About Us

Wimmera Volunteers

Wimmera Volunteers

Wimmera Volunteers Inc is a not for profit, independently managed community based organisation located in Horsham with a strong commitment to community engagement. The agency services the local Government areas of the Wimmera Region. Wimmera Volunteers acts as an auspice body to provide community based programs for identified groups and individuals within the Wimmera Region.

Background

Wimmera Volunteers commenced operation in 1984 as the result of a need identified through a feasibility study commissioned by the former Horsham Family and Community services Committee (now known as the Department of Human Services). Wimmera Volunteers began providing a local service that matched the needs of individual community members with volunteer helpers willing to assist. Awareness of the importance of voluntary participation to both recipients of a service and the provider of the service was the impetus for a number of volunteer programs being introduced. The continued focus on the provision of services delivered/provided with volunteer effort and the gradual extension into providing information and support services to these groups and organizations throughout the region saw the agency evolve into a Volunteer Resource Centre. As an agency Wimmera Volunteers directs its focus on volunteer services, the volunteer and the role of the volunteer within the community.

The commencement of the Social Support service as part of the Home & Community Care suite of services was the beginning of our long history of service provision. The extension of the Transport assistance services from a HACC only service to the provision of a service for the transport disadvantaged broadened the agencies outlook to encompass the delivery of specific projects focusing on identified needs within the community. The agency continues to deliver services that ensure the quality of life of the client group is enhanced and people are encouraged and assisted to remain living in their own communities

Vision Statement

Wimmera Volunteers is the centre of excellence for community involvement in the region

Mission Statement

"Helping communities help themselves"

Our Values

Accessible: to all members of our community in the region

Welcoming: to all who visit us as either a provider or consumer of our services

Responsive: to the needs of our community and on a timely basis

Respectful: in all our dealings with all our shareholders

Enriching: to enhance the experience beyond just the completion of the task

Aims

To provide a volunteer resource and information referral point for the Wimmera Region.
To identify unmet needs within communities and seek to address those needs.
To continue to act as an auspice body to provide community support services to the Wimmera region.

Objectives

To foster and encourage the concept and involvement in Volunteerism throughout the Wimmera.
To develop the co-ordinated use of volunteers in the region as a rewarding and contributory involvement within local communities.
To assist with the co-ordination of volunteers in local communities as required.
To maximise volunteer expertise to benefit local communities.
To continue to explore alternative funding sources for the agency.
To support the national Association of Volunteer Referral Agencies and the Volunteer Centre of Victoria.
To work co-operatively with other service providers to ensure effective effort and eliminate any duplication of services.
Education and Training

Core Business

The core business of the agency is to –

Raise the profile of volunteering in organizations, Governments and the community by promoting the principles of Volunteering.
Plan and implement an individualised service focus to support programs for marginalised frail elderly persons, people from CALD backgrounds, carers and people who have a disability.
Refer, as opposed to recommend volunteers to a wide range of not for profit organizations and projects across all sectors of the community.
Work with other Volunteer Resource Centres across Australia to identify and implement Best Practice standards.
Maintain sufficient resources to provide the required services to volunteers and the community.
Work with allied agencies and consumers to identify unmet community needs and collaborate with key stakeholders to address these needs with appropriate planning and implementation of service models

Funding sources

Wimmera Volunteers is a multi faceted community organization that receives funding from various sources.

They currently include:

Community Visitor Scheme (CVS) Department of Health & Ageing (Federal).
Social Support Program (SS) Department of Health (formerly the Department of Human Services – State)
Carers Choice flexible Respite (CC) Department of Health (formerly the Department of Human Services – State)
Hospital to Home (H2H) Department of Health (formerly the Department of Human Services – State)
Wimmera Transport Connections (WTC) Department for Planning & Community Development (State);
Volunteer Management Program (VMP) Australian Government.
Wimmera L2P Project – Funding from Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC are the project auspice, funded by Vicroads – Wimmera Volunteers are contracted by HRCC to deliver the program)
The Health and Wellbeing for Older People Program – Funding from Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (Department for Planning and Community Development)