2016 Volunteer expo

Tony is National Volunteer Week Central Coast Winner

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 09:56:09 GMT

Volunteering Central Coast (VCC) held a celebration at Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve last week to celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) on December 5 and recognise this year’s National Volunteer Week Central Coast winner, Tony Ward.

He commenced volunteering at Wayside Chapel in the 1980s and was also President of his local primary school P&C committee where he organised logistics for environmental workshops for many years.

Ward had a stroke on Australia Day 2016, losing his speech and his ability to read and write.

Despite this he volunteered at the Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve as soon as he was fit enough to walk.

He lives at Toukley and walks 3km to the Lighthouse Reserve every Tuesday and Friday to volunteer.

He also gives time to the Norah Head Coast Care Volunteers weeding and replanting native plants on Bush Street Reserve, the Norah Head Cemetery and the Jenny Dixon Beach Reserve.

Click the link below to read more...

https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2022/12/tony-is-national-volunteer-week-central-coast-winner/

Volunteering Central Coast Annual Awards

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 05:13:32 GMT

National Volunteer Week 2022

Volunteer of the Year 2022

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Winner: Tony Ward
Volunteer Organisation: Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve

Tony Ward commenced volunteering at Wayside Chapel in the 1980s and was also Present of local primary school P&C. He organised logistics for environmental workshops for many years. Tony had a stroke on Australia Day 2016 where he lost his speech and his ability to read and write.

Despite this Tony volunteered at the Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve as soon as he was fit enough to walk. He tackled stabilising the steep slopes on the Reserve by hammering 1-metre-longstakes into the slope, placing kopper logs behind the stakes and then planting out with Lomandra. Tony lives in Toukley and walks 3klms+ out to the Lighthouse Reserve on every Tuesday and Friday to volunteer.

In addition to the Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve, Tony Ward also volunteers with the local Norah Head Coast Care Volunteers weeding and replanting native plants on Bush Street Reserve, the Norah Head Cemetery and the Jenny Dixon Beach Reserve.

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Annette Kelly
Nominating Organisation: Peninsula Villages Umina

Annette Kelly is committed in making a difference the Peninsula Villages residents’ lives. She shows compassion, empathy and understanding to all she encounters. She helps staff with activities, meal delivery, mail delivery and so so much more.

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Gary Gilday
Nominating Organisation: Peninsula Villages Umina

Gary Gilday is committed in making a difference the Peninsula Villages residents’ lives. He shows compassion, empathy and understanding to all he meets. He helps staff with activities, meal delivery, mail delivery and so so much more.

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Christine Fitzsimmons
Nominating Organisation: St Vincent de Paul Wyong

Christine has been a volunteer with St Vincent de Paul for 5 years & Christine has shown immense dedication in her role, travelling on multiple buses twice a week to Volunteer. Christine takes all the calls from the Community and makes the appointments for assistance. Christine is an asset to the St Vincent de Paul Wyong Team, “Christine is the BESTEST”

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Ramon Alvarez
Nominating Organisation: Northern Settlement Services LTD

Ramon is volunteering in NSS for two programs Multicultural Social Support Service and CVS since February 2017. He is reliable, always on time and we can ring him at short notice, and he is always ready to provide the service to our clients, even he has re-scheduled his own appointments to help us.

Good conversationalist and clients are always happy with him, they even ask for him to do the service. That’s why I’m nominating him, but for me, all the volunteers deserve a nomination.

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Dianne Hutchinson
Nominating Organisation: Central Coast Council over 50s Leisure & Learning Centre - Ettalong

Dianne has been volunteering since she lost both of her elderly parents. She has been a great support to her supervisor and the rest of our team of volunteers at Ettalong 50+Leisure and Learning Centre. If someone called in sick Dianne will come in, if someone has an appointment Dianne will come in to fill the position, If I'm busy Dianne will assist the person until I'm available, Dianne is trustworthy and loyal.

Many members and volunteers have made a kind friend in Dianne very helpful and supportive no matter how she may be feeling on the day. Dianne lives to help others and it shows daily when volunteering.

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Lynette Mitchell
Nominating Organisation: Central Coast Council over 50s Leisure Centre - Gosford

Lynette is always on top of duties, she goes above and beyond, nothing is ever a problem. Her cheerful bright smile is such a welcome to our patrons. She is one of the hardest working people I know. Her duties include working in the kitchen, cooking meals, helping with the setup of equipment of our activities, cleaning and anything else she can find to do. We truly all love this bit of sunshine in our days. I believe she really does deserve to be volunteer of the year!

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Helen Spinner
Nominating Organisation: Peninsula Villages

Helen worked at Peninsula Villages as an EEN, retired and then returned as a volunteer in our Wellbeing Department in Pozieres House. Helen has such a wonderful rapport with the residents and also has the ability to see things from a professional view with her past nursing experience. She is so reliable and versatile, and nothing is a problem for her. She contributes to our department with her professional and holistic observations that other less experienced volunteers may not be able to achieve.

Helen has picked up on many residents that may be isolating or starting to develop a depression and has been able to hand over to us so we could review the residents and assist them with their mental health needs through social support. We are very lucky to have her on our team and we thank her for all she does for us and our residents.

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Grace Wu
Nominating Organisation: Fairhaven Services

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Petrea Pritchard
Nominating Organisation: St John Ambulance NSW

Petrea is an amazing volunteer who administers first aid at events all over NSW. Petrea is well known as a mentor when on public events. Petrea also has taken the role of youth leadership in the Coastal Waters Combined division. She delivers and plans lectures, coordinates persons to deliver the courses and supports the youth members in the division.

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Chris Round
Nominating Organisation: Uniting

Christine has volunteered with Uniting since 2018. She helps support two facilitated playgroups a week. Without Chris's support Uniting would not be able to run the playgroups effectively. Christine has many years of experience as a teacher and utilises her knowledge and skills when working with vulnerable families. She is kind, generous and empathetic towards our families. Chris is very consistent, works well with all team members and had demonstrated her flexibility to changes particularly over the past two years with Covid lockdowns. Chris always has a smile on her face. Her dedication to Uniting and her work with families is exemplary .

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Kathy Patterson
Nominating Organisation: Radio Five O Plus 93.3FM

Apart from her more than ten-year service here at Radio Five O plus where she has trained many other volunteers support staff to assist in office Admin roles, she represents our Station at Guest Speaking events for local View and Probus clubs within the central Coast community and is a popular and dynamic On-Air presence with her striking voice and inimitable style.

Kathy is also a dedicated Legatee, helping out at Legacy village in Gosford by overseeing Bingo games, helping serve special morning teas for widows and other legatees, she also volunteers to accompany village residents on bus tours, she ensures no one's birthday or loss of a loved one is forgotten. Kathy is a stunning80 year old who defies age and inspires others with her energy, enthusiasm, commitment and kindness. A primary school teacher in her working life she continues her love of learning and has over the years helped New Australians to learn English.

Unafraid to take on anything and everything from a tea party to the latest challenge in technology, this lady is inventive, creative and constantly striving to improve the quality of our on-air music programs for the over 50's in the wider Central Coast area. An avid gardener, Kathy attends and supports Community run events, local sports and theatrical performances.

