Toyota

Conservation Volunteers Australia is Australia's leading practical conservation organisation. Its mission is to attract and manage a force of volunteers in priority conservation projects for the betterment of the Australian environment. CVA completes more than 2000 conservation projects across Australia each year.

CVA works with local project partners such as environmental groups, Councils and community groups to identify environmental projects that are a priority for the community. All CVA projects are part of National, State or local management plans. This means all CVA volunteers can be assured that they are working on something that is needed in that community and that their work will be managed and maintained after they leave.

Conservation Volunteers Australia and Toyota Community Spirit are working together to connect more volunteers to environmental projects across Australia.

The partnership aims to increase the number of Australians participating in local environmental projects by making volunteering easy and accessible. It also aims to recognise the skills volunteers gain on Conservation Volunteers Australia projects.

In this partnership Toyota is providing promotional support, technical skills, expertise where possible and financial support. Toyota dealers and employees nationally are participating in the partnership.

The partnership has three key elements:

Conservation/Corpotate Connect

Volunteer Connect

Dealer Connect Connect

Conservation/Corporate Connect
is a key initiative of the partnership and provides the only online registration and booking facility for volunteers in Australia.

Volunteers and businesses can register for environmental projects online through the Conservation Volunteers Australia website www.conservationvolunteers.com.au and then simply click on the Conservation Connect button to select the project in their neighbourhood.

Conservation Connect enables volunteers to select from over 2000 environmental projects Australia wide and immediately book their place on a project. Volunteers receive a booking confirmation and instructions on where to meet and what to bring to their chosen project.

Volunteer Connect
This activity allows CVA the resources to develop the databases for the internet site that contributes to providing streamlined communication with all volunteers. This includes electronic communication, eg. SMS and social networking marketing to provide added value to volunteers’ experience and their CVA membership.

Dealer Connect
Toyota dealers are helping Conservation Volunteers Australia to reach new volunteers and recognise current volunteers in their local communities.

Dealerships participate in events to recognise local graduates of Certificate 1 in Active Volunteering.

Certificate 1 in Active Volunteering
Through the partnership with Toyota, CVA is the first (and currently only) volunteer involving organisation in Australia to offer Certificate 1 in Active Volunteering to volunteers, recognising their skills and experiences.

The Certificate is a formal qualification that details the competencies volunteers achieve through volunteering on CVA projects. It helps to demonstrate to educational institutions and employers the skills and experiences gained from volunteering.

Until now, there was not an accredited training program that recognised the skills and experiences gained by volunteers.

Volunteers must complete 30 hours or more on CVA projects and record in a logbook their experiences as a volunteer and the skills learnt. Certificate 1 was developed by Volunteering Australia and the National Volunteer Skills Centre with the support of the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.

Community Training Workshops
10 community training workshops are delivered yearly in Toyota dealerships throughout Australia. The workshops offer free training on topics such as volunteer management, grantseeking and risk management to local community groups.

The partnership is evaluated annually against project objectives and the annual implementation plan.

CVA Partnership Outcomes 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.