010 RAWCS Rover AUG 2016 | Page 11

Volunteering on a project in Vanuatu Recent communications with the Ministry of Health in Vanuatu and the Rotary Club of Port Vila leave all projects in Vanuatu with a requirement to ensure that they have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place with any government department if they are working on government land. RAWCS is developing a standard MOU form that will be on our website to assist this process. Chairman John Roberson has been discussing this matter and visa requirements for Volunteers travelling to Vanuatu with Vanuatu officials. Meanwhile Projects in Vanuatu should be aware of the following, at present until we are notified by the Government of Vanuatu otherwise all RAWCS volunteers should enquire about the requirement for a work visa with the Vanuatu High Commission in Canberra. They should ask for any decision in writing so that they can present that on entry at Port Vila. They may be told that they require a Visa for entry and may have to send their passport and pay any fee to obtain one. Vanuatu High Commission in Canberra PH: (+61) 2 6282 9931 6 Thesiger Court or P.O. Box 281 Deakin, ACT 2600 email : [email protected] [email protected] The OBJECTIVES of RAWCS: The company objective is to manage the:  Rotary Australia Overseas Aid fund  Rotary Australia Benevolent Society  Developed Country Disaster Fund To enable Rotarians, the public and the corporate sector to deliver humanitarian aid and charitable support through:  Projects  Rotarians Against Malaria  Donations in Kind and  Australian Charitable Support To facilitate Rotarians undertaking voluntary work, the Board has engaged professional support in the fields of information technology, communications and marketing and has established a staffed office to process the administrative, accounting and banking functions. RAWCS is not about emergency response rather looks to engage in sustainable, developmental relief projects. Strategic Aspirations: In light of the rapid growth, the Board has identified a range of internal issues that need to be progressed in a structured manner. These include:  Donations in Kind  Communications - both internal and external  Volunteer Training  Compliance with National Standards  Alliances and Partnerships  Publicity about RAWCS does, and  A verification of the Standard of Quality that RAWCS delivers. The organisation operates around the clock in all parts of the world and must ensure the safety of its volunteers and the need to be accountable and transparent to our funding providers, be they Rotarians, the public pr the corporate sector. If you are travelling to Vanuatu on a RAWCS trip please contact Project Coordinator Lloyd Chatfield to ensure that you are fully Financial Reports from National to Project Managers informed of what is required. Financial Reports for all Project Managers are being received soon after the [email protected] consolidation of accounts each month. Please check the recorded transactions and contact Belinda if you have a mistake recorded. Also contact her if you are not receiving a monthly statement. Belinda Griffen - [email protected] (02) 8833-8317 From the Editor’s desk If you have an inspiring project or any RAWCS or RABS news we would welcome a report t o include in a future RAWCS Rover. Please email RAWCS Rover editor: Sue O’Neill: [email protected] Yours in Rotary Service, PP Sue O’Neill Rotary Club of WOY WOY D9685 11