With energy to burn Kathy embodies tenacity, love of life and a truly generous spirit in serving her community which she holds to be a privilege. Kathy has over time served on the Board of the Radio Station and was tireless during the last two years when our station struggled throughout Covid to staff and to maintain our on-air presence. She did not once waver in her energy or commitment. A truly bright light and most definitely the right person to receive such an award.

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Cynthia Murphey
Nominating Organisation: Brisbane Water Girl Guides

Cynthia has volunteered with Brisbane Water guides in excess of 40 years. She has held many roles from running Brownie units, being Region Manager, District Manager in several districts etc. Cynthia is currently the District Manager of Terrigal/Kincumber District. Due to leader shortages in this district Cynthia is also running the weekly meetings for both the Guide and the Junior Guide weekly meetings.

Cynthia also oversees the management of the Guide Property at Somersby, known as Camp Chapman. She manages all bookings, organises all equipment and ground/maintenance work required on the bush acreage. Cynthia is also involved in the production of costumes for the Central Coast Gang show, which is a combined theatre production with the local Scout Association. To list everything Cynthia does would be a mammoth task and guiding certainly is in debt to Cynthia's for the amount of volunteer work Cynthia has provided.

Volunteer Manager of the Year 2022

Category: Volunteer Manager of the Year 2022
Winner: Kyle Hogan
Nominating Organisation: Coast Shelter

Kylie is an amazing Volunteer Coordinator who is extremely passionate and caring in supporting our 100 plus strong volunteer workforce. Kylie has only been in the position for a few years and the amazing change she has implemented to support and keep our volunteers safe has been outstanding. Kylie has used technology to improve our compliance, recruitment, onboarding, and orientation processes to make it easier for volunteers to join our organisation.

Kylie has established strong relationships with all our volunteers ensuring that they are engaged and feel part of the entire Coast Shelter team. Throughout the pandemic Kylie went above and beyond to keep our volunteers engaged so they were not isolated when they could not physical be on site. This was done though phone calls, monthly newsletters and regular online team gatherings.

Her commitment to growing our volunteers as seen several new programs and positions created which has changed the lives of our clients. An example of this is CoastShelters Driver mentor program which has seen over 5 young people obtain their driver’s licence.

Category: Volunteer Manager of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Marilin Perez-Cabrera
Nominating Organisation: Northern Settlement Services

Marilin coordinated the volunteer team through the pandemic with a high level of support. Her volunteer team provided the most precious individual social support to the people over 65 Yrs. across the Central Coast. She always communicates with the volunteers passionately, leading them professionally and in line with the code of ethics.

All volunteers know Marilin as a kind, caring leader who gives them always clear and comprehensive guidelines when needed. She is always available to listen to them no matter if they want professional or personal support. Marilin is a one of the best role models for the Duty of Care in a workplace and as a team member.

Whilst she has been coordinating volunteers for NSS for more than 10 years there has never been any complaints from her volunteers in the long period of the time but many complements! She really deserved to get a reward.

Category: Volunteer Manager of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Dianne Buettner
Nominating Organisation: Lake Haven Court Aged Care Facility

Dianne has been working at our facility for 16 years as a Lifestyle Officer and has been the key point of contact for our volunteers in that time, Dianne has maintained the same volunteers for 16 years who are consider much more than a volunteer. Dianne is invested in engaging with each volunteer and finding their key strengths and associate activities that are in line with these and the engagement for residents best suited.

Category: Volunteer Manager of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Michelle Parrish
Nominating Organisation: Wesley Aunties & Uncles

Michelle manages 250+ volunteer mentors known as aunts and uncles who provide safe, nurturing and long-term mentoring to children from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds. This is a high-risk program and requires strict policy, procedures and oversight to maintain safety for all children, whilst also providing them with organic fun and opportunity. Michelles been in this role for 1 years, it is her passion.

Corporate Volunteer of the Year 2022

Category: Corporate Volunteer of the Year 2022
Winner: Kwik Copy - Peter Clarke
Nominating Organisation: Rotary Club of Erina

Peter and his staff have for many years given their time and assistance with design, artwork, and printing of flyers, brochures, and posters for our major events such as the Century Challenge Cycle Ride. The staff have always been very helpful with changes and any problems which may have occurred. Kwik Kopy have heavily discounted costs or sponsored our charitable events, without which our contribution to local charities would have been far less.

Category: Corporate Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Bendigo Bank - Michael Bell
Nominating Organisation: Regional Youth Support Services

Bendigo staff always go above and beyond volunteering expectations- at CC Comicon we can have over 4000 attendees, staff help on the event day and tellers run the gates, cash handling, customer welcoming and management and assist throughout the event. This is a massive event for children, young people and families and they whole heartedly embrace the event and assisting any way they can (one year they handled outlets for the ticket sales distribution). Michael is gold he always helps our community and helped with the Bank of Goodwill video to help promote RYSS and Central Coast Comicon community event.

Young Volunteer of the Year 2022

Category: Young Volunteer of the Year 2022
Winner: Samantha Laundess
Nominating Organisation: LINKS Youth Support Service

Samantha is an amazing young person who has a passion for helping others. Samantha is a team leader at Northlakes High Schools Leo club, which is a school charity organisation ran by young people. She is seen as a mentor by her peers in this organisation as she helps manage the Leo's in community drives and other projects.

Samantha has raised money for Elsie's retreat which is the Central Coast's first dedicated in-patient palliative care unit. Samantha has also helped raise money for the Central Coast Autistic Ball.

She regularly volunteers her time at Bunnings charity barbecues for her Leo's group and at Raw challenge events. She has won multiple principle's awards for her achievements and is truly an inspiration for volunteers young and old.

Category: Young Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Thomas Johnson
Nominating Organisation: St John Ambulance NSW

Thomas has stepped up to become a cadet leader now that he is 18 years old. He mentors and assists with education in the division. Thomas also sorts logistics for deploying teams to events. Thomas is also in Wadalba rural fire service.

Category: Young Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Bianca Thomas
Nominating Organisation: The Skill Engineer Ltd

Bianca is a kind, caring and valuable part of our team here at The Skill Engineer Ltd. She has volunteered across the coast including Cadets, volunteering for 6years in High School, Coast Shelter throughout 2021/2022, Unlocked Youth Committee member and volunteer musician at Living Choice Retirement Village, Woy Woy.

Category: Young Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Samantha Hunter
Nominating Organisation: St John Ambulance NSW

Samantha volunteers in the role of a first aid responder/cadet at various events on the Central Coast. Samantha is now attending leadership courses and has recently been promoted to cadet Corporal. Sam is friendly and cheerful and loves helping new cadets who join the division.

Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Winner: Kenneth Schneider
Nominating Organisation: St John Ambulance NSW

Ken began his volunteering journey with St John Ambulance NSW in January 1953 as a cadet. Since that time, he has held every role at one time or another from cadet to Area Manager. His outstanding volunteering commitment has spanned 65 years and earner him an Order of Australia Medal and a commander of St. John Medal.

Very soon after having extensive heart surgery this year Ken was back in the saddle doing education for the Men’s Shed on men’s health and CPR. Ken frequently attends education sessions on the Central Coast mentoring groups such as caravan groups and such.

