Challenges such as the impacts of an ageing population and the global financial crisis, opportunities for exploring greater partnerships with the corporate and government sectors, and cementing the pivotal role that volunteering has within the broader social inclusion context, continue to be areas of discussion within the sector.

The conference aims to provide a national forum to:
• Initiate discussion, debate and analyse issues affecting volunteering;
• Discover new technologies that can affect or support volunteering;
• Examine initiatives that will grow volunteering and promote best practice in volunteering.

The 13th National Conference on Volunteering will draw together papers, workshops and ideas that explore the following streams:
Innovate: Sessions that address different or innovative volunteer programmes or approaches to volunteering.
Adapt: Sessions that address the changing environment and how the sector has had to adapt, or is adapting, to change.
Act: Sessions that look at the systems, policies and procedures in volunteering and volunteer management in a practical way that provides delegates with solutions, tools and tips.

Topics of particular interest may include youth volunteering, corporate volunteering, training and skills development, recognition for volunteers, sponsorships and grants, and spontaneous volunteering.

First and final call for abstracts Volunteering Australia invites proposals for
presentations in a variety of formats.

Details can be found at www.volunteeringaustralia.org/conference.