Welcome to another edition of Willing & Able for 2013! It's another full issue with information on training courses, several fundraising events (including the Bombo book project, which will be a regular feature in this newsletter), a grant opportunity for singers/songwriters and a link to the ATO website for taxation planning and tax schemes information. We also have several regular sections including reports from VNQ's manager, WHS Co-ordinator and Defence Volunteering Program officer, a useful contacts list and links to commonly used pages of VNQ's website and our Facebook page. I've also written an article on a common telephone scam and have more information on similar scams in my Editorial. Want more? Well, if you're looking for a great dessert idea for your next company morning tea, why not try a recipe for a tasty and easy to make Chocolate Layer Tart? All this and even more in this issue!

So why not sit down and put your feet up while you enjoy this edition of Willing and Able!

Nicole

Volunteer Managers Network Meeting & Training Session

Here are the details for the next Volunteer Managers Network Meeting & Training Session.

July 18 - 9:30am-12:00noon
(morning tea will be provided)
VNQ Training Room
6/56 Charles Street - Aitkenvale

Please RSVP by July 11 to:
Volunteering North Queensland Ph: 4725 5990

VNQ's Networking meetings are held bi-monthly and are a great opportunity for people in the community sector to meet each other, network and share their experiences, knowledge and learning. Attendees can suggest topics for discussion, guests or issues.

VNQ Office Hours

Just a quick reminder that VNQ's Office Hours are:

Tuesday to Friday - 9:00am to 4:00pm

VNQ is not open weekends or Mondays.

TAXATION

Taxation Planning

With the end of the 2012-2013 financial year in sight, the ATO have developed some timely information on Taxation planning.

The section includes information on tax-effective investments as well as tax avoidance schemes and how to recognise and report them.

www.ato.gov.au/atp/

The Australian Taxation Office website also has a wide range of invaluable taxation information and advice for non-profit organisations.

Find all the info you need in their Non-Profit section.

www.ato.gov.au/nonprofit/

Trainer: Gerard Byrne
Time: 9:00am-12noon
Venue: VNQ Offices

Management Committee Essentials
July 13

Strategic Planning
September 07

Sponsorship & Fundraising
November 02

Bookings Essential - Limited Places

For more details or bookings contact VNQ on:
Ph: 4725 5990 or
Email: training@volunteeringnthqld.org.au

VNQ's Offices: Unit 6/56 Charles St - Aitkenvale

VNQ's training program is run in partnership with the Townsville City Council.

VET Fee-Help Courses & Dates

Careers Australia run regular Diploma courses which are funded by VET Fee-Help - a student loan issued by the Australian Government, designed to help ease the burden of up-front tuition fees and make higher education more available to more Australian citizens.

The following courses are coming up soon.

• June 10 - Business
• June 17 - Counselling (to be confirmed)
• June 17 - Engineering
• July 17 - Counselling
• July 17 - Engineering
• August 12 - Counselling

There are no pre-requisites or experience required, however enrolling students will be required to take a literacy and numeracy assessment.

For more information, or to enrol, visit the website at:
www.careersaustralia.edu.au/

National Volunteer Week with its theme, "Thanks a Million" has passed into history, but I still would like to add VNQ's voice to the accolades and share our wonderful week of celebration with you.

And what a week of celebration it was. We started with the Radio Triple T radio promotion thanking volunteers. This was followed by our Volunteer Managers Network morning tea on the Thursday. In keeping with the Volunteer Week theme we focused on highlighting and sharing tips and resources for successful volunteer management and recognition.

We began with an introduction to the National Standards for involving volunteers in Not for Profit organisations, developed by Volunteering Australia. They provide a framework and workbooks to help organisations keep their volunteers safe and happily involved. After the info session our three guest speakers shared their joys and challenges in running large and successful volunteer programs. And as an added bonus the morning tea was delicious.

The grand finale to the week was a partnership event with NQ Dry Tropics and the Upper Ross Community Centre that provided the opportunity for 100 volunteers of all ages and abilities to work together in the centre's community garden. Volunteers received training, and all were recognized with certificates of appreciation in a joyful and rowdy conclusion to the day.