Ken never misses a chance to mentor and educate youth members and always makes new members to the division always feel welcome. Kens wife has health struggles, and he also is her carer.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Peter Turner
Nominating Organisation: St Vincent de Paul Wyong

Peter has been volunteering and helping the community for 10+ years within St Vincent de Paul, in various roles, at various centres and in various ways. He has a great rapport with everyone we assist and can defuse a difficult situation respectively.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Phil Tooke
Nominating Organisation: CC Council 50+ L& L - Ettalong

Phil has been helping at the Ettalong 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre since I started 6 years ago. He has been both helpful and supporting to previous and present staff, volunteers and members. Phil has been a convener running activities, teaching new members the rules of indoor bowls and has been my receptionist on days where staff couldn't manage it all on their own.

Phil will come in on days off to assist when needed and has always been loyal to staff and helpful and supportive of new volunteers and staff. Over the years Phil has been doing all kinds of odd jobs to assist in the day to day running of the centre and we would struggle to do it without him. An asset to the Senior's in the community.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Heather Brown
Nominating Organisation: Fairhaven Services

Heather has volunteered with Fairhaven over the years in a variety of capacities and has for many years now been one of the main people in our clothing sorting area. Heather has always been dedicated and conscientious and prides herself on the volume of clothing that she can get sorted at each shift. The value of the goods she has been able to get sorted, priced and out onto the retail racks must be in the 10's of thousands of dollars by now if not more. Heather volunteers with us, a disability services organisation, while having an adult child of her own to care for. She is one of the most reliable volunteers we have ever had and has made a huge contribution to the lives of people living with disability though her work at Fairhaven.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Pamela Hodge
Nominating Organisation: RFBI Lake Haven Masonic Village

Pamela is reliable, kind, caring, thoughtful and the type of person who makes everyone feel comfortable.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Cheryl Hayward
Nominating Organisation: RFBI Lake Haven Masonic Village

Cheryl is always reliable, punctual and very considerate of others and the residents she cares for. Cheryl remembers everyone's birthdays, and any special interest or hobby that each person has. Cheryl always puts others first and has continued to volunteer even during the covid lockdowns because she knew that the residents needed her.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Finalist: Doug Manning
Nominating Organisation: RFBI Lake Haven

Doug has been volunteering for many years, providing a sense of fun, companionship and support to the residents. Doug is always reliable, cheerful and trustworthy. Doug will also help out at other times even when not rostered on and is a wonderful role model and friend to our residents.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Ray Southeren
Nominating Organisation: RYSS

Ray has committed to Regional Youth Support Services for over 20 years as a volunteer - maintenance at Wyoming Youth Centre and Parkside, running events with RYSS, fundraising activities, linking training and supports to RYSS, help in the Youth Arts Warehouse since 2013- building many productions sets/theatre help, too many 'working bee' days to mention, and an advocate/mentor support to local vulnerable young people.

Ray has an OAM and is a long-standing Rotarian and is very committed to his local community and is loved by many! In recent years he joined the RYSS Board and is now the Treasurer and is the chairperson of the fundraising committee and instrumental in Central Coast Comicon a huge local pop culture family day/fundraiser event.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Garry Kirkby
Nominating Organisation: Central Coast Riding for the Disabled

RDA provides riding for over 70 Central Coast school and independent riders per week entirely staffed by dedicated volunteers. Garry Kirkby has been a volunteer and coach with Riding for the Disabled for over 25years.

He works tirelessly to ensure that our riders can enjoy the positive mental and physical benefits that horse riding can provide. He coaches 5 classes per week and travels from St Hubert’s Island at least three times per week to coach these classes and provide other administrative and organisational tasks critical to our Centre’s continuing success.

He has also been a committee member and President of our Centre for many years whilst continually supporting and mentoring all RDA volunteers and riders. RDA relies heavily on public donations and Garry has been our spokesman for several years giving presentations to community groups to gain ongoing financial support so that we can continue our wonderful service.

Category: Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: John Shamus O'Reilly (Known as Shamus)
Nominating Organisation: Coast Shelter

Volunteering for Coast Shelter since 2002, John O’Reilly, affectionately known as Shamus, has for many years donned his heavy-duty overalls to do the weekly industrial clean of our community centre restaurant. For those doing it tough on the Central Coast, the Coast Community Centre is known to be a place you can come to get a hand up when times are challenging.

Behind every free meal, is a regularly sanitised industrial kitchen. Charles Boyton, who runs the Coast Community Centre program advised, this volunteer activity of Shamus’ is not a glamourous role, but Shamus ensures the tough task of cleaning the appliances, range hoods, filters and heavy plastic floormats is accomplished weekly. The Coast Community Centre has proudly enjoyed a continued 5-star rating by Council Health Inspectors and Charles further states this would not be possible without Shamus’s diligent efforts.

A retired merchant seaman, Shamus has carried his disciplined work ethic into his retirement, dedicating many volunteer hours over the last 20 years to CoastShelter.

Volunteer Team of the Year 2022

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Winner: Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes
Nominating Organisation: Marine Rescue NSW Tuggerah Lakes

Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes operates over the 80square KLMs of the Tuggerah lakes systems assisting boaters, recreational users of the waterways and the community including other emergency agencies and police. Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes have had to manage rosters during the covid 19 pandemic to ensure that crews were able and ready to respond to any emergency.

They have had boats and crews operating out of area during the flood crisis, assisting NSW Police in the searches for missing persons, towing and placing the fireworks barge for council events and managing safety oversight for on water events.

Crews are professionally trained and need to maintain currency of their qualifications on a regular basis. The unit is assisted by support members who regularly assist with maintenance and fund raising at both bases at TheEntrance Nth and Toukley.

All of their 60 members are volunteers and are forever grateful for the support that the community so willingly gives. The Marine Rescues mission is "saving lives on the water"

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Finalist: Wyong Vinnies
Nominating Organisation: St Vincent de Paul Wyong

The Wyong Vinnies team are adaptable, understanding, non-judgemental and provide the community the care, support and/or assistance in the utmost respectful manner to the Wyong Region Community.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Finalist: Fairhaven Retail Team
Nominating Organisation: Fairhaven Services

Fairhaven's Retail Team consists of an average of 45volunteers without which the Op shopping Village would not be able to operate. This team is the most friendly, enthusiastic and dedicated team of people I have ever had the privilege to work with. They work alongside Supported Employees (employees with disability) and continually provide patient, caring and friendly support to each and every one. Their positive, friendly and helpful attitude has seen us be able to continually grow in our customer base and fundraising efforts to the point where the Fairhaven Op shopping Village brings in near $300,000 each year in gross revenue. This all goes towards helping local Central Coast people, who live with disability, achieve their goals in life.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Finalist: Peninsula Villages
Nominating Organisation: Peninsula Villages Umina

150 words is not enough, the Team personify care, compassion, empathy, enthusiastic, always there.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Finalist: Volunteers and Activity Conveners Team
Nominating Organisation: Ettalong 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre

