Lou gains professional volunteer leadership

 Lou Cooney’s face beams when she talks about the volunteers at Very Special Kids.

“I have never come across such a dedicated group of people. If I ever have a last-minute volunteer role become vacant, someone always puts their hand up to do it. They are a very dedicated group of people,” she says.

Lou is our Friends of Very Special Kids Volunteer Coordinator, a role that oversees the volunteers who support our events and fundraising.

After seven years in the role, and managing thousands of volunteers,  Lou has just become our first Volunteering Victoria Professional Leader of Volunteers, a 16-point Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program that improves volunteering sector knowledge, skills and future employability through accreditation.

Lou said she did the qualification so she could be the best she can for current, and future, volunteers.

“I just want to be the best I can be for them. They give up so much of their time, for free, and this qualification has made me more knowledgeable and trusted,” she says.

Just over 50 volunteer coordinators gained the Professional Leader of Volunteer certificate this year.

Participants must complete modules around professional development, events and services offered by Volunteering Victoria. They must complete the reading of relevant industry articles/newsletters, mentor colleagues/members in volunteering management, and provide a reflective practice report.