Memories of the day still linger as a sweet reminder of what happens when people who care come together in a shared love of community. Thank you to all those volunteers who work in formal programs or behind the scenes on their own private projects, you help to make the world a better place.

We anticipate further such shared community events in the future. We also welcome new members and partners.

In conclusion, your membership is due at the end of the financial year. Thank you for your support over the past year, it is much valued and we look forward to working with you again in the year to come.

If you would like to become a member of VNQ or need to discuss your existing membership needs please feel free to contact us. We are only a phone call away.

Warm regards,

Anita Berry
Manager - Volunteering North Queensland Inc.

VNQ has again secured a grant to provide support and training for Defence personnel and their families to assist them with volunteering in the community.

VNQ manned a stall at the Defence Expo in February to showcase volunteering in Townsville to Defence personnel and their families who have recently been transferred here. A great deal of interest was shown with several Defence spouses attending interviews at VNQ and have since undertaken volunteer positions.

During April, Sally Lawrence conducted three sessions covering employment readiness which was attended by ten defence spouses. Topics covered included: resumes, addressing selection criteria, job interviews as well as employment seeking strategies. Volunteering was highlighted during the workshops as a means of obtaining experience, developing new skills and gaining confidence for job seekers. Great feedback was received after this training, so further sessions are being planned for June.

Since the Employment Readiness workshops one Defence spouse has secured employment with the Department of Defence. She stated that her attendance in the workshops increased her confidence and assisted in this very positive outcome. Another lady has a job interview arranged and also reports that she feels that she can approach this with heightened confidence. Four defence spouses who attended have interviews arranged with VNQ to explore volunteer opportunities.

Promotion of volunteering to Defence personnel has further been achieved by a presentation at the Soldier Recovery Centre who are very keen to have their clients participate as a means to assist in their rehabilitation.

Future plans within the Program include a meeting with a Defence employment agency, who assist those leaving the forces to gain civilian employment as well as further presentations to Defence personnel at Lavarack Barracks in June.

Six thousand Defence personnel are employed in Townsville and with their families make up approximately thirteen thousand people residing in our city. Therefore this group will be a valuable source of volunteers which will further enrich our local community.

Please contact me if you would like to find out more about the Defence Volunteering Project.

Suzi Vincent
Defence Volunteering Project Officer

Chemicals are a fact of life, and are used to produce just about everything around us. Some chemicals are benign. Others are highly dangerous. For these reasons, legislation mandates chemical manufacturers/suppliers to provide MSDS to product users. You have heard of MSDS, but may not fully understand what they are and what they do. I hope that the following helps.

What is a MSDS? A document that provides information on the potential hazards of a chemical, and how to work safely with it; essential for the development of a work health and safety programme.

What information is on the MSDS? Product information, hazardous ingredients, physical data, fire/ explosion hazard data, the chemical's stability, substances with which it may react, toxicology properties and health effects, preventative measures, first aid measures, and the name of the person who prepared the MSDS.

When and how do I use a MSDS? Before using the chemical for the first time. Match its name with the name on the MSDS. Then carefully read the hazards listed on the MSDS and the instructions for the use, safe handling, storage, and emergency management of the chemical.

What if I don't understand all the information on a MSDS? Don't use the chemical, and raise your concern with your WHS Co-ordinator or supervisor.

Is my employer responsible for MSDS? Employers must ensure that when introducing a chemical to the workplace, a MSDS is available, and that workers who may be exposed to the product are trained in its use. The employer must also ensure that MSDS are updated every five years, and must withdraw a chemical and its MSDS if the chemical is no longer required.

Can I bring a chemical to the workplace if I bring a MSDS as well? Under no circumstances may a worker bring a chemical into a workplace.

At VNQ, there's a master copy of current MSDS in the cleaner's cupboard in the VNQ ablutions room, and kitchen chemical MSDS in a folder inside the under-sink cupboard. Just for fun at home, try searching the internet for MSDS on chemicals you use there. You'll find one on every single product! Google 'MSDS on (product name)', and read about it.