Conveners set up the Activity and attend meetings learning more about the centre goings on, this keeps members informed. Some members are quite frail, and the conveners and Volunteers assist them when they come to the centre, so they feel included and supported. Members are supported by conveners and kitchen, reception volunteers. Through Covid lockdowns we had eager volunteers waiting to get back to the centre, Staff were supported where needed to make it work for everyone's safety. The kitchen volunteers are preparing healthy meals daily for the members and visitors of the community.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Finalist: Disabled Surfers Volunteers
Nominating Organisation: Disabled Surfers Association INC Central Coast

Without our amazing team of volunteers, those Five women reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking along a muddy track. Only four come out on the other side. The hike through the rugged Giralang Ranges is meant to take the office colleagues out of their air-conditioned comfort zone and encourage teamwork and resilience. At least, that's what the corporate retreat website advertises less enabled would not experience the quintessential Australian pass time of surfing. Their selfless attitude and commitment of our team of volunteers brings a joy and sense of satisfaction to our surfers and a sense of relief to the parents and carers that inclusion is indeed possible. The ability to share the joy that the ocean brings is invaluable to those who have never experienced the immersion and healing the ocean offers. It is truly a wonderful thing to see the sheer joy it brings to our surfers and their carers. From mild autism to fully ventilated quadriplegic, not challenge is too grate. Our volunteers are grateful for the opportunity to serve and bring joy to those less able and their families who often feel the guilt of not being able to provide this experience themselves.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Finalist: WWPN Service Volunteers
Nominating Organisation: Woy Woy Peninsula Neighbourhood Service Inc

The volunteers help the aged community of the Peninsula to stay in their own homes longer to prevent them going into nursing homes. They drive them to medical & medically related appointments, take them shopping on our buses & have hostesses to carry their parcels, do housebound shopping for people who can’t get out, do their washing, take them on social outings &we have an op shop the help people get reasonably priced items & generally support anyone who calls us.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Leonie, Krystal & Kirralee (The Tiger Lily Coordinators)
Nominating Organisation: Happiness Habits INC

The three members of the coordination team, Leonie, Krystal and Kirralee work tirelessly to ensure the ladies in our social support group are supported through social events, assistance with goods and services, connected and cares for through difficult times.

Each one of them contributes hours of their time each week to make sure the Tiger Lilies operates without a hitch. They make sure birthdays and other important days are celebrated, assist with moving house, clothing, transport and other needs.

All the volunteers are involved in social interactions that involve not only the women in our group (who are all from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds) but their families as well. They organise family days and women can bring their children.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has impacted greatly on their ability to have such events as their Christmas party, where Santa would make an appearance. They have adapted beautifully to the pandemic and offer lots of online events to entertain and bring social connectedness. These three women make a wonderful team and work beautifully together for a common cause.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: We Care Connect
Nominating Organisation: We Care Connect

The fabulous We Care volunteer team is now 60+ strong. Each month, they prepare bundles for up to 200 children to provide essentials like clothing, cots, car seats &prams. It's the equivalent of approx. 10 FTEs and each volunteer brings a wonderful sense of passion, care and compassion to everything they do at We Care. We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteer team - and we wouldn't want to!

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Gig Buddies Central Coast
Nominating Organisation: Gig Buddies Central Coast

Volunteers with the Gig Buddies project continue to selflessly give their time, ensuring adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities and/or autism have the opportunity to partake in their passions.

Gig Buddies ‘volunteers play a vital role in tackling loneliness, increasing confidence and expanding social circles for so many. Whether going to the cinema, horse riding together, watching the footy, attending markets or simply catching up for coffee and a chat - Gig Buddies ‘volunteers continue to demonstrate exemplary dedication, kindness and all-round generosity.

Without volunteers the Gig Buddies project wouldn’t function. To everyone who has given their time, their contribution has been invaluable.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: RFBI Care 4 U Crew
Nominating Organisation: RFBI

The volunteer team have helped care and support our residents throughout the past year, especially during covid outbreaks and have always put the residents first, limited the socialising they did so as to not bring Covid into the facility.

The volunteers have been a substitute family for the residents when we had restrictions on visitors. This team have been flexible, supportive and worked as part of a team with each other and with the Lifestyle team and staff at RFBI Lake Haven.

Category: Volunteer Team of the Year 2022
Highly Commended: Breakaway Auxiliary Craft Group
Nominating Organisation: Camp Breakaway Auxiliary

The Auxiliary Craft Group continually raise funds to help enhance the respite camps for children and adults with disabilities by being out at shopping centres and an open craft shop with handmade items for sale. These made items are jams, pickles, baby wear, kitchen items and much more.

For more information on the Volunteering Awards, contact Fiona Morrison from Volunteering Central Coast on 4329 7122 or via email at eo@volcc.org.au

Volunteering Central Coast is an innovative not for profit organisation with a mission to enable community engagement, inclusion and growth through quality volunteering. We champion volunteering and are continuously building our capability to support Central Coast community sector organisations to grow their service capacity.

Volunteering Central Coast Annual Awards

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:20:52 GMT

National Volunteer Week 2021

Volunteering Central Coast’s National Volunteer Week Central Coast Awards is an important part of the year in the recognition of individuals who devote their time, energy and enthusiasm as volunteers in the Central Coast Community. Categories include Volunteer of the year, Young Volunteer, Volunteer Team and ‘Living Legend’ Volunteer (10 or more years of service) as well as Excellence in Volunteer Managers and Corporate Volunteers for 2021.

The theme for this year’s National Volunteering week was ‘Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine’, and it certainly reflects the experience we have at Volunteering Central Coast of a resurgence in people wanting to volunteer and volunteer involving organisations seeking new volunteers after a hiatus of COVID restrictions, and reconnecting with their loyal volunteers from years past.

“The Judges were looking for how volunteers personified VCC’s message about volunteering – ‘Helping people, changing lives’ We feel that the real winners are the organisations and communities in which all our nominees volunteer!

Indeed, the people of the Central Coast are very generous with their time, skills and hearts with a higher percentage of people volunteering here that in Greater Sydney, over 46,000 people volunteer, and we get to meet many of them at Volunteering Central Coast.

This year, the 2021 NVW Award face-to-face presentations were held on Wednesday 26 May at the Erina Centre, and we were very happy to have the finalists from our 2020 NVW Awards also join us to be able to present their certificates in person.” Said Fiona Morrison, Executive Officer of Volunteering Central Coast. “The awards were presented by Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, Member for Wyong, David Harris, Administrator Central Coast Council, Rik Hart, Emma Gilbert of Dept. Communities and Justice and VCC Board members, Chairperson Randal Tame, Dr Jacqui Larkin and Andrew Cordwell”

VCC are showcasing each winner with a once in a lifetime opportunity to be recognised for their endeavours in their own community, on their website this week ( www.volunteeringcentralcoast.org.au ) , and VCC will also arrange for a professional photo of each volunteer award winner in their volunteering role. The Award Winners’ portraits from each of the years 2018 to 2020 are currently on exhibition at the Erina Centre Foyer.

Award Winners detailed below:

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2021
Winner: Gabrielle Grenier
Nominating Organisation: Mary Macs Place (Broken Bay Catholic Diocese)

Gabrielle has volunteered at Mary Mac's Place for about 2 years. Starting with volunteering 3 days a week picking up food rescue for our community and service each week, during Covid, Gabrielle came 5 days a week and helped keep Mary Mac's open to provide much needed food and support during a very difficult time for many. Gabrielle, works so hard everyday that she is there and is always so caring to our community members and is a pleasure to work with.

