News 
2016 VFBV Volunteer Leadership Scholarships
Courses based in the Gisborne and Pakenham/Dandenong areas, starting April 2016
CLOSING SOON - Apply by Sunday, 21 February 2016
See below to download the information pack and application forms. VFBV accepts applications from volunteers from Ambulance Victoria, Australian Volunteer Coastguard, CFA, Life Saving Victoria, SES and St John.
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The participants work towards a nationally recognised qualification in leadership and management, in a course involving eight days of face-to-face class work and considerable off-campus course, project and assessment tasks, spread over the year.
The VFBV Leadership Scholarship program includes a series of one and two day sessions at venues chosen to be as convenient as possible to the participants.
The course covers skills suited to volunteer, career and community situations and include units on; •Leadership •Decision making •Planning •Safety and risk management •Team effectiveness •Making presentations •Managing projects •Engaging the community
The first two days of the course focus on leadership, team effectiveness and communication, the skills at the heart of the scholarships' aims.
The course adds to the participants' capabilities in useful skills such as public speaking, business writing and influencing. It comprises a mixture of lecture style teaching and interactive activities designed to suit the needs of adult students, as well as ample support using distance learning methods.
Recognising that many of the participants may be returning to study for the first time in years, we will provided them with return to study and study skills material to help them get started.
About the VFBV Volunteer Leadership Scholarship Program
The Leadership Scholarship aims to:
1. Recognise and develop current and future leaders in VFBV & our Volunteer Emergency Service Agencies
2. Build networks and work on important issues for volunteers and VFBV
3.Lead to a recognised qualification so the skills and capabilities learned can be transferred to all areas of the participant's life.
On completion of the Scholarship, the students will be awarded Certificate IV in Leadership and Management (BSB42015).
Time Commitment: The program runs over 9 months and includes eight face to face sessions throughout the year.
Method: the program includes face to face, guest speakers, and plenty of active learning and discussion.
Assessments: include individual work with small group project work to address key issues.
Costs: the program is fully funded by VFBV. Students need to provide their own transport and accommodation (if required) to the program venues (possibly with use of a CFA or brigade vehicle).
Overview: Certificate IV in Leadership and Management BSB42015 There are 12 units in the qualification and four of those must be core units. The units selected below match the qualification requirements and the key issues discussed for the program. We have sourced suitable resources for all of these units which will mean both the requirements of the qualification and the participants’ expectations as parties to the Scholarship are met.
The Units are:
BSBLDR401 Communicate Effectively as a workplace leader
BSBLDR402 Lead Effective workplace relationships
BSBMGT402 Implement Operational plan
BSBLDR403 Lead team effectiveness
BSBRSK401 Identify Risk and apply risk management processes
BSBWHS401 Implement and monitor WHS policies, procedures and programs
BSBWOR404 Develop Work Priorities
BSBCMM401 Make a presentation
BSBCUS401 Co-ordinate implementation of customer service strategies
BSBMGT401 Show leadership in the workplace
BSBPMG522 Undertake project work
BSBADM502 Manage meetings
The outcomes allow students to apply their enhanced skills to their voluntary, VFBV, employment and community roles. This is primarily achieved by application of principles and tools or models into the various different contexts.
A couple of obvious examples are in applying the basics of effective presentation skills and risk management in their voluntary and employed roles. In the voluntary presentation and risk management context he/she may be coming from a leadership position in the CFA and community, whilst as an employee the presentation may be internal or external sales, and risk may be from a much narrower perspective.
The principles are the same but the application may change in a different context. This flexibility is a skill in itself.
Delivery
Each day will comprise:
a. Preview and day's objectives •Key learning objectives •Course requirements – competency and element overview •Explanation of assessment requirements •Expectations of participants
The first day will encompass an overview of the entire course and a general introduction to each other and to the course requirements. For some it may be a reintroduction to adult learning models, including;
•Slides, discussions, exercises and workgroups working through key issues for each of the topics
•Plenty of focus on discussion, idea sharing, scenario exploration and application of ideas. Role plays and small group activities and discussions are utilised where possible and practical.
•Guest speakers to demonstrate or talk about a specific issues or experiences which will enhance learning and lead to focused discussion &/or project work.
•A wrap up at the end of the day to highlight key points and issues and reinforce main learnings.
Follow up homework and assessments will be issued, with further follow up via email, and by phone if required. Participants will work in small groups to facilitate more localised support. Assessments will be completed progressively throughout the course. At the end of the first session, the group divides into small teams of 5 or 6 to design and work on key projects.
These projects would be relevant to the volunteers and community and to the course requirements. For example:
Consider the critical issues in designing and implementing a performance management and review system for the various levels and functions of a broadly dispersed voluntary organisation. What would it look like? What would it aim to achieve, what are some risks and how might they be managed? What are critical success factors and KPIs and how would they be measured, monitored and reviewed? Which stakeholders might you need to consult with, how and why?
For more information, contact your VFBV Support Officer (contact details in the application pack) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
