Type of Organisation   YWCA of Adelaide – Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, Adelaide Introduced in association with Volunteering Australia in 1997, the National Australia Bank Awards recognise and reward the vital work done by local and regional volunteer groups throughout Australia. Photo caption: Little Sister Tieanna with her Big Sister Gaya National Winner and State Winner – Small/Medium Organisation YWCA of Adelaide – Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, Adelaide. It may not be unusual to see siblings enjoying a good time together at the park, but for disadvantaged children from broken homes, it can be a far stretch from reality. That’s where the South Australian Winner of the 2007 NAB Volunteer Award for small organisations, the YWCA’s Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Program comes in. BBBS is a mentoring program for young people aged 7 to 17, who lack adult support and involvement. Currently in its fifth year, the program is supported by over 35 volunteer ‘Bigs’ and this number is increasing with each training intake. “Bigs” spend up to four hours of quality time with their “little” brother or sister over at least a one year period. Activities include playing sport, going to the movies, driving to the beach, walking the dog and generally just having fun. Jo Case, Program Manager, said that the program aims to strengthen young peoples’ self worth and confidence,enhance social and communication skills, and improve their relationships at home, school and in the community. “Most of the children are from disadvantaged and sole parent families; some have experienced significant grief or loss, some have parents with a history of substance abuse or have significant illnesses or disabilities, whilst others come from families where there are up to ten children,” Ms Case said. “As a ‘Big Sister’ myself I have witnessed the incredible changes in my ‘little sister’ whose life has transformed to the point that she is now married with a family of her own,” she said. Volunteer ‘Bigs” come from many different cultural backgrounds and occupations. One volunteer, who originally worked in wine marketing, resigned from her job to study Youth Work after realising the satisfaction that came from supporting her ‘little’, a seven year old Indigenous child. Big Brothers Big Sisters demonstrates best practise in their area by valuing and rewarding their volunteers. “BBBS would not exist if not for the support of our valued volunteers – they are our greatest asset and resource,” Ms Case stated. BBBS will use the award money from NAB to screen and train more mentors, for recognition events and activities, as well as increasing awareness of the program in the community and perhaps attracting a corporate partner. 2007 National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards Tell us about your volunteer experiences Pegasus Riding for the Disabled of ACT Inc Introduced in association with Volunteering Australia in 1997, the National Australia Bank Awards recognise and reward the vital work done by local and regional volunteer groups throughout Australia. Photo caption: Volunteer assists rider State Winner – Small/Medium Organisation, Australian Capital Territory/Northern Territory/Tasmania Pegasus Riding for the Disabled of ACT Inc, Holt, Canberra, ACT. With 140 volunteers on its books, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled benefits from more than 200 hours of voluntary work each week. It's a fact that allows the 34-year-old organisation to help nearly 100 riders with a disability enjoy an equestrian experience every week. A State Winner in the 2007 NAB Volunteer Awards, according to Volunteer Manager Deborah Perry, Pegasus couldn't operate without its dedicated team of volunteers, who hail from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups. “They help out with everything from maintaining the stables to assisting during classes and on rides,” she said. Ms Perry believes the organisations commitment to supporting their volunteers won them the award. “We're constantly looking at ways to support, train and give recognition to our fabulous volunteers. In that regard, we're always trying to achieve best practice volunteering.” Not surprisingly, the $10,000 prize money will be dedicated to retaining staff to help with volunteer management. “We might not have otherwise had enough funding to continue our volunteer Manager's position. It takes a lot of organisation to keep the volunteer program running, so the Award is very welcome.” “Beyond that, we’re just really excited to receive the award. It's good publicity and recognition, not only for what our volunteers do, but for volunteers in general.” 2007 National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards Tell us about your volunteer experiences Compeer Volunteer Friendship Program Sydney – St Vincent de Paul Society Introduced in association with Volunteering Australia in 1997, the National Australia Bank Awards recognise and reward the vital work done by local and regional volunteer groups throughout Australia. Photograph caption: Volunteers and staff at the 10th Anniversary Annual Dinner. State Winner – Small/Medium Organisation, New South Wales Compeer Volunteer Friendship Program Sydney – St Vincent de Paul Society, Petersham, NSW For most of us, meeting a friend for a cup of coffee is an ordinary part of life. But for some people suffering from a mental illness, it is an event that gives them a reason to get out of bed. Helping build these relationships is the Compeer Volunteer Friendship Program, State Winner of the 2007 NAB Volunteer Award for a Small/Medium organisation in NSW. Established in 1995 and funded by the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Compeer Volunteer Friendship Program aims to reduce the isolation and loneliness of these individuals by pairing them up with a friend. Volunteers of the program are matched with a friend and spend at least one hour a week in activities such as going for walks, having a cuppa, or watching a movie – the simple pleasures in life that the rest of us take for granted. Although matched for just 12 months, most friendships last beyond that period to many years. In fact, this year the program celebrated two friendships that have reached the 10-year mark. Tricia Meers, Compeer Program coordinator, said friendship is the key to supporting these individuals and helps them reintegrate into society. “A caring companion can make all the difference. Our 126 volunteers are so valuable. They bring joy and hope into the person’s life. We hope to break down the stigma associated with mental illness,” she said. Compeer demonstrates best practice in their field by making sure all volunteers undergo intensive training and a thorough induction. The