Gabrielle donates her time to Mary Mac's and goes up and beyond to help the program and our community. “We are very lucky to have her on our team and would love to show her recognition” said Sally Liedberg, Manager at Mary Macs. Gabrielle also volunteers her time to 2 other services for aged care and every week goes from one service to another helping people. Gabrielle has a heart of gold, changing communities and changing lives she shares joy to all wherever she goes.

Category: ‘Living Legend’ Volunteer of the Year 2021 (over 10+ years volunteering with same organisation)
Winner: Roma Dowling
Nominating Organisation: Toukley Neighbourhood Centre

Roma had been volunteering with Toukley Neighbourhood Centre’s Community Visitors Scheme in Toukley for 25 years. She began visiting at Norah Head nursing home in 1996. Roma’s first CVS friend was Libby, who she visited for 17 years, before the Libby was relocated to rural NSW. In 2017, Roma was re-matched at Vietnam Veterans Keith Payne VC Hostel where she is still currently visiting. She adapted to changes and challengers during Covid-19 by learning how to use technology and visiting virtually using Zoom.

In the 25 years she has many health challenges that have not hindered her visiting in any way. She is a great ambassador to the Community Visitors Scheme with her dedication, contribution, friendship to the residents and the CVS Volunteer team at Toukley Neighbourhood Centre and a central part of how they are changing communities and changing lives.

Category: Young Volunteer of the Year 2021
Winner: Jourdan Mitchell
Nominating Organisation: YMCA NSW

Jourdan has supported the new Y Central Coast site since its creation 18mths ago. He has proven himself an invaluable Youth Mentor leading and assisting 51 Street gym sessions with 661 participations, and was responsible for the Coordination of the Rec Centre site at last week’s Youth Careers Expo (featuring over 50 Employment Agencies; Training Organisations; local Employers; Support, Volunteer, Abilities and Indigenous specific services, 12 local schools and 300 young attendees).

He has become an invaluable youth advocate for the North of Wyong region - addressing local youth issues from youth disengagement, unemployment to school bullying - in promotional films, local press and radio interviews (HIT 101.3 and ABC) But above all, his quiet strength and positive role modelling, has made him an absolute within their service, changing community and changing lives.

Category: Volunteer Team of the year 2021
Winner: Saint Joseph's Workshop Volunteers
Nominating Organisation: St Vincent de Paul

This team of 44 volunteers have manufactured over 800 items of new furniture each year which go towards supporting St Vincent de Paul's welfare recipients and fundraising. Furniture made also supports the SVDP women’s refuges and some of the most talented workshop volunteers are also women. The estimated value of their output is in excess of

$70,000 per year and are a testament to how volunteering is changing communities, changing lives.

Category: Excellence in Volunteer Management 2020
Winner: Clive Moane
Nominating Organisation: St Vincent de Paul

Clive has always displayed a positive attitude in taking volunteers through ongoing changes in the retail environment. He supports all his volunteers and has a genuine and respectful interest in their wellbeing and their families. He is always keen to promote his region in terms of the sales and customer service success of his shops, very proud of their merchandising skills! Always keen to onboard new volunteers and understands the volunteer experience. He engages and encourages volunteers to develop their skills.

Clive has successfully retained volunteers for many years and is sincere in thanking them for their contribution towards the Society' mission. He is one of the first Volunteer Managers that provides input to the state-wide ShopTalk newsletter with fabulous volunteer stories and photos. If one his volunteers decides that it is time to leave, Clive always ensures that they have a memorable farewell while always recognising their service, and how they have been a part of changing communities, changing lives.

Category: Excellence in Corporate Volunteering 2021
Winner: Nicole Doerksen of Ray White Saratoga- Kincumber
Nominating Organisation: Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre

Nicole is an Agent at Ray White Kincumber- Saratoga who has gone above and beyond in her support of the Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre. Nicole volunteers at the Youth Brekky Club early in the morning even though she has young children and works full time. She sends out newsletters in the community that highlights the Centre and tells everyone about their services. She has organised donations from the community for Christmas hampers and so much more!

Through supporting Nicole’s volunteering, Ray White Saratoga- Kincumber has forged a strong and lasting partnership with Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre for which we are most appreciative, changing communities, changing lives.

For more information on the Volunteering Awards, contact Fiona Morrison from Volunteering Central Coast on 4329 7122 or via email at eo@volcc.org.au

Community Visitors Scheme provides a lifeline of connection

rob@bluebottlegraphics.com.au (Rob Paes) — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 01:19:23 GMT

Lee and Colleen. Photo: Amanda Brook

Lee is 103 years old, legally blind and has lived in aged care at Killarney Vale for 12 years.

She has knitted and donated more than 2,000 trauma teddies for the ambulance service.

Lee and Colleen have been friends since May 2017, after Colleen decided to volunteer her time visiting an older person in aged care.

“At first I was concerned that I would be imposing myself on someone, but really, I needn’t have worried,” Colleen said.

They are both part of the Volunteering Central Coast Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) which has just had a $28,000 financial boost from the Federal Government.

Health Minister, Greg Hunt, said he recognised the significant impact that CVS volunteers had on the wellbeing of older citizens since it started in 1992.

This volunteer program has been particularly important during the past year of Covid restrictions on aged care facilities, and Volunteering Central Coast (VCC) volunteers have used all manner of ways to remain connected, sending cards and gifts, and telephoning their older friends, providing a lifeline of connection during this distressing time of social isolation.

VCC has received additional funds to be able to enhance these connections using tablets or iPads to enable video calls between the older resident and their visitor, as well as being a source of connection to the internet, mind gym apps, music and more.

“Community visitor volunteers commit to visiting their matched resident friend at least once a fortnight,” said Toni Trent, the CVS Co-ordinator at VCC.

“Visits are spent doing something that both the visitor and the resident enjoy, you might want to read, listen to music, chat and reminisce, or watch a favourite TV program together, go for a walk or an outing,” she said.

The new funds will enable these activities to expand with new volunteers exploring the opportunities of being connected to the internet, ancestry searches, online games or touring the world via Google Earth.

Volunteering Central Coast is the local Volunteer Resource Centre and the lead agency for Volunteer Support Services for the Central Coast region.

It provides volunteer support services to individuals and volunteer involving organisations across the region and has represented the volunteer sector here for almost 40 years.

The Coast has more than 36,000 formal volunteers and many more that volunteer occasionally or help out in a crisis.

VCC co-ordinates the delivery of the CVS program on the Coast and also provides nearly 50 volunteers to visit older people, providing friendship and companionship.

Visits are available to anyone receiving government-subsidised residential aged care or Home Care Packages.

There is a particular focus on older people that have little contact with friends or relatives, are feeling isolated from their culture and heritage, have mobility issues that prevent them from taking part in social or leisure activities or are different in some way.

Executive Officer at Volunteering Central Coast, Fiona Morrison, said the Community Visitors Scheme showed how volunteers personified VCC’s message about volunteering, Helping People, Changing Lives.

