the+benefits+of+volunteering

**Benefits of volunteering: researched by Jc ** **Volunteering is good for your mind and body ** Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health. []
 * **Volunteering increasing self-confidence. **Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.
 * **Volunteering combats depression. ** Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times.
 * **Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. ** Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease

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HEALTH BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING found by Va   [] [] Research shows that volunteering can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health. Volunteering can: · Improve the well being of individual volunteers by enhancing support networks. It is well known that people with strong social support networks have lower premature death rates, less heart disease and fewer health risk factors; · Increase opportunities for close interpersonal relationships and strengthen a sense of belonging; · Improve self esteem; <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">· Heighten a sense of well being, improve insomnia, strengthen the immune system and hasten surgery <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">recovery time; <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">· Offer people the opportunity to participate in fulfilling activities; <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">· Make a difference in the lives of others; <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">· Older adult volunteers live longer than non-volunteers. Studies report that engaging in regular volunteer <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">work increases life expectancy because social interaction improves ‘quality of life’. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">References: <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Fact sheet: // Volunteering as a Vehicle for Social support and Life Satisfaction //<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">, Public Health Agency of Canada. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Graff, L (1991) Volunteer for the Health of it, Etobicoke, Ontario <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Wilson, J & Musik, M “The Effects of Volunteering on the Volunteer” in Law & Contemporary Problems, Autumn 1999 <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Hemphill, ML “Volunteer for your Health” in Peer Couselling Perspectives, April 2003 <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Websites: <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">http://www.wcwc.org/volunteer.htm - the benefits of volunteering: personal health, skill building and community <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.ehealthmag.com/w98/ftr_mm.htm - ‘continued engagement with life’ is crucial <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> [] **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.5pt;">Benefits of volunteering ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">19 October 2005

