Volunteer Symposium for NSW Regional and Community-Run Museums
Museums of History NSW is excited to be partnering with Museums & Galleries of NSW to host the inaugural Volunteer Symposium for NSW Regional and Community-Run Museums, in July 2025.
The two-day symposium is intended for volunteers who work in small to medium-sized museums in regional NSW, as well as the workers who support them. The symposium will feature keynote sessions on strategies for volunteer-run museums, succession planning, First Nations engagement and school learning programs in museums.
There will be many breakout sessions specifically tailored to the volunteer museum sector, with some involving hands-on demonstrations. These will run concurrently across the two days. Presented by experts from MHNSW and M&GNSW, they include introductions to the State Archives Collection and the Caroline Simpson Library, as well as presentations on textile collections care, archival collections care, researching collections, collection documentation, significance assessment, AMaGA’s First Peoples: A Roadmap for Enhancing Indigenous Engagement in Museums and Galleries, creating simple labels, the use of AI at Museums of History NSW, marketing, engaging children in museums, storytelling, grants and funding, and tour guiding.
The symposium promises to be an informative and rewarding event, offering something for everyone working in a small volunteer- or community-run museum.
Tickets are limited with preference given to volunteers who work in small to medium-sized museums in regional NSW. Participants can attend a maximum of 5 breakout sessions during the 2-day conference. Delegates will be able to indicate their preferred breakout sessions on registration. Please note that due to scheduling constraints and session capacities not all preferences will be able to be accommodated.
Ticket includes lunch, and morning and afternoon teas.
For further information, contact regional@mhnsw.au
This program may be subject to change.
Keynote speakers
Mark Creyton
Mark Creyton has extensive experience in developing and enhancing volunteer programs in a variety of sectors, including the cultural sector, and has taken an active role in national research projects for Volunteering Australia and the new National Standards for Volunteer Involvement. He was education and research director for Volunteering Queensland for many years and has worked with more than 15,000 community groups and initiatives.
Mark provides a range of masterclass programs in leading volunteer programs and consulting in this field. He has a passion for grassroots leadership and all volunteer groups and works with communities to build capacity for local programs and initiatives.
Rebecca Kummerfeld
Dr Rebecca Kummerfeld is Learning Manager at Museums of History NSW and an adjunct at Deakin University. She has more than a decade’s experience managing learning teams at the Sydney Jewish Museum and the North Lincolnshire Museum service (UK), and is a published author and a regular presenter at conferences. With a background in teaching, research and management, she creates engaging and memorable museum experiences for a wide range of audiences. Rebecca works strategically at the intersection of history and education, developing projects that promote critical thinking and empathetic understanding. A skilled storyteller, she crafts narratives that connect audiences meaningfully with historical events and perspectives.
Peter White
Peter White, a proud Gamilaroi Murri, has more than 30 years’ experience in the creative and cultural heritage sector, and leads First Nations cultural engagement and strategy at Museums of History NSW. His mission is to ensure tangible and mutually beneficial outcomes for the protection and strengthening of cultural practices and mainstream sector engagement, through championing the cultural rights of First Peoples communities.
Peter excels in formulating and delivering culturally appropriate strategic approaches and program development, and fosters extensive networks across the arts, community, public, private and education sectors. He is a recognised transformational and strategic leader within the First Nations cultural sector.
Keynote sessions
In the first two sessions, participants will go beyond discussions of recruitment and retention to exploring strategies to build resilient and sustainable volunteer-run museums.
Breakout sessions
The Mint
10 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000- Cafe
- Wheelchair accessible
Date
28 & 29 July 2025
Cost
Volunteers $50 + booking fee
Salaried staff and consultants $120 + booking fee
Related
Museums & Galleries of NSW
We are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW
Regional NSW
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Collections on Tour 2025
Museums of History NSW is on the road again, sharing our stories with the people of regional NSW