Graduate Testimonials

What students have said

Certificate I in Active Volunteering in Queensland

"Thank you Shannon from Equalis for delivering the Cert 1 in Active Volunteering to our Employ Me participants. After completing much of their work experience in the community services sector, they now have a better handle on goal setting, time management and effective communication; skills that will no doubt assist them to take those next important steps into the work place. The training was well presented, interactive and appropriate for where our participants were at, training delivered with expertise and sensitivity. Thank you Equalis and School of Volunteer Management".

Marion Macauley Program Coordinator – Empowered Plus

"A huge thank you to school of volunteer management who worked with us to deliver Cert I Active Volunteering. Materials were relevant, easy to follow and allowed participants to consolidate their knowledge and volunteering experiences. We had a fantastic week, shared stories of what it meant to be a volunteer, the important role volunteers play in the community, and patted ourselves on the back for the contributions we have all made as volunteers!

Again, thank you to Mark and the team for your time and assistance, the Cert I Active Volunteering is a fantastic learning program and I would highly recommend it".

Shannon Ince

Margaret Lagoni

I am currently Executive Officer of a community organisation in Sydney. Although I have been managing community organisations and services for many years I did not have recent updated relevant qualifications.

I decided to investigate options to bring my qualifications up to date and as I have been enrolled in distance education programs in the past, with my current time constraints I considered this was again the most suitable study method for me.

Colleagues told me about a new course through the School of Volunteer Management, so I contacted them to investigate my options.

I was unsure when I approached the school about enrolling for this qualification; however the school administration staff were very understanding, helpful and supportive.

I was able to complete the course using my extensive experience of community management and current employment through the benefit of RPL and my professional achievements were acknowledged and validated.

I successfully completed the Diploma of Management through the School of Volunteer Management in 2009.

My experience was a very positive one that I am happy to recommend.

Allan Gibson

I have been involved in volunteering for over 45 years and my current involvement with the community is as Hon National Treasurer of The Girls’ Brigade Australia. Additionally I am actively involved in the life of the Uniting Church through my local congregation and membership of the Synod Audit & Risk Committee and the Parramatta Mission’s Audit & Compliance Committee.

Over the years I have been fortunate to be able to undertake my various volunteer roles at the same time as working in the financial services industry with Westpac (34 years); ANZ (9) and currently the CBA (3). All these employers have been very supportive of my community involvement.

My interest is the Certificate I in Active Volunteering came by chance through a regular email from Volunteering NSW. At that time I was working on the development of a Diploma offering the CBA as an RTO was about to launch. The fact that the Volunteering qualification was available via the RPL pathway not only helped me in the development of the Diploma with the CBA but also enabled me to collate and submit my application.

Obtaining the Certificate qualification was most rewarding and now provides me formal recognition of both my volunteer and work experience.

The School of Volunteer Management staff are very supportive and I would recommend the School as the most appropriate RTO to undertake this qualification.

Marilyn Mackay

I have been employed by the Adventist Develop & Relief Agency (ADRA) for eight years, as the National Program Coordinator. My main focus is on developing policy and implementing compliance in the areas of volunteer management, workplace health and safety, and general operational support for the volunteer managers of ADRA Op Shops around Australia. I had provided both paid and volunteer roles in the Adventist church’s youth programs, both at National and local levels.

This experience provided me with the knowledge and skills to influence the changes needed to professionalise the work of volunteers, however when I brought this experience to an agency peopled by well qualified staff, I realised that I needed formal qualifications.

My first attempts at fitting distance education into a busy schedule failed miserably and I felt like quitting several times. However when the School offered me the option of RPL, I was able to collate the documentation I had produced and used in my everyday work, into a portfolio of evidence for RPL. This process revealed that I had not only gained a Diploma of Business, but had been challenged to continue to improve and change how I work with volunteers, to better support them in their roles. I am grateful for the regular support and “reminders” I received from my tutor, and would recommend the process of RPL to other experienced people needing formal qualifications in business management.

(Photo: Taken at Annual Training Conference for Op Shop Managers)