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Volunteering has a meaningful, positive impact on your community. But did you know that it can have many benefits for you too? Here are some reasons to volunteer: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Learn or develop a new skill **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Volunteering is the perfect vehicle to discover something you are really good at and develop a new skill. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Learn as if you were to live forever.” It is never too late to learn new skills and no reason why you should stop adding to your knowledge just because you are in employment or have finished education. Planning and implementing a major fundraising event can develop goal setting, planning and budgeting skills. Supervising and training other volunteers helps to develop supervisory and training skills. These are examples of skills that can enhance a career but you don’t have to develop skills with the intention of facilitating your career. Painting a mural or making banners for International Volunteer Day – to celebrate the wonderful and priceless work that volunteers do – could gently push you to discover graphics and art talents. Explore your love for music and learn to DJ (disc jockey) so you can offer your newfound panache to local youth club discos. The possibilities are many. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Be part of your community **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">No man or woman is an island. We sometimes take for granted the community that we live in. People and societies co-depend on each other for survival but growth of such things as commercialism are seeing traditional values being disregarded. Communities are suffering due to the growth of secular societies but at the same time we can really bridge that expanding gap through volunteering. Volunteering is ultimately about helping others and having an impact on people’s wellbeing. What better way is there to connect with your commmunity and give a little back? As a volunteer, you certainly return to society some of the benefits that society gives you. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Motivation and sense of achievement **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Fundamentally, volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Unlike many things in life there is choice involved in volunteering. As a volunteer you have made a decision to help on your own accord, free from pressure to act from others. Volunteers predominantly express a sense of achievement and motivation, and this is ultimately generated from your desire and enthusiasm to help. Sometimes volunteers are regarded as do-gooders and those that hold that view also assume that one person can never make a differnece. It may be true that no one person can solve all the world’s problems, but what you can do is make that little corner of the world where you live just that little bit better. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Boost your career options **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">A survey carried out by TimeBank through Reed Executive showed that among 200 of the UK’s leading businesses <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">73% of employers would recruit a candidate with volunteering experience over one without <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">94% of employers believe that volunteering can add to skills <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">94% of employees who volunteered to learn new skills had benefited either by getting their first job, improving their salary, or being promoted <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Also, if you are thinking of a career change then volunteering is a perfect way to explore new fields. If you have a passion for the arts but have career in computing then why not volunteer at your local theatre? Or if your ambitions are to be a doctor why not find out about volunteer opportunities at your local hospital – the ideal way to expand your work portfolio in your field and to gain a real insight into your chosen path. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">New interests and hobbies **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Sometimes we do get locked into the “rat-race” of life and volunteering can give that escape to everday routine and create a balance in our lives. Finding new interests and hobbies through volunteering can be fun, relaxing and energizing. Help run a youth radio station or website for a few hours a week or assist in publishing a charity newsletter. The energy and sense of fulfilment can carry over to a work situation and sometimes helps to relieve tensions and foster new perspectives for old situations. Sometimes a volunteer experience can lead you to something you never even thought about or help you discover a hobby or interest you were unaware of. You can strengthen your personal/professional mission and vision by exploring opportunities and expanding your horizons. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">New experiences **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Volunteering is a brilliant way to get life experience. Whether you build a library or mail flyers to raise awareness for a local charity, you will experience the real world through hands-on work. This guide section has established that volunteers can do almost anything and with the new millenium has dawned an era of infinite volunteer opportunities. For example, it is possible to volunteer in developing countries and see the direct impact of your actions on some of the most vulnerable people of the world. You could skydive for charity, a chance to experience the ultimate thrill and raise funds to help the charity continue its work. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Meeting a diverse range of people **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Volunteering brings together a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Both the recipients of your volunteer efforts and your co-workers can be a rich source of inspiration and an excellent way to develop your interpersonal skills. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Volunteering also offers an incredible networking opportunity. Not only will you develop lasting personal and professional relationships but it is also a great way to learn about people from all walks of life, different environments, and new industries. Networking is an exciting benefit of volunteering and you can never tell who you will meet or what new information you will learn and what impact this could have on your life. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Send a signal to your employer, teachers, friends and family… **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">People pay attention to your life outside the environment in which they have direct contact with you. For example, your employer would be interested in the activities that gives you a good work-life balance, just as academic institutions are interested in your extra-curricular activities. Volunteering reflects and supports a complete picture of you, and gives real examples of your commitment, dedication and interests. Show people what you are passionate about and maybe you will inspire them too! <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">References: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Ten Professional Development Benefits of Volunteering //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> (Everything I Learned in Life I Learned through Volunteering). Mary V. Merrill, LSW, Merrill Associates <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> [] = Volunteering for mental health  = This report summarises the findings of a survey of volunteering by people with experience of mental ill health carried out by the National Centre for Volunteering. The impetus for the survey came from the growing recognition that, although people with mental health problems were often seen as the passive recipients of voluntary activity, many were in fact volunteers themselves and found the activity highly beneficial for their subjective well-being. With the aim of promoting volunteering by service users/survivors, the survey therefore set out to demonstrate the value of volunteering to mental health and raise awareness of mental health issues throughout the voluntary sector. The survey gathered accounts of voluntary work from more than a hundred volunteers with direct experience of mental ill health. Although a sample of this size is not representative of a whole population, it yielded a set of findings that provide useful signposts for future development. Respondents said that their mental health difficulties had had a variety of negative effects on their lives, including unemployment, a lack of confidence and motivation, an inability to concentrate, difficulties in trusting people, an inability to make or sustain friendships, and feelings of isolation, frustration and anxiety. Respondents also agreed that volunteering had done much to improve their mental health. Specifically, it had given structure, direction and meaning to their life, widened their social networks, improved their vocational and interpersonal skills and helped them to gain access to employment, education and training.
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">A choice blend - What volunteers want from organisation and management
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Age Discrimination and volunteering
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Faith and voluntary action: community, values and resources
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Issues in volunteer management - A report of a survey
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Potential of a lifetime -Research Summary: Study of Older Volunteers in 25 Organisations
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Public sector support for volunteering: An audit
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Volunteering for mental health
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Volunteering in the NHS - A Report of a Survey
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">What young people want from volunteering