Clem Plath
VNQ WHS Co-ordinator

VNQ recently received the following letter. We would like to wish the Happy Feat group the very best of luck in being selected for this fantastic opportunity and congratulations for being considered for it!

If anyone wants to know more about Happy Feat or can help them with their fundraising, please contact:

Leigh Caldwell
Email: Leigh@gradyhomes.com.au

It was amazing to be able to announce on our Happy Feat 3rd birthday that our team is being considered to perform in the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle!!!!

Here's a little bit about the Games:-

The Special Olympics 2013 Asia Pacific Games will bring together 32 nations from across the Asia Pacific region. Over 2,500 athletes and carers, 6,000 officials and supporters from overseas and interstate and 200,000 spectators will converge on the Newcastle-Hunter region for the duration of the Games. Over 5000 local volunteers are being recruited to make the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games 2013 possible.

As we celebrated our Happy Feat 3rd birthday last night, Larry from Jepson Media filmed our stars in order to send a DVD to John Foreman and the Special Olympic Games committee to help with their decision. (A huge thank you to Larry and Peter Jepson from Jepson Media for donating their time to produce this DVD).

Because we have 35 Happy Featers plus carers plus volunteers, our Happy Feat family is approximately 70 people. This means considerable costs are involved for travel etc. As I am already very busy with Happy Feat, working, family (plus organising this huge project), I don't have any time to fundraise.

So, this project can only go ahead if we find wonderful, generous sponsors to help make this a reality. I would love to hear from you if you have any ideas!

Isn't it exciting that our amazing Happy Feat team are being considered to perform at these Special Olympic Asia Pacific Games!!!

Leigh Caldwell
Happy Feat
www.happyfeat.com.au

July 25-27
Distance: 358km (Townsville to Cairns)

The Big W Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride is a 3 day fundraising ride in support of the Children's Cancer Institute Australia.

Rider registrations are now full, however you can still put your name down on a waiting list. You can also help through donations or by supporting riders.

Full details on the ride at:

tcbr.org.au

To donate or support a rider go to:
gofundraise.com.au

Pyjama Foundation Fundraising Events

The Pyjama Foundation has a couple of events coming up. These events raise much needed funds for the Pyjama Foundation's 'Love of Learning Program' for local children in foster care.

www.thepyjamafoundation.com

PJ Night at the Movies
June 19 - 6:00pm start
Event Cinemas
Townsville CBD
Tickets: $25 on the night or $20 before July 12

Wear your pyjamas and enjoy the movie 'After Earth'. Prizes, games & drinks/nibblies on arrival.

Please bring a new child's book to donate to the 'Love of Learning Program'.

Tickets can be pre-purchased from:
Belgian Gardens Book Exchange
3/34 Primrose Street - Belgian Gardens

Kids' Disco Party
June 21 - 6:00pm-8:00pm
Aitkenvale State School
87 Wotton Street - Aitkenvale
Entry Fee: $2

Wear your pyjamas & have some fun with music, kids activities & more. Sausage sizzle, cold drinks, cake and tea/coffee available for purchase at $2 each.

VNQ are supporting our volunteer Suzi Vincent's fundraising venture to raise money for Legacy by selling the delightful children's book her husband, Tony, created during the last weeks of his life.

Tony died from metastatic melanoma originating from naval service during the Vietnam War. As a side affect, in the last six weeks of his life, he experienced heightened creativity due to changes in the brain: so began the adventures of Bombo the Wonder Dog.

Bombo, who resembles the family dog, is a very smart black dog. He has the kind of adventures that children and the young at heart dream of. Among other things he goes on a secret mission in nuclear submarine, a train trip in New South Wales and a plane ride over Antarctica - with 10% discount for other dogs!

Suzi and her children have lovely memories of this special time with Tony as he entertained them daily with Bombo's adventures. They are hoping to share some of them with you whilst at the same time supporting Legacy.

Bombo the Wonder Dog is a lovely story with many forms of transport throughout the book as they were Tony's (and Bombo's) passion. The book also carries a strong theme about caring for others and making people happy. It is suitable for boys and girls from pre-school age to lower primary school level, but everyone will enjoy it.

The book is beautifully illustrated in high gloss.

