July Networking Event: “Reward, Recognition & Retention of volunteers”

Recognition, Reward and Retention of Volunteers

How can your NFP organisation best recognise, reward and retain your volunteers?

Volunteers lift up our communities and are an integral part of the framework of many NFP organisations. Without volunteers, most NFP organisations would simply not be able to achieve what they do and some would even fold.

A key part of managing volunteers well includes having the right recognition and reward program in place.

Recognition and reward programs help keep volunteers motivated and engaged in your organisation and its work. And it’s much easier to retain a volunteer workforce that is motivated, happy and engaged!

All volunteer-involving organisations – no matter how big or small– can develop an appropriate rewards and recognition program for their volunteers.  There are many no-cost and low-cost ways of recognising your volunteers – often the smallest things make the biggest difference.

Hear about the strategies other organisations use in our July Networking Event. Come along to share ideas and leave armed with some great tips to help develop or improve your organisation’s volunteer recognition, reward and retention program!

Speakers:

   Lynda Kings, Volunteer Manager, Anglican Retirement Villages

Lynda has worked with volunteers for 25 years, more recently as a Volunteer Manager at The Sydney Children’s Hospital and Anglican Retirement Villages as a manager of services and training. Lynda has also been active as a volunteer in palliative services, Lifeline and a couple of Community Centres.

Lynda manages the volunteering programs across 22 villages for 6000 residents and oversees village volunteer coordinators and training.

Lynda’s is passionate about volunteering and believes that Volunteers epitomise the value of being a “mate” in the true Aussie spirit of looking out for others.

    Rebecca Barry, General Manager, Human Resources, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW

Rebecca is a Human Resources leader that has won many awards including for excellence in customer service from Parramatta Chamber of Commerce and 2013 recipient of NSW Volunteer Team of the Year and Excellence in Volunteer Management Award from The Centre for Volunteering.

Rebecca has an extensive career in Human Resources and even oversaw the customer service delivery of the venues at Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 looking after all paid staff and volunteers. Rebecca currently oversees the delivery of The Royal Easter Show Event Volunteer program consisting of 400 volunteers for the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. This organisation currently was established in 1822 and currently has approximately 12,000 members.

   Avril Samuels, Manager: Volunteer Referral Service, The Centre for Volunteering

Avril has more than 15 years’ experience within the volunteer sector in various capacities, most recently as Manager: Volunteer Referral Service at The Centre for Volunteering. Working at The Centre, Avril speaks daily to a range of Volunteers, Volunteer Managers and organisations about best practice in volunteer recruitment, retention and recognition, volunteering benefits and preparing volunteers. She often gives volunteering advice to a range of clients including, but not limited to, international and local students, Case Managers, Work Development Order (WDO) participants as well as providing advice for government bodies.

Having completed studies in the areas of Human Resource Management and Conflict Resolution, Avril enjoys working in the Volunteer Sector as she feels that Not for Profit organisations and their staff are dedicated to giving back to their community and helping to improve the lives of people who are in need of assistance.

Materials from the workshop will be emailed to attendees after the event.

NOTE: The networking event is free for current members of the Centre for Volunteering. Non-members are also welcome to attend for a small charge (numbers permitting).

For more information on membership with The Centre for Volunteering, please contact the Membership team on 9261 3600 or membership@volunteering.com.au.