Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
This July, Cricket NSW took big steps to providing a unique opportunity for the cricket volunteer community by launching its Volunteer Certification Program (VCP). This first-of-its-kind education and recognition program was launched with the presentation of the first certificates on the evening of July 25 at Cricket Central.
During the evening, the Member for Parramatta, the Hon. Donna Davis, handed out the first certificates to the first batch of volunteers who had completed Level One part of the pilot program. Thus far, six volunteers from Western Sydney have completed both the academic and practical components of the VCP, and CNSW is looking at offering the program to many more in the new cricket season as the program becomes available across the State.
The VCP has been developed by Cricket NSW in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Industry Innovation Program. The program has been designed to provide education and training on key aspects of running a cricket club such as such as the PlayHQ platform, child safety standards and policies, Cricket Blast, inclusion, female cricket, and more. Importantly, the the VCP has a service element, requiring participants to be active volunteers to be eligible to complete the certification.
The program supports the recruitment and retention of community cricket volunteers and provides an opportunity for volunteers to be recognised as a certified Cricket NSW volunteer.
JOIN THE CRICKET NSW VOLUNTEER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Five of the six volunteers who’ve completed Level 1 received their official certification at the program launch from MP Davis in the presence of esteemed guests such as Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon, Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Cr Pierre Esber, CEO of the Centre for Volunteering NSW Gemma Rygate, Cricket Australia National Volunteer Lead Ben Derouge, and Cricket NSW Chief Community Cricket Officer, Martin Gleeson. The UTS team that collaborated with CNSW to develop the program was also present.
MP Davis said she thought the certification program was such a great idea because volunteers coming into the community can now learn from the best. “When I walked into Cricket NSW and I saw Deb (Deb Pooley, one of the first certified volunteers) from the Parramatta Women’s Grade Cricket Club, I realised that this was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge those volunteers who are so dedicated to their clubs.”
Lee Germon, CEO, Cricket NSW, said:
“Our wonderful sport of cricket across the state of New South Wales is hugely reliant on the support of our volunteers. In Cricket NSW our purpose is to inspire everyone to play and love cricket, out overriding ambition is to double the number of 5-12-year-olds playing cricket throughout NSW. We will not achieve those ambitious goals without the support of our volunteers who are the lifeblood of our game.
“The Volunteer Certification Program acknowledges the skills of existing volunteers and paves the way for newer and younger volunteers to participate in the sport. I encourage everyone to consider joining the program to provide a wonderful impact to our sport, our clubs and associations, and the thousands of players who are dependent on the volunteers for their support across NSW.”
Martin Gleeson, Chief Community Cricket Officer, Cricket NSW, said:
“We are very excited to be able to launch the Volunteer Certification Program, something that has been in research and development over the last 12 months. Volunteers are the lifeblood of a local community, and this program has been designed to support the volunteers that are currently in place that would like further education, but also as a recruitment tool for clubs and associations to be able to help the new volunteers coming into the game to support their community.”