Price: $15
Postage: $3

You can purchase your copy of Bombo from:

VNQ Office
Unit 6/56 Charles St - Aitkenvale

Or:

Email: bombodog3@gmail.com or
Mobile: 0409 880 902

Please include your address and phone number if emailing orders.
Payment can be EFT or cheque.

The Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship is an annual $25,000 grant that honours the musical legacy of Grant McLennan, one of the founding members of the Brisbane band, the Go-Betweens.

'Grant's Grant', as it is often referred to, is open to Queensland singers/songwriters and will provide the winner with a unique opportunity to develop their skills internationally.

The prize is an opportunity for the winner to travel to New York, London or Berlin for up to 2 months, to study the city's musical culture and the international musical scene and further develop their artistic skills.

Applications close June 28.
Winners announced in September.

Full details & guidelines at:

www.arts.qld.gov.au

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT

National Standards

The National Standards for best practice in management of volunteers is available for free download from the Volunteering Australia Website.

www.volunteeringaustralia.org

VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT

National Conference on Volunteering 2013

September 04-06
Adelaide

Calling for papers. Abstracts currently being sought.

For more details visit Volunteering SA & NT at:
www.volunteeringsa.org.au

We've all received at least one of them.

Those phone calls at odd times, often outside normal business hours, that come to us unsolicited.

Telephone marketing calls.

Sometimes they're legitimate, but sometimes they're not. Scams. People trying to get money or personal information through false or illegal means. The worst ones are those where the scammers are using real company names.

There's one scam in particular going around at the moment that a lot of people don't realise is a scam for that very reason.

The call often starts off with dead silence or a lot of noise in the background, then someone asks for "Mr or Mrs (name)". They give their name and say they're calling from Microsoft. Often they'll say they're from Microsoft's Tech Department.

They go on to say that they're calling because your computer has been sending them information that it has a virus or some other issue. They make it sound like it's a serious problem that needs to be urgently sorted out. Then they say that they can help and all you need to do is follow their instructions.

Their instructions usually include turning on 'remote assistance'. This is the computer equivalent of giving a stranger the key to your house. It enables them to gain complete control over your computer and gives them access to all of the information stored on it.

The claims they make about the 'problem' sound reasonable if you don't know much about computers. But in reality, they're not true. In a bid to curtail this particular scam, Microsoft has stated that they do not monitor computers in this way or call people about problems or viruses. It's just a scam to get people to allow access to their computers and all of the files and personal information stored on them.

No unsolicited call should ever ask you for personal details such as credit card numbers or ask you to do anything that gives them access to your computer.

So the next time you get a call like that - don't listen and don't do what they say. Just hang up on them.

Article by Nicole Robertson - Willing & Able Editor

It came about because I mentioned to a friend that I had received 'that stupid computer scam call again' and she confirmed that she'd received one recently as well. She suggested I write an article about it, as it's one of the more common phone scams that makes the rounds almost constantly, and one of the more dangerous as it still catches a lot of people, even though it's been around for a few years now.

I call it a 'stupid' scam, but that's only because I know that what they claim in the call isn't possible. The script that the callers follow has been written in such a way that it sounds plausible, if you don't know much about how computers work. Combine that with the faith most people have in a popular brand name and it becomes even harder to recognise as a scam.

It should be noted that I covered only one variant of this particular scam in my article. The script does vary. There are several versions, including ones that don't use the Microsoft name, but rather name a company with a similar-sounding name, or say the name so fast that you can't quite catch it, but it sounds like some big, official, technical, computer company. Many claim to be calling from a Tech Department, again sounding important and official.

Playing on our human nature to more readily trust those perceived to be acting in some official capacity is a big part of the scam.

If you wish to learn more about this line of phone scams, or more about scams in general, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has the website for you.

SCAMwatch has articles and great information on a wide variety of scams. From Internet and telephone scams to pyramid schemes, identity theft and more, everything you ever needed or wanted to know about how to keep yourself and your personal information safe is there.

With National Consumer Fraud Week coming up on June 17-23, what better time is there to visit?

www.scamwatch.gov.au

See you all next issue!

