alike. The mission includes fostering diverse volunteer participation, including targeting newly arrived migrants and underrepresented groups, with dedicated advisory groups for First Nations peoples, people with disabilities, and new migrants[1].

Activities and Services

Volunteering Victoria undertakes several key roles:

• Advocacy: Acting as the voice of volunteers and volunteer organisations at the state level, influencing policies to enhance volunteering opportunities and support.
• Sector Development: Providing frameworks, resources, and tools designed to improve volunteer management and effectiveness within organisations across various sectors.
• Promotion of Volunteering: Conducting campaigns and events such as National Volunteer Week to highlight and celebrate the contributions of volunteers in Victoria.
• Research and Reporting: Publishing insights such as the annual State of Volunteering Report to inform stakeholders about trends, challenges, and the impact of volunteering in Victoria[1].

The organisation also facilitates inclusive membership that reflects the diversity of the volunteering sector, encompassing small volunteer-led groups to large organisations with thousands of volunteers. Members come from a wide range of sectors including social services, sports, community development, emergency services, health, environment, education, and more[2].

Impact

Volunteering is a significant contributor to Victoria's social and economic fabric. Data has shown that in 2016, approximately 19% of Victorians aged 15 and over participated in formal volunteering. The economic value of volunteering in Victoria was estimated at $4.9 billion, with contributions spread across gender, geography, and sectors. Women contributed $2.6 billion, men $2.3 billion, with urban and regional contributions also noted. This underscores the critical role of volunteering in community strengthening and economic well-being[5].

Governance and Structure

Volunteering Victoria is incorporated as a nonprofit organisation (ABN 79378017212RR0001), governed by a board and supported by advisory groups that represent diverse community voices. It operates programs and services designed to meet the needs of volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations, ensuring best practice and contemporary management approaches are maintained[1][3].

External Links

(Excluded as per instructions)

This article summarises the essential aspects of Volunteering Victoria Incorporated, highlighting its role as a vital state peak body dedicated to volunteering in Victoria, Australia.

[1] https://www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au [2] https://www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au/our-members/ [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/5755e0a2-38af-e811-a962-000d3ad24a0d [4] https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/9c9102ea713b46a981fec5615119062c-volunteering-victoria-inc-australia-melbourne [5] http://volunteeringvictoria.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Facts-Stats-10-Jan-2018.pdf