The findings
//<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">How often do you volunteer? // A majority of respondents volunteered every week, and a much smaller proportion volunteered every day. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">How long have you been volunteering? // Around a quarter of respondents had been volunteering for between one and three years, while smaller proportions had been doing so for less than six months or for more than ten years. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">What kind of setting do you volunteer in? // A majority of respondents volunteered for mental health-related organisations. Others volunteered in charity shops, health and social care settings and hospitals. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">What type of volunteering do you do? // The most common roles were secretarial/administration, offering support or counselling, visiting people/befriending and giving advice/information. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">What were your reasons for volunteering? // Respondents were motivated to volunteer for a variety of reasons. Half did so because they thought that volunteering might make them feel better. Others wanted to meet new people and make new friends, to support a specific organisation or to improve their job prospects. A few volunteered because they had been asked to do so – and a very few were encouraged to volunteer by their Jobcentre. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">How did you find out about your current voluntary work? // Around a third of respondents found out through the local volunteer bureau. The remainder were referred by mental health professionals or found out by word of mouth, contacting the organisation directly or responding to an advertisement. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Would you like to do more volunteering? // Around half the respondents said Yes – but explained that they were unable to do more volunteering because of lack of time, competing commitments or ill health. The other half said No, giving a wide variety of reasons: they lacked the time or had competing commitments; they were afraid of starting something new; they were happy with the amount of volunteering they did already; they could not manage to do any more; there was insufficient choice of opportunities; they could not afford to volunteer; there was insufficient information. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">What concerns did you have prior to volunteering? // Almost half the respondents said that they had lacked confidence in themselves and their skills. Others weren’t sure whether they would like volunteering or could afford the travel and other expenses. A few were worried about other people’s reactions to their mental health history. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Which factors affect your experience of volunteering? // Half the respondents said they were affected by other people’s lack of awareness of mental health issues or by their opinions on those issues. Others cited the lack of information about how their benefits might be affected, the side effects of medication, the need to provide references and work history on application forms, the limited choice of voluntary activities and the attitudes of staff and other volunteers in voluntary organisations. However, some respondents reported no negative experiences while volunteering. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">What might persuade you to do more volunteering? // The following incentives were suggested: payment of expenses; more support; better health; more time; more rewarding and appropriate opportunities; more information about available opportunities; and more encouragement from a range of people. //<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Who usually supervises you? // A majority of respondents were supervised by a paid staff member, and a much smaller proportion by a volunteer co-ordinator or manager (paid or unpaid).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">1. Experience of volunteering **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">2. Getting into volunteering **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">3. Barriers to volunteering **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">4. Support and training **

Volunteering WA
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Volunteering WA aims to build strong communities through volunteering and provides a range of resources, services and support so that people in Western Australia are aware of, and understand, the nature and scope of volunteer activity.
 * <span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">The Volunteering WA office is currently undergoing refurbishment, please see the news item below for more information. **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">

If you are interested in community service, please browse our 'For Volunteers' section. You can search here for volunteer work and find suitable positions for long term or temporary volunteering, including Christmas, summer vacation and holiday volunteering. If you are an organisation or volunteer centre that uses volunteer help please take a look in our 'For Organisations' section for volunteer recruitment and resources