“Volunteering brings people together for many reasons and we are so proud to have a wonderful team of our volunteers giving back to those most isolated in our community, especially the perseverance we have seen in the challenges that they have faced to maintain contact with the resident they have befriended during the Covid restrictions that have seen some aged care facilities in lockdown for six months,” she said.

This article also appeared in the Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine in May 2021

https://hunterlifestyle.com.au/2021/05/central-coast-the-gift-of-giving-back/

Central Coast Volunteers adapt to COVID-19

Tue, 26 May 2020 13:41:55 GMT

Many charities have experienced a shakeup, as coronavirus forces their older volunteer base into isolation.

But some of those who lost their jobs in the pandemic, are rolling up their sleeves.

Click the link below (courtesy of NBN News Central Coast) to watch our full news story...

https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2020/05/15/central-coast-volunteers-adapt-to-covid-19/

Volunteering Central Coast Annual Awards

Tue, 26 May 2020 06:40:58 GMT

National Awards Week 2020

The Volunteering Expo this week held by Volunteering Central Coast has been postponed from 27 May 2020 to 4 November due to the COVI-19 restrictions on public events. This annual event hosts over 40 Community organisations that showcase their activities and the volunteering opportunities available as well as attracting over 400 people looking to volunteer.

The Expo is usually held to coincide with National Volunteer Week and an important part of the event is recognition of individuals who devote their time, energy and enthusiasm as volunteers in the Central Coast Community through the VCC National Volunteer Week Central Coast Awards presentations. Categories include Volunteer of the year, Young Volunteer, Volunteer Team and ‘Living Legend’ Volunteer (10 or more years of service) as well as Excellence in Volunteer Managers and Corporate Volunteers for 2020.

“The theme for this year’s National Volunteering week was ‘Changing Communities, Changing Lives’ , and it’s apparent that all the award nominations have made a great difference!” said Fiona Morrison, Executive Officer of Volunteering Central Coast. “Indeed, the people of the Central Coast are very generous with their time, skills and hearts with a higher percentage of people volunteering here that in Greater Sydney, over 46,000 people volunteer, and we get to meet many of them at Volunteering Central Coast.”

The Judges were looking for how volunteers personified VCC’s message about volunteering – ‘Helping people, changing lives’

VCC are showcasing each winner with a once in a lifetime opportunity to be recognised for their endeavours in their own community, on their website this week (www.volunteeringcentralcoast.org.au ), and will present the awards in person at the Expo in November. VCC will also present a professional photo of each volunteer award winner in their role to the lucky nominee.

However, Fiona added, “I feel that the real winners are the organisations and communities in which all our nominees volunteer!”

Category: Volunteer of the Year 2020

Winner: Paula Hardwick of Meals on Wheels Central Coast

New Category: Young Volunteer of the Year 2020

Winner: Beau Barton – North Gosford Learning Centre

Beau was a student at North Gosford Learning Centre and participated in the VCC Young People ‘connecting communities’ program in which young people volunteer with a local organisation for 6 months as a part of their curriculum, assisting their local community, gaining workplace skills and serving as a step in the pathway to employment.

Category: ‘Living Legend’ Volunteer of the Year 2020 (over 10+ years volunteering with same organisation)

Winner: Jayne Mote from Rotary Club of Brisbane Water

Category: Volunteer Team of the year 2020

Winner: Peninsula Villages Ukulele Players nominated by Peninsula Villages

Category: Excellence in Volunteer Management 2020

Winner: Allan Maddox from Radio Five-O Plus 93.3Fm

Category: Excellence in Corporate Volunteering 2020

Winner: Sanitarium – Coast Shelter

For more information on the Volunteering Awards, contact Fiona Morrison from Volunteering Central Coast on 4329 7122

or via email at eo@volcc.org.au

Event Details

Central Coast Volunteering Expo

Wednesday 4 November

10am - 2pm

Erina Centre, Erina Fair.

Free entry

Presentation of Central Coast National Volunteer Week Awards at

Central Coast Volunteering Expo

Wednesday 4 November

1 - 2pm

Erina Centre, Erina Fair.

Free entry

VIP attendance

Deputy Mayor of Central Coast Council – Cllr Jane Smith

Member for Dobell, Emma McBride MP

Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch MP

Chair of VCC, Lucy Milne,

Volunteering Central Coast is an innovative not for profit organisation with a mission to enable community engagement, inclusion and growth through volunteering. We champion volunteering and are continuously building our capability to support Central Coast community sector organisations to grow their service capacity.

Board Director Recruitment

rob@bluebottlegraphics.com.au (Rob Paes) — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 06:22:29 GMT

Volunteering Central Coast (VCC) is an incorporated association and registered charity based on the NSW Central Coast. Our central purpose is to enable community engagement, inclusion and growth through quality volunteering. We are currently seeking to invite suitable applicants to apply to join the Board of this highly valued organisation.

If you are interested please email board1@volcc.org.au or call our main office on 02 4329 7122 for a Board Recruitment Pack which includes an overview of the purpose and commitments of VCC, a brief history of the organisation, an outline of the current strategic plan as well as an application form.

CLICK HERE to find out information about this position.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 30 August 2019

Something for everyone this Volunteer Week

Thu, 23 May 2019 01:29:51 GMT

From lending a hand in the kitchen to lending a voice on the radio – tens of thousands of Central Coast residents give their time to their community without expecting anything in return.

This National Volunteer Week, support organisations are encouraging MORE people to have a go – and there’s something for everyone.

For more information click the link below and watch the video courtesy of NBN news...

https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2019/05/21/something-for-everyone-this-volunteer-week/

Volunteering Expos 2019

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:03:45 GMT

Erina Centre, Erina Fair (15th May) and The Art House, Wyong (31st May)

Interested in volunteering? Come to the expo and speak with over 50 community organisations

To showcase the great variety of volunteering opportunities and share the multiple benefits of becoming a volunteer, you are warmly invited to participate in our annual Volunteering Expos:

as someone looking to volunteer with a local community organisation, it is a unique opportunity to be find out about the different activities, programs and events that organisations have available for you to participate in.
or as a VCC Member and volunteer involving organisation it is a unique opportunity to be able to share with attendees the different activities, programs and events that you have available for them to participate in.

We are holding two Expos this year, one at the Erina Centre, Erina Fair on 15 May and the other at The Art House, Wyong on 31 May .

Last year's Expo attracted over 500 people who were interested in volunteering with local organisations, and we will be delivering the Volunteer information sessions and our new Event Volunteering information session at the Expos.

The VCC National Volunteering Week Awards will be presented at the Wyong Expo on the 31st May.

Location
Erina Centre, Erina Fair (15 May)
The Art House, Wyong (31 May)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Proudly supported by Central Coast Council

Event Training

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 23:45:25 GMT

All you need to know about Volunteering at Events

This information and orientation workshop will give you the understanding of how to volunteer at events, the rights and responsibilities of being an volunteer, and link you with several event volunteering opportunities on the Central Coast.

Volunteering Central Coast can refer you to many local events, ranging from neighbourhood meet and greet events through to the large annual Region wide events such as Kids Day Out or The Plant Lovers Fair.

