La Trobe Award
Make your volunteering experience count
La Trobe students have a proud tradition of being active volunteers within their local communities and through campus based programs and events. The La Trobe Award offers our student volunteers recognition for their hard work, through acknowledgement on the official transcript, and support through free, high quality training.
If you're already volunteering for a not-for-profit organisation, or you're part of a student club, leadership, mentoring or Faculty Program which requires your volunteering efforts, then make those hours count with the La Trobe Award.
Like to volunteer, but not sure how?
Choosing a volunteering role and the time you commit to it can be daunting.
Victoria's Volunteering Portal offers a range of tips on choosing and finding the right role for you. Depending on your own unique circumstances, you decide where and how much time you can commit to volunteering.
La Trobe Award
The La Trobe Award is available to current students and is divided into the following streams:
La Trobe Award in Community Engagement
This stream runs from February - October 2013
Community volunteering roles can be short or long term and students can combine a number of community activities or events to make up the required quota of volunteering hours for this stream.
Volunteering roles
Volunteering roles in this stream can include (but are not restricted to):
- Aged Carer Animal Carer
- Community Expos and Events Officers
- Community Committee Member - Treasurer, Secretary
- Emergency Services, SE and CFA Officers
- Free tax helpers
- Fundraisers
- Homework Club Tutors
- In2Science Mentors
Requirements
Step One: Register and upload volunteer confirmation letter (PDF 250 KB).
Step Two: Complete a minimum of 50 volunteering hours over two semesters.
Step Three: Submit volunteer log books (PDF 259KB), and complete all reflective activities by Friday October 25, 2013.
La Trobe Award in University Leadership
This stream commences February - October 2013
Volunteering roles can be short or long term and students have an opportunity of combining a number of University activities to make up the required quota of volunteering hours for this stream.
Volunteering roles
Volunteering roles in this stream can include (but are not restricted to):
- Connect Mentors
- Orientation and Open Day Hosts
- Peer Mentors
- Clubs and Societies Executive Committee members e.g. President
- Student Representatives
Requirements
Step One: Register and upload volunteer confirmation letter.
Step Two: Complete a minimum of 40 volunteering hours over two semesters.
Step Three: Complete the two training modules in University Leadership and Time Management.
Step Four: Submit and complete all volunteer log books and reflective activities by Friday October 25, 2013.
La Trobe Award in Sustainability (available semester 2, 2013)
This stream commences in semester 2, 2013. Information to follow shortly.
Students select one of the above streams and complete all requirements over two semesters.
Why volunteer?
Volunteering is a great way of getting involved and giving something back to the community. Other benefits of volunteering within the La Trobe Award program include:
- Gaining official recognition on your academic transcript
- Developing professional and personal skills while gaining experience in a variety of different career goals
- Experiencing new challenges
- Making new friends and expanding your professional network
Whatever your reasons, the La Trobe Award will make your volunteering experience count.
What is volunteering?
Definition
The La Trobe Award supports the following definition:
Formal volunteering is an activity which takes place through not-for-profit organisations or projects and is undertaken:
- to be of benefit to the community and the volunteer
- of the volunteer's own free will and without coercion
- for no financial payment and
in designated volunteer positions only.
Sourced from Volunteering Australia 2011
La Trobe Award does not accept the following as volunteering:
- An activity with compensation which meets or exceeds the minimum wage for its duration.
- An activity which is counted for credit towards academic studies.
- An activity which is counted towards paid work or work experience.
Registration
Registrations for the La Trobe Award in Community Engagement and University Leadership are NOW OPEN.
To register for the Award you must:
- Have a volunteering activity
- Have the volunteer confirmation letter signed by your volunteer supervisor
- Register and upload your volunteer confirmation letter
The La Trobe Award team will confirm your registration (where possible) within 48 hours.
Key dates
Registrations for the La Trobe Award in Community Engagement and University Leadership are NOW OPEN.
New registrations will not be accepted after: Tuesday October 1, 2013
Completion of training modules and submission of all volunteer log books and reflective activities by Friday October 25, 2013.
Registrations for the La Trobe Award in Sustainability open semester 2, 2013.