Volunteering WA
= Volunteer programs  = <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">[|Red Over Yellow] <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">[|FESA Operational Catering Guidelines] <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">[|Supply Of PPE By LG Under The ESL] <span style="color: #333333; display: none; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;"> The Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades of WA (Inc) hereby gives notification that its Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday 8 August 2010, at Volunteer House, 177 Great Eastern Highway Belmont, commencing at 10:00 am. The objective of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) is: <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">1. to receive the President’s Report on the activities of the Association since the previous AGM, held on 23 August 2009 <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">2. to receive the Financial Report, including the Profit/Loss Statement and Balance of Accounts <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">3. to elect the Vice President and the Committee <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">4. to deal with any General Business of which Notice of Motion Has Been Given Brigades are advised that they should nominate their representative by the close of business on Thursday 22 July 2010 as per the nomination form sent to all brigade Secretaries, to enable the distribution of any Notice of Motion prior to the AGM. Further information about the AGM can be obtained by contacting the Executive Officer, Annique Gray at Volunteer House on 9478 4933.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"> Any Brigade wishing to raise an item of General Business to be decided upon at the AGM must provide a Notice of Motion by close of business on Thursday 22 July 2010. Notice of Motion should be sent to: Executive Officer PO Box 530, BELMONT WA 6984 Fax 9478 4944 Email eo.emergencyservices@bigpond.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    A Committee Meeting will be held following the close of the AGM. Members of the Association who are not Committee members are welcome to attend the Committee meeting, but will not have voting rights. || <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;"> <span style="color: #333333; display: none; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;"> The Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades of WA is proud to be a sponsor of the South West Bush Fire Games, being held in Busselton on Saturday 9 October 2010. Bush Fire Brigade members are invited to participate in the competition and novelty events for volunteers of all ages. Being held in conjunction with the Emergency Services Expo and the celebration of 100 years of Fire and Rescue Services supporting the Busselton community, there will be lots of fun and entertainment for the whole family. Further information, competition rules and entry forms are available from: Peter Stark **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">E ** pjstark@clearmail.com.au   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Mob ** 0419 920 205 Norm Gomm **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">E ** ngomm@iinet.net.au   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Mob ** 0438 878 582 Chris Sousa **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Mob **0428 611 125 Cindy Pearce **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">E ** cindyp@westnet.com.au   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Mob ** 0427 586 710 We apologise that due to technical problems the Information Booklet and Entry Forms are not available online, but can be emailed to you on request. || <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;"> <span style="color: #333333; display: none; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;"> You will receive an automatically generated message via email confirming your registration with a link. Follow the directions to activate the account. Login in the same area on the home page of the site, and you will find a host of useful information on all aspects of bushfire fighting. The Association of Volunteer Bushfire Brigades of Western Australia Inc. is operated by volunteers and represents all volunteer bushfire fighters in Western Australia. There are approximately 25,000 volunteer bushfire fighters in WA and they are organised into approximately 750 brigades. Ninety seven percent of all registered firefighters in Western Australia are volunteers. Volunteer Bushfire Fighters are over ten times larger, in number, than any other emergency services group, and greatly out number approximately 1,000 FESA career fire fighters. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;"> <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">24,279 Volunteer Bushfire Service <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">1,988 Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">1,863 State Emergency Service <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">1,074 Volunteer Marine Rescue Service <span style="line-height: 11.25pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">1,000 FESA Career Fire and Rescue Service Bushfire brigades are formed and managed by their respective local government authorities (or Shires). The brigades however are also supported by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia, (FESA), which manages the funding arrangements, provides technical and operational support as well as the training framework.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"> Membership of the Association is voluntary and no membership fees are charged. The Association operates on the basis of being there if needed. || <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;"> <span style="color: #333333; display: none; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;"> Items available from the association office include lapel pins, life member pins, and number plate surrounds. [|Click here to download lapel pin, life member pin, and plate surround information PDF] Items available from Eddie van Rijnswoud include belt buckles, hat pins, flags, and vehicle number plates. [|Click here to download belt buckle, hat pin and flag information PDF] [|Click here to download number plate information PDF] || || ||
 * || || **<span style="color: #c64934; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">[|Annual General Meeting] ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Annual General Meeting **<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">
 * **<span style="color: #c64934; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">[|SW Games] ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> SW Volunteer Bush Fire Games **
 * **<span style="color: #c64934; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">[|Welcome to the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades of WA website] ** ||
 * To gain full access to the web site, apart from some correspondence, you will need to register by clicking on 'register' in the top right corner, in the login section. When the registration box opens enter your 'name', preferred 'user name', 'email address', 'password', and verify the password before clicking on 'send registration'.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 120%;">[|Read more...]  ||
 * **<span style="color: #c64934; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">[|Things We Sell] ** ||
 * The Bushfire Association sell a range of items to benefit bushfire volunteers. Profits from the sale of these items go toward the Benevolent Fund which supports the dependents of BFS volunteers, who need immediate emergency assistance, to assist them when a BFS volunteer is injured in the line of duty.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">

Find Positions
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">If you are looking for volunteering positions then you have come to the right place! We have a large database of available positions for you to search through to find the best position for you. There are two ways to search, you can use the **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">'Volunteering Opportunities' search box **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> on the right hand side of this page **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">OR **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">you can use the **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">map **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">below (please note this is a new feature that we are still working on so from time to time it may not work).

