Four items from IVP this month: a peace concert in Canberra on Sunday 1 November, our new website, changes to the Finance Team, and the next Raising Peace Salon on Monday 9 November.
Peace concert with Margaret and Bob Fagan
Margaret and Bob Fagan, legendary Australian folk musicians, are playing a peace concert in Canberra on Sunday 1 November, 4 to 6 pm, at Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra ACT. It is a fundraiser for the ACT Independent and Peaceful Australia Network.
- General admission: $30
- Concession: $20
- Solidarity: $50
Our new website is live
Our new website went live on 17 October 2026 at www.ivp.org.au. It has the same address as before, with a fresh design and clearer paths to workcamps, membership and news.
The site is built to work well on phones, to load quickly and to be accessible to people using screen readers or keyboards. Everything you relied on from the old site is still there, just easier to find.
What’s new
- Projects in one place. The Projects page links straight to SCI’s workcamp database, including a direct link to camps in Australia. Australian workcamps are open to volunteers from Australia and overseas.
- Our vision, mission and values from the IVP Constitution are now on the About page, alongside our history, past projects and the current committee.
- Annual reports from 2016–17 to 2025 are linked from the About page.
- A Volunteer guide answers common questions about age, language, insurance, travel, visas and safety.
- Host a project is a new page for community groups that would like to work with IVP volunteers.
- News carries opportunities, such as the Goulburn Show workcamp 2027 (27 February to 11 March 2027), and items from the peace network. Workcamp reports and volunteer stories have their own page, Stories.
If you spot a broken link, an error or something missing, please let us know at trinks@ivp.org.au.
Farewell to Rex Mayer and welcome to new appointments
The Finance Team at International Volunteers for Peace (IVP) is entering a new chapter, marked by changes in personnel and renewed responsibilities across its financial operations.
Rex Mayer’s departure from the Finance Team in July marks the end of his involvement in IVP’s financial administration. His departure provides an opportunity to recognise the importance of continuity, reliable financial processes and the people who support the organisation’s work behind the scenes.
Joining the team is Neo Gerona, who takes on the role of Finance Officer. Neo joined the team in June and brings a background in finance, bookkeeping and accounting systems, with an interest in improving financial reporting, maintaining accurate records and supporting sound financial management. His appointment will contribute to the ongoing work of maintaining IVP’s financial records and supporting the organisation’s operational needs.
The team’s leadership has also changed following Fernando da Costa’s departure earlier this year. Yang Fan joined IVP in July as its newest Treasurer, taking on an important role in overseeing the organisation’s finances and leading financial accountability.
As a not-for-profit organisation, IVP relies on effective financial administration and responsible stewardship of its resources to support its activities. Clear records, consistent reporting and appropriate financial oversight help the organisation manage its funds and maintain confidence among its members, volunteers and stakeholders.
These changes represent a transition for IVP, bringing new personnel into roles that support the organisation’s ongoing work. As Neo Gerona and Yang Fan settle into their respective responsibilities, the team will continue working to maintain sound financial practices and support IVP’s mission of promoting peace, international cooperation and community engagement through volunteering.
IVP acknowledges the changes within its Finance Team and looks ahead to the next chapter with a focus on continuity, accountability and effective management.
Raising Peace Salon: next one on Monday 9 November
Raising Peace has morphed into a new format: the Raising Peace Salon. After several years of presenting many webinars promoting peace in its myriad forms, this year Raising Peace wants to continue this work in a different way. The Salon is an opportunity for people to come together to “raise peace” by talking about peace, sharing experiences and inspiring each other.
Raising Peace believes that talking about peace is important