Nicole

Easy Chocolate Layer Tart

Time Required: 15-20 minutes + refrigeration time
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
1 packet of plain chocolate biscuits
1/2 cup of milk
1 large container of thickened cream (approx 600ml)
1 block of mint chip chocolate (you won't need it all)

Other things needed:
An 8" pie dish
A medium sized bowl
A grater

Method:

1. Pour the milk into the bowl.
2. Soak a biscuit in the milk for 1-2 seconds. You want it wet through but not too soggy.
3. Place the soaked biscuit in the pie dish.
4. Continue until the base of the dish is completely covered with a layer of chocolate biscuit. Use broken soaked biscuits to fill in any gaps.
5. When you're satisfied with your biscuit base, pour half of your cream over it or enough cream to at least cover the base, if you don't want it too rich. Make sure the coverage is nice and even.
6. Repeat steps 2-4 with another layer of chocolate biscuit on top of the layer of cream. Don't press down too heavily or the cream will shift and you'll end up with an uneven surface.
7. Repeat step 5 with a second layer of cream.
8. Smooth the top of the layer so it looks good.
9. Grate some of your chocolate over the top - as evenly distributed as you can - to finish it off.
10. Refrigerate for a couple of hours, then cut into slices to serve.

Alternatives:
Arnotts Scallywags are the traditional biscuit used in this recipe because of their large size and texture, but if you don't like them, you can use your favourite chocolate biscuit brand instead. You need a rich dark chocolate biscuit that clings without crumbling when soaked. You can also use your favourite chocolate flavour if you don't like mint. Experiment!

You can use a food processor to make the biscuit layer, but be careful not to use too much milk. I get much better results from using the soak method.

I hope you enjoy your tasty desert treat!

Complaints - Ph: 1300 362 072;
Ph: 07 3005 7000 (Brisbane);
Fax: 07 3229 4010 (Brisbane);
Website: www.comb.gov.au

Queensland Ombudsman
If you feel you have been treated unfairly by a Queensland public agency or its staff.

Toll Free: 1800 068 908; TTY: 3006 8174;
Ph: 07 3005 7000; Fax: 07 3005 7067;
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.qld.gov.au;
Website: www.ombudsman.qld.gov.au

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
Dispute resolution service for unresolved complaints about telephone or Internet services within Australia.

Toll Free: 1800 062 058
Website: www.tio.com.au

ALL OMBUDSMAN SERVICES ARE FREE

Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland
Level 2, St. James Place
155 - 157 Denham Street, Townsville;
Ph: 4799 7020, 1300 130 670;
Fax: 4799 7021; TTY: 1300 130 680;
Website: www.adcq.qld.gov.au

Dispute Resolution Service
Level 2, St. James Place
155-157 Denham Street, Townsville;
Ph: 4799 7870, 1800 809 605;
Fax: 4799 7871;
Website: www.justice.qld.gov.au

Office of Fair Trading - Qld Government
Townsville Courthouse
31 Walker Street, Townsville
Ph: 13 13 04; Fax: 4799 7488
Website: www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

Townsville Community Legal Service
2/181 Sturt Street next to Bendigo Bank
Ph: 4721 5511; Fax: 4721 5499;
Email: tcls@tcls.org.au
Website: www.tcls.org.au

Updated every week - Special Events Page
Find out what's on in the local area!
www.volunteeringnthqld.org.au/events.htm

Updated every issue - Newsletter Page
Willing & Able is always available online!
www.volunteeringnthqld.org.au/newsletter.htm

Recent new website section - VCRCG section
Find out about the VCRCG!
www.volunteeringnthqld.org.au/vcrcg.htm

VNQ on Facebook

If you're on Facebook, why not look up VNQ, make a comment or add yourself to VNQ's friends list?

www.facebook.com

SPREAD THE WORD

Please feel free to pass this newsletter along to others who you think might be interested.

To subscribe to this bi-monthly newsletter contact:

Email: vnq@volunteeringnthqld.org.au

SPECIAL EVENTS

For information on special events in the local area, visit the Townsville Community Calendar, brought to you by the wonderful volunteers at the Community Information Centre.
www.townsville.qld.gov.au/apps/events