program recognises and celebrates the achievements of their volunteers in a variety of ways, including an annual celebratory dinner. Compeer also celebrated their 10th anniversary during Mental Health Week in October last year, with an official reception at Parliament House. “We aim for a friendship match that’s going to last. We don’t match the illness. We match the people,” she said. 2007 National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards Tell us about your volunteer experiences Volunteer First Aid Service, St John Ambulance Australia (WA) Introduced in association with Volunteering Australia in 1997, the National Australia Bank Awards recognise and reward the vital work done by local and regional volunteer groups throughout Australia. Photo caption: Volunteer First Aid Service officers take care of a patient at Australia Day Skyworks. State Winner – Small/Medium Organisation, Western Australia Volunteer First Aid Service, St John Ambulance Australia (WA), Belmont, Western Australia. Volunteer First Aid Service officers treated more than 8,000 people in WA last financial year. This is one of the reasons the 103-year-old group has been recognised in the 2007 NAB Volunteer Awards for a small and medium sized organisation. Volunteering more than 56,000 hours of their time, the 800 volunteers of the St John Ambulance (WA) Volunteer First Aid Service attended everything from sports events to concerts, providing first-on-the-scene care to people in need. “Our volunteers are highly trained to provide quality first aid services and, in serious cases, provide a seamless link with the Ambulance Service in Western Australia,” says Executive Officer of the Volunteer First Aid Service, Robyn Cooper. “By providing initial treatment and triage services, they help relieve the pressure on the Ambulance Service and the State's hospitals,” says Ms Cooper, who welcomes the award. “The NAB Volunteer Award is an external endorsement and recognition of the significant contribution that our volunteers make to the community. It lets them know that they're valued and that what they're doing is mportant.” The Volunteer First Aid Service has an eclectic mix of volunteers, ranging in age from 70 to junior cadets aged eight. All volunteers attending events receive ongoing training and complete a three-month period of observing other officers in action as part of their induction. “All our volunteers are incredibly committed and want to give something back to the community. We're always looking for new volunteers who are interested in learning new skills.” The Award prize will fund an activity that benefits the maximum number of volunteers. 2007 National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards Tell us about your volunteer experiences Najidah Association Incorporated, Maroochydore Introduced in association with Volunteering Australia in 1997, the National Australia Bank Awards recognise and reward the vital work done by local and regional volunteer groups throughout Australia. Photo caption: Role-play activity State Winner – Small to Medium Organisation, Queensland Najidah Association Incorporated, Maroochydore In Middle Eastern mythology Najidah would spirit women and children away for their protection. Now an organisation bearing her name is doing the same thing on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast by providing crisis accommodation and care for families. Najidah means courageous one achieving a difficult task, which could well describe the 33 volunteers who work in the organisation’s programs in home education, support for challenged women, children and youth and crisis care. These volunteers have been honoured by Najidah being named Queensland winner in the 2007 NAB Volunteer Awards, and Najidah’s Executive Director, Chris Turner, says this pays tribute to their commitment. Founded in 1999 Najidah employs best practice volunteering by slotting volunteers into mutually-beneficial roles in the organisation. With the help of volunteers, Najidah is supporting local schools across the Maroochydore and Kullin region, running a “Learning Club”. Najidah’s youth suicide prevention program “Head High” is the only youth specific suicide bereavement support group in Australia. The organisation also provides up to 14,000 nights’ accommodation each year and can house up to 11 families at any one time. 2007 National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards Tell us about your volunteer experiences WIRE Women’s Information and Referral Exchange, Melbourne Introduced in association with Volunteering Australia in 1997, the National Australia Bank Awards recognise and reward the vital work done by local and regional volunteer groups throughout Australia. Photo caption: WIRE volunteers at work in the phone room State Winner – Small/Medium Organisation, Victoria WIRE Women’s Information and Referral Exchange, Melbourne Victorian women have access to a unique help line and information centre, run by women for women who will make time to listen, no matter how long it takes. State winner of the 2007 NAB Volunteer Award for small and medium organisations, WIRE Women’s Information and Referral Exchange Inc is the only information service of its kind in Victoria. WIRE Manager, Samiro Douglas, says that the major point of difference of their organisation, that has operated since 1984, is that their volunteers are trained to listen, and don’t impose a time limit on the caller. “We put a lot of effort into training our volunteers to open up a call so the woman on the other end of the line knows that she is talking to someone who is genuinely interested in what she has to say. Sometimes the real service is just listening, allowing the caller to share what’s going on in her life,” she said. WIRE provides information, support and referrals regarding challenges in relationships, legal, health, housing and financial difficulties, finding employment and dealing with domestic violence and safety. Last year, WIRE had over 20,000 requests for information or assistance and 77,000 hits on their website. WIRE maintains a pool of between 80 and 100 volunteers with a broad range of experience and cultures represented. “We have 28 women in training now who speak 17 languages between them. We have scholarships for indigenous women, and mothers and daughters often join together,” she said. As part of best practice in volunteering each new WIRE volunteer completes an accredited program of 12 training sessions, one observational and two evaluated shifts, and a three-month or 10-shift probation. Extensive debriefings are held at the end of each shift. WIRE also conducts an annual confidential volunteer survey. 2007 National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards Tell us about your volunteer experiences