Volunteering North Queensland Inc.

VNQ - A Brief History

The Townsville Volunteers Bureau now known as Volunteering North Queensland Inc., first opened its doors as a volunteer referral agency in mid 1987. Funded by DEET, and operating under the guidance of the Townsville City Council it continued its service until 1988. At this point in time its main target group was the unemployed, especially in the disadvantaged sector. The Bureau enabled this group to develop work related skills and to explore career options through volunteering. When funding was channelled into other projects in December 1998, members of the community recognising the important role that volunteers play in our society rallied to support the Townsville Volunteers Bureau

In February 1989 a Public Meeting was held to discuss the future of the Townsville Volunteers Bureau. It was decided that the Bureau should continue as a referral agency, thus allowing members of the community access to a volunteer service.

It was resolved that the Bureau would reopen and be staffed by volunteers until funding could be obtained to employ a coordinator. The Townsville City Council assisted by providing free office accommodation and the use of their resources. They also allocated a $15,000 grant to the Townsville Volunteers Bureau in their 1989-1990 budget. A Management Committee was then formed and a coordinator employed for 25 hours per week. This grant was fully expended at the end of June 1990, but the Council continued to support the services of the Townsville Volunteers Bureau through to September 1991.

From September-December 1991 Skillshare took over responsibility for the funding. In January 1992, DEET funding was made available to the Bureau through Thuringowa Skillshare for a volunteers program to assist in the training of the unemployed. The Bureau remained in operation until August 1992 when it closed its doors because further funding was not attainable.

In 1993 the Bureau, now know as Townsville Volunteers Incorporated, became operational again with a three-year grant from the Commonwealth Department of Health Housing and Community Services. With a new fulltime coordinator employed for 32 hours a week, an administrative assistant from Life Be In It, new premises in the YWCA Building in Denham Street and the support of the staff of the YMCA, successful volunteering became the only direction for the future.

During 1994, our dynamic coordinator initiated some exciting projects, among which were the establishment of Volunteer Coordinator Network Meetings and a North Queensland Volunteer Recognition Day. As well as this, the Hospitality Townsville Volunteers Inc. recruited in excess of two hundred volunteers and assisted them in their endeavour to find volunteer work.

By the end of 1999, Townsville Volunteers Inc. had over 130 registered organisations on our books, and had placed over 500 volunteers in community organisations. We also connected to the net and email and, in order to signal our expanding role in the community, underwent a name change to Volunteering Townsville/Thuringowa Inc. (VTTI).

As the Internet began to be incorporated into the lives and day-to-day operations of more individuals, businesses and community groups, it was decided that VTTI required an Internet presence of their own. A website was created and proved to be highly effective.

In October 2004, VTTI underwent another name change to Volunteering North Queensland Inc., indicating the growing role it was playing in the volunteer sector. At the same time, the website was moved to its own domain, volunteeringnthqld.org.au, to allow for a more permanent, effective and recognisable presence on the Internet.

For further information contact Volunteering North Queensland Inc.

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