About Us

Northern Volunteering SA Inc is a not for profit organisation first established in 1984 as Para Districts Volunteer Service then constituted in 1988 with a name change to Northern Volunteering SA Inc.

Northern Volunteering SA Inc is committed to providing the sector with a wide range of services including: volunteer referrals and placements; volunteer and volunteer management training; consultancy; and customised training for organisations.

Download our Organisational Chart here.

Our Mission

Promoting the value of volunteering to all sectors of our community in offering a service that’s inclusive, collaborative and supportive.

Our Vision

To promote wellbeing, connection and pride through volunteering in the greater northern area to enable our community to become more compassionate, responsive and resilient

Our 5 Strategic Goals

Growth, Learning (Capacity Building), Inclusion, Sustainability, Impact

Our Team

Our current staff are supported by a dedicated volunteer team of referral officers, administrators, and Community Visitors.

Donatella Amos – Executive Officer

Donatella Amos is the current Executive Officer of Northern Volunteering. With over 20 years’ experience in the volunteer sector Donatella has a good understanding of volunteerism locally, nationally and internationally. She is held in high regard with the volunteer sector and her person achievements include:

• Co-Secretary of Suicide Prevention Network Salisbury – Every Life Matters
• Current working party member for SA State Strategy – Volunteering
• Nominee 2017 City of Salisbury Living Legends Award for contribution to Community
• Inclusion in 2009 -2015 National Who’s Who of Australian Women
• Co-winner 2013 – Trainer in Skills for All Adult Learning Program
• Inclusion in 2009 inaugural SA Women’s Honour Roll
• Certificate of Achievement from Australasian Association of Volunteer Administrators (AAVA) for recognition of excellence in Volunteer Management
• Long time volunteer of several not for profits and charities

Donatella holds qualifications in Community Sector Management, Training and Assessment as well as volunteer program management including a Vocational Graduate Certificate of Management (Learning). Her passion is around effective community participation by empowering people to influence positive outcomes for themselves and to take ownership of their wellbeing and resilience as well as their chosen career or further education path through community participation programs such as volunteering or through professional development and training.

Kate Lucas – ACVVS Coordinator

Kate (She/Her) is the Aged Care Community Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) coordinator at Northern Volunteering and supports a team of volunteers who visit with residents at aged care facilities within the Northern Metro and Lower Barossa council areas.

Her previous roles at Northern Volunteering have included overseeing the CVS Program which included the CVS Virtual Volunteering program through Covid-19 lockdowns as well as facilitating the Rainbow Volunteers S.A youth group, a program that engaged northern LGBTQIA+ youth to experience volunteering whilst building relationships with the wider South Australian LGBTQIA+ community.

Kate has proudly worked alongside the caring team of volunteers & staff at Northern Volunteering since 2018.

Alex Coates – Training Officer

Alex (he/him) has over 20 years’ experience in volunteer management and 18 years’ experience in public administration. Alex has experience training groups from ages 7 to 90 years from all backgrounds including volunteers and paid staff. Alex enjoys training and developing people while personally volunteering with a number of organisations including Lions Clubs International.

Alex is an LGBTIQAP+ rights and mental health advocate, a human rights consultant and advocate against human trafficking. He is the inaugural District Diversity and Inclusion Support Officer and Advocate in Lions in Australia and New Zealand. Further community involvement comes through being Chairperson of the Northern Area Community and Youth Services Board, Treasurer of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (SA Branch) Board, President of Salisbury Lions, Lions District Membership Team Co-ordinator, Board Director of Australian Wide Heart Care Pty Ltd and a former Deputy Mayor and Councillor with the City of Salisbury.

Alex has been awarded a Melvin Jones Humanitarian Fellowship, is Life Member of the Burton Community Centre and a Member of the Order of St John. He holds qualifications in Training, Leadership, Management, International Studies, Mental Health First Aid and Business Administration. For leisure Alex enjoys spending time with family and friends, travel, photography and music.