Attendance is free but bookings are required.

A free Event Volunteering resource is included with attendance at the workshop.

Date and Time

Thu., 18 April 2019
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm AEST

Location

Westfield Tuggerah Library
Meeting Room 1
Tuggerah, NSW 2259

CLICK HERE FOR FREE REGISTRATION

Volunteering Expo and Awards 2018

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 12:10:52 GMT

Volunteering Expo and Central Coast Volunteer Awards 2018

The Volunteering Expo held by Volunteering Central Coast (VCC) on Wednesday 30th May, saw 38 Community organisations come together to showcase their activities and volunteering opportunities. With over 400 people attending, the day was a great success.

An important part of the expo was the recognition of individuals who devote their time, energy and enthusiasm as volunteers in the Central Coast Community. Award Categories included Volunteer of the year, Young Volunteer of the year and ‘Living Legend’ Volunteer (10 or more years of service) as well as Volunteer Managers and Corporate Volunteers for 2018.

“The theme for this year’s National Volunteering week was ‘Give a little change a lot’ , however it appears that all the award nominees have given a great deal!” said Fiona Morrison, from Volunteering Central Coast. “The people of the Central Coast are very generous with their time, skills and hearts with a higher percentage of people volunteering here that in Greater Sydney. Over 46,000 people volunteer on the Central Coast every year, and we get to meet many of them at Volunteering Central Coast. I feel that the real winners are the organisations and communities in which all our nominees volunteer!”

The Judges were representatives from the VCC Board, TAFE’s Community Services Unit and Hunter Volunteer Centre, and they were looking for how volunteers personified VCC’s message about volunteering – ‘Helping people, changing lives’

VCC are showcasing each winner with a once in a lifetime opportunity to be recognised for their endeavours in their own community. Thanks to award sponsors, Claude Neon, each winner will have their photo displayed on bus shelters around the Central Coast.

For more information on the Volunteering Awards, contact Fiona Morrison from Volunteering Central Coast on 4329 7122 or via email at recruit@volcc.org.au

Award Winners detailed below:

Leanne manages over 70 volunteers over 6 days each week as well as Fair days and events. She is not only very supportive, getting to really know and appreciate each individual, but really sees their potential and works to activate opportunities for them to step in to project

leadership where they show interest, resulting in awesome and creative outcomes for Fairhaven, as well as a really bonded, happy and satisfied volunteer workforce.

Leanne and her team manage the whole Fairhaven shopping village (8 retail shops) and pop up shops in retail centres. They raised almost $200,000 last year in revenue to support people living with disabilities.

Mars Food Australia harnessed its community spirit on Friday 11 August, 2017 when more than 160 employees spent a day volunteering in the local community. Employees split up across 16 community organisations that included farms, schools for disadvantaged youth, respite centres and recovery and rehabilitation centres to lend a hand:

Cooking and share meals with community group volunteers and service users;
Picking fruit;
Gardening and ground maintenance;
Setting up an irrigation system at a local school for Agriculture classes;
Creating and planting new vegetable gardens;
Tending existing community vegetable gardens;
Refresh of kitchen and dining facilities;
Reinvigorating a sensory trail for children and adults with disabilities.

The day reminded all employees about the importance of being part of a community and the impact we can have by giving back. Mars Food Australia will run it’s Volunteer Day again on 13 July 2018.

Kai has won Umina Surf Club Volunteer of the Year 2017, and for 4 years running received the Edmund Rice Award for community work excess of 100hrs per year.

Kai does Patrols for Umina Surf Club, he volunteers at NSW Surf Titles and Australian Surf Titles in capacity of IRB Crew and Official.

Kai holds the position of Radio Officer in our club and is on the Emergency Call Out Team. Kai engages positively with members of the public and is keen to share his knowledge about beach and surf safety as well as information about the local community area. He is then one of the last to leave; pulling the roller shutters down.

His willingness to help around the club is second to none and is always done with a smile on his face. Over the past 4 years Kai as contributed in excess of 1500hrs and only now at the age of 16.

Bev loves her local community and has been involved in many volunteering positions here at Toukley Neighbourhood Centre for over 15 years.

She has been instrumental in identifying gaps and needs for the disadvantaged and vulnerable and has developed programs like Showers and Laundry for the homeless and 2 social enterprises to support the community.

The Lakes Food Care Program provides an affordable place to shop where over 500 clients and families a week only pay handling fees for rescued food purchased from Foodbank NSW & ACT. The OP-Shop provides much needed fundraising funds which support other community programs available at Toukley Neighbourhood Centre.

Bev's, love, energy, innovation and aspirations for this community and Toukley Neighbourhood Centre is an incredible contribution by one individual.

Chris Garratt has been with Wheeling and Able since 1998, joining the Board of Directors holding several roles whilst also being employed as Assistant Principal Support at East Gosford Primary School. Chris has enhanced the lives of many young People 0-21 with physical disabilities living on the Central Coast and the Newcastle Hunter Region. During her time with Wheeling and Able Chris has been the major drive in arranging a Race Day and other fund raising events.

Especially significant has been Chris' role in leading the transition from Wheeling and Able Central Coast Branch to CoastAbility Ltd to become a totally Central Coast entity this year.

Chris' volunteering for Wheeling and Able and now with CoastAbility has been exceptional in the contribution to young people with disabilities on the Central Coast.

Her dedication to her role and excellence in outcomes for the organisation, the people it serves and the young people with disabilities living on the Central Coast could not have been given with more grace, humility or dedication than Chris has done for 20 years and is continuing to do.

Celebrating the Community Visitors Scheme

Wed, 23 May 2018 13:55:14 GMT

Held at Volunteering Central Coast for National Volunteering Week

We recently celebrated a morning tea that we held in honour of the Community Visitors Scheme, a wonderful befriending program for volunteers visiting aged care residents locally. Over 40 VCC volunteers attended the morning , some with the aged care residents they visit on a weekly basis and representatives from the aged care facilities including Bluewave Living, Chamberlain Gardens, The Orchards and Arcare who spelled out the reasons they like being a part of the program.

The event was launched by Mayor, Jane Smith Central Coast Council and was a wonderful celebration of the good will that volunteers bring and share with those they volunteer with, be it an individual resident in an aged care facility or a not for profit organisation that works with the whole community on the Central Coast. The dancers form The Glen were extraordinary and performed a Welcome Dance, a Creation dance and a Farewell dance, and enjoyed meeting with the volunteers and residents after performing.

As part of National Volunteering week Volunteering central Coast also wanted to celebrate the fact that over 46,000 people volunteer every year at a great rate than Sydney and this is increasing annually. We assist over 115 community organisations to find volunteers to be involved in the activities and serviced that they deliver to support young and old, families, their animals, the natural environment and many cultural activities too. And whilst the National Volunteering week theme is “give a little change a lot”, I can honestly say the volunteers on the Central Coast give a tremendous amount of themselves in their roles. We have over 60 volunteers ourselves at VCC that support all our services and they are a wonderful source of goodwill, generosity and pride.