Using the search box (recommended) <span style="color: #b7131c; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.5pt;">
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Step 1 - To start your search choose the type of volunteer work you would like to do and/or enter your postcode. Step 2 - You can choose to enter keywords and your age, although these are optional. Step 3 - Once you have clicked on search you will be shown anything that matches your criteria, click on **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">more details **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> for any that you want to find out more about. Step 4 - If you find a position you want to apply for, click on the **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">express interest **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> button to send in your details.

Using the map <span style="color: #b7131c; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.5pt;">
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Step 1 - click on the map button below. Step 2 - click on an area you want to look in (eg Perth metro) Step 3 - move your cursor over any of the red dots, details of the position will be displayed. If there is more than one position in the same area it will tell you how many positions there are and you can scroll through them. Step 4 - click on **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">more details **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> for any that you want to find out more about. Step 5 - If you find a position you want to apply for, click on the **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">express interest **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> button to send in your details.

DEC Recreation and Trails Unit || (08)94810551 (08)93340265 || DEC Recreation and Trails Unit || (08)94812483 (08)93340265 ||
 * **NEW/LATEST PROJECTS** ||
 * Western Ground Parrot Recovery Project || DEC is conducting surveys and monitoring Western Ground Parrot populations in the Fitzgerald River and Cape Arid National Parks. For more information, please [|download the pdf. (1.72 MB)]  || Jeff Pinder  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  || (08) 98424519  ||
 * Ningaloo turtle program || Get involved in a four week volunteer internship involving monitoring, tracking and more. For more information, please [|download the pdf (835.9 KB)]  || Email Us  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  || (08)99478032 ||
 * **YANCHEP NATIONAL PARK** ||
 * Seed collecting || Collection of seeds from plants native to Yanchep National Park - includes extraction, labelling and storage.  || Julia Coggins  || (08)95611004  ||
 * Nursery operations || Sowing native seeds in plant nursery. Includes transplanting seedlings, pot sterilising and cutting trials.  || Julia Coggins  || (08)95611004  ||
 * Bush rehabilitation || Rehabilitating degraded bushland within the park. Includes planting, installation and maintenance of a reticulation system, weed extraction and general site maintenance.  || Julia Coggins  || (08)95611004  ||
 * Weed control || Removal of exotic species found within the park with particular focus on Bridal Creeper and Blackberry Nightshade.  || Julia Coggins  || (08)95611004  ||
 * Wildflower gardens || Involves general upkeep and seasonal planting within the main Wildflower Garden and other park garden beds.  || Julia Coggins  || (08)95611004  ||
 * Water monitoring || Water sampling and invertebrate surveys are carried out quarterly around Loch McNess.  || Julia Coggins  || (08)95611004  ||
 * Herbarium || Native plant and weed samples are collected, pressed, labelled and mounted for flora identification purposes.  || Julia Coggins  || (08)95611004  ||
 * **ONGOING PROJECTS IN OTHER PARKS** ||
 * **Yellagonga** Regional Park || Rehabilitation, weed control and planting  || Regional Parks Unit  || (08)94316500  ||
 * **Herdsman Lake** Regional Park || Rehabilitation, weed control and planting  || Regional Parks Unit  || (08)94316500  ||
 * Campground hosts || Campground hosts welcome campers, provide information to campers and visitors and assist them to enjoy their stay. Operating in some parks and forest. Caravan/camping equipment required.  || Community Involvement Unit Coordinator  || (08)93340251  ||
 * Perth Urban Bushland Fungi Project || To increased scientific knowledge of Perth Urban Bushland fungi. Volunteers will work in the field, laboratory and assisting with data entry of specimens.  || Roz Hart  || (08)93340547  ||
