We place a high level of importance on the training and development of volunteer program managers. Whether paid or unpaid, VPM’s ensure the environment to run a successful volunteer program is in place. It has been said that you can often see when ineffective volunteer management is in place, but will rarely see effective management because things run smoothly.

This is true for community service, sports and recreation, conservation and heritage, emergency services and so on.

To assist this development, NVSA has in place several tiers of support.

Non Accredited training

See the training section for more details. A wide variety of short courses are offered for several levels of experience.

For the relatively new VPM we offer short courses such as recruit volunteers, introduction to volunteer management. Our Summer School program is always popular. This 4 day hands-on approach to working with volunteers is being offered throughout 2016 . Stay tuned for further information

For more advanced practitioners we offer skills based courses such as program evaluation, grant writing and advanced grant writing, risk management and professional reflection

All course participants are provided with a certificate of attendance. Most courses are mapped to nationally accredited training competencies and can be used for Recognition of Prior Learning

Download Training package 2020.PDF

Peer Support Network

Bi monthly peer network meetings are held for volunteer managers in the north. The meetings cover a variety of topics. May have guest speakers, usually have very robust discussions around topics that matter to people working with volunteers

Manager Mentoring Program

NVSA’s Volunteer Manager Mentoring Program is specially designed for people working with volunteers. Once registered, managers will be matched up with more experienced volunteers managers, generally within their field of involvement or related to the area an individual wishes assistance in.

Mentors have been trained to assist you in setting goals and helping you work through them. They will usually meet with you three or four times on an informal basis. All conversations are kept confidential, although for training and development purposes, NVSA requests a formal evaluation be completed.

Forums

From time to time, we offer forums featuring highly recognised speakers. Often the speakers are leaders in their field, have international experience and recognised as key trainers on at least an national level and more frequently international.

Trainers we have sponsored in the past include:

• Martin Cowling – Director, People First-Total Solutions
• Linda Chaousis – Director,Five Dogs, University lecturer and recognised business consultant and mentor, NVSA regular facilitator and specialist in organisational culture and professional development
• Susan Ellis, Director, Energize – well respected specialist in volunteer management
• Andy Fryar, Director, Oz VPM – recognised international trainer and prime mover in the volunteer sector
• Jayne Cravens, Director, Coyote Communications, specialist in volunteer programming.

Professional Develop Year

Our Professional Development progam was winner of the 2013 Adult Learning Program of the Year. The program consists of 12 workshops, mentoring, lots of very high quality facilitation and a wide range of other exciting initiatives. The learning will lead to an Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management.

Contact us to find out more.