We were also fortunate to have the representatives of our Corporate Volunteering programs supported by Michael Bell of Bendigo Bank and Ginny Gallegos Treehouse Creative as we launched the VCC and CVS “ bankofgoodwill.com.au ” film today. The film features two volunteer visitors Mike Cronshaw and Penny Fraser and the residents they visit Donald Jeff Coat and Glady Ryan as well as our CVS Coordinator Toni Trent.

Click here to see more images of the event

Volunteering Central Coast is also hosting a Volunteer Expo on 30 May at Erina Centre Erina Fair, and we are inviting anyone that is interested in the opportunity to volunteer in their community to come and meet with over 40 organisations looking to engage volunteers, as well as running ‘orientation to volunteering’ information sessions and one to one consultations for prospective volunteers.

If you would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me or visit our website... www.volunteeringcentralcoast.org.au

Volunteer Expo 30th May 2018

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 12:55:41 GMT

Interested in Volunteering? Come to the expo and meet over 40 organisations...

Volunteering Central Coast will be hosting our Volunteering Expo 10am–2pm on 30 May 2018 , that will bring over 40 Community organisations that are seeking new volunteers together at the Erina Centre, Erina Fair. As well as the ability to find many different opportunities to volunteer, you can attend one of several orientation to volunteering training sessions and one to one consultations with VCC staff on the day.

If you are interested in having a stall at the Expo this year then download the form, fill it in and return to us by Wednesday the 25th April 2018

REGISTRATION FORM >

Volunteer Week Awards 2018 – Closing date: 21 May 2018

There is a Coast-wide search for nominees in the VCC Volunteer Awards program, including young volunteer, 'Legacy' volunteer for long service, Volunteer Team, Volunteer Involving organisation and Corporate volunteering program.

All nominees will be invited to the Volunteer Expo the following week and winners of the will be presented with their awards on the day to nominate your favourite volunteer please use the links below, or contact VCC on admin@volcc.org.au for further details on how to nominate your favourite volunteer or volunteer related organisation.

Volunteering Central Coast is searching for nominations for our Volunteer Awards that will be presented at our Expo on 30 May 2018 at the Erina Centre 10am to 2pm. To vote for your favourite volunteer in the following categories:

Volunteer of the Year– 25 to 64 years
Young Volunteer of the Year - under 25 years old
Legend – long serving – 10+ years
Excellence in Volunteer Management
Excellence in Corporate Volunteering

please submit on this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VCCVolAward

If you would like to know more please contact Fiona at the main office on 4329 7122, or email eo@volcc.org.au

Volunteering Central Coast 30th Anniversary

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

On Monday 14 November 2016 we celebrated Volunteering Central Coast’s 30th anniversary with a pearl-themed event at the Central Coast Leagues Club. Over 80 volunteers, members, VCC staff and Board, community guests and state and federal MPs attended and remembered the early days and the ongoing importance of a volunteer referral centre in our local community.

Many people were thanked including long serving staff, volunteers and Board members. We recalled that 12 months ago the Board developed a new strategic plan with four key objectives:

Enhance our recognition, understanding and value – Profile
Grow our service capacity – Clients
Improve our service delivery – Quality
Become financially resilient – Sustainability

We highlighted the work of the last twelve months in contemporising our practice, refreshing our brand and raising our profile. We have a new website and promotional video; we updated our brochures and banners and we became active on social media. We fully embraced a low cost/no cost marketing and communication strategy and have learned all about Mail chimp, Eventbrite, PayPal, Google Drive and other platforms that make life a whole lot easier.

We developed a new tagline: Volunteering…helping people, changing lives – which isn’t just a glib set of words, but a heartfelt message that volunteering changes people. Not only the people on the receiving end of volunteer services, but the individuals who volunteer – who give their time and skills, and in return get back joy, camaraderie, a feeling of doing good and making a difference.

And so to the future. We will continue our work to be relevant and add value to our members. We will look for community development opportunities and develop programs that contribute to making a discernible difference to people’s lives…

We will continue to contemporise our practice, and we will add value to our clients and members to ensure that we are the ‘go to’ organisation for volunteering on the Central Coast.

We will keep looking for funding opportunities outside of our core programs and will form strategic partnerships locally and regionally.

We will continue to monitor tenders that have the potential to be delivered locally as part of a state-wide consortium of other volunteer referral centres.

The future is bright. There is another 30 years in this organisation…!

There is an unshakeable belief that Volunteering Central Coast was, and remains, an essential part of our community fabric. We refer over 1,200 volunteers to more than 110 community organisations each year, and we make over 1,100 visits to socially isolated people living in residential aged care.

We make a difference!

Our future is built on our past. We have very strong foundations, laid by people who have contributed their time, skills and passion towards making Volunteering Central Coast what it is today.

VIEW MORE IMAGES >

2016 Volunteer Expo

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks to the planning, organising and support of our TAFE student Danielle and our wonderful team of volunteers and staff, our 2016 volunteer expo was a great success. We had 43 community organisations exhibit on the day and over 400 potential volunteers through the door. Our friends at Coast FM 96.3 broadcast live from the expo for two hours, interviewing stall holders and members of the public. The vibe was fantastic...thank you to those members who came along on the day to showcase their volunteering opportunities.

The feedback from stallholders was great with all being satisfied or highly satisfied with the event. Of the 86% of stallholders who completed their evaluation survey, 65% said that collectively they thought to gain over 170 new volunteers. That's a fantastic result! The overwhelming comment as to why they would participate in future expos was for the high level of exposure gained for their organisation and causes through their involvement. In terms of participants, 74% were between the ages of 45-75, 85% thought they would go on to volunteer with one of the organisations at the expo, and all surveyed found it helpful and informative.

VIEW MORE IMAGES FROM THE EXPO >

2016 Volunteer expo

Tony is National Volunteer Week Central Coast Winner

Volunteering Central Coast Annual Awards

National Volunteer Week 2022

Volunteer of the Year 2022

Volunteer Manager of the Year 2022

Corporate Volunteer of the Year 2022

Young Volunteer of the Year 2022

Living Legend Volunteer of the Year 2022

Volunteer Team of the Year 2022

Volunteering Central Coast Annual Awards

National Volunteer Week 2021

Award Winners detailed below:

Community Visitors Scheme provides a lifeline of connection

Central Coast Volunteers adapt to COVID-19

Volunteering Central Coast Annual Awards

National Awards Week 2020

Board Director Recruitment

Something for everyone this Volunteer Week

Volunteering Expos 2019

Erina Centre, Erina Fair (15th May) and The Art House, Wyong (31st May)

Interested in volunteering? Come to the expo and speak with over 50 community organisations

Event Training

All you need to know about Volunteering at Events

Volunteering Expo and Awards 2018

Volunteering Expo and Central Coast Volunteer Awards 2018

Award Winners detailed below:

Celebrating the Community Visitors Scheme

Held at Volunteering Central Coast for National Volunteering Week

Volunteer Expo 30th May 2018

Interested in Volunteering? Come to the expo and meet over 40 organisations...

Volunteer Week Awards 2018 – Closing date: 21 May 2018

Volunteering Central Coast 30th Anniversary​

The future is bright. There is another 30 years in this organisation…!​

We make a difference!

2016 Volunteer Expo

Volunteering Central Coast 30th Anniversary

The future is bright. There is another 30 years in this organisation…!