 * Wildcare Helpline || The Wildcare Helpline volunteers will receive all calls for sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife, and give members of the public the contact telephone number for a wildlife rehabilitator.  || Community Involvement Unit Coordinator  || (08)93340251  ||
 * Wildlife Rehabilitators || Wildlife Rehabilitators are individuals who are prepared to rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned fauna. Birds, mammals and reptiles are nursed back to health and released again when capable of fending for themselves. See Wildlife Courses  || Community Involvement Unit Coordinator  || (08)93340251  ||
 * Bibbulmun Track Maintenance || Trail and campsite maintenance through the Bibbulmun Track Foundation.  || Bibbulmun Track Foundation
 * Munda Biddi Trail Maintenance || Trail and campsite maintenance through the Munda Biddi Trail Foundation.  || Munda Biddi Trail Foundation
 * **PERTH OBSERVATORY** (Bickley) star viewing || Help the Observatory to conduct star viewing nights for the public. Training provided.  || James Biggs  || (08)92938255  ||
 * Observatory assistants || Help the Observatory in a variety of activities, ranging from volunteer program support, library work, staffing displays, observing and many more. Training provided.  || James Biggs  || (08)92938255  ||
 * Archiving and preserving || Help with archiving and preservation of the Observatory's 100 year old records and documents. Training provided.  || James Biggs  || (08)92938255  ||
 * **Mundaring** Julimar Fauna Monitoring || Volunteers help with the trapping, monitoring and measuring of animals caught each night. Seasonal, one week each winter.  || Paul Tholen  || (08)92959100  ||
 * **Canning River** Regional Park || Rehabilitation, weed control and planting  || Regional Parks Unit  || (08)94316500  ||
 * Friends of **Lake Forrestdale** || The Friends of Lake Forrestdale was established to help DEC manage the reserve. The group focuses on recreation management and environmental concerns.  || Brian Engels  || (08)94050737  ||
 * **Nearer to Nature** Volunteers || Assist in the delivery of nature-based activities in the various DEC managed lands and waters of the Swan region. Volunteers will assist/participate in activities covering the marine, bushland, wetland and woodland eco systems. Volunteers also provide support for special projects, workgroups and program coordinator.  || Volunteer Coordinator  || (08)92952244  ||
 * **Wilson** Lagoon rehabilitation || Helping DEC with the management of Wilson Lagoon in the Canning River Regional Park.  || Tony Eddleston  || (08)94316510  ||
 * **Beeliar** Regional Park || Rehabilitation, weed control and planting  || Regional Parks Unit  || (08)94316500  ||
 * **Alfred Cove** Revegetation Attadale foreshore || Volunteers will assist with the planting of native sedges and seedling in eroded areas to enhance the habitat for migratory waders, waterbirds and terrestrial birds within Alfred Cove Nature Reserve adjacent to the Swan Estuary Marine Park.  || Amanda Gatt  || (08)93068768  ||
 * **Jandakot** Regional Park || Rehabilitation, weed control and planting  || Regional Parks Unit  || (08)94316500  ||
 * **Rockingham Lakes** Regional Park || Rehabilitation, weed control and planting  || Regional Parks Unit  || (08)94316500  ||
 * **Woodman Point** Regional Park || Rehabilitation, weed control and planting  || Regional Parks Unit  || (08)94316500  ||
 * Regional Parks of the **Darling Range** || Rehabilitation, weed control and planting  || Regional Parks Unit  || (08)94316500  ||
 * **Shoalwater Island** Volunteers || Shoalwater Islands volunteers are a group of people trained to assist staff, on a rostered basis, by giving information and guided tours to the public and by assisting in the day to day management of Penguin Island.  || Erin Biggs  || (08)95929047  ||
 * Gilbert's Potoroo recovery || Volunteers help with monitoring, trapping, recording animal data, radio tracking and maintenance of breeding colonies.  || Dr Tony Friend  || (08)98424523  ||
 * Gilbert's Potoroo recovery || Volunteers help with monitoring, trapping, recording animal data, radio tracking and maintenance of breeding colonies.  || Dr Tony Friend  || (08)98424523  ||
 * Gilbert's Potoroo recovery || Volunteers help with monitoring, trapping, recording animal data, radio tracking and maintenance of breeding colonies.  || Dr Tony Friend  || (08)98424523  ||
 * Gilbert's Potoroo recovery || Volunteers help with monitoring, trapping, recording animal data, radio tracking and maintenance of breeding colonies.  || Dr Tony Friend  || (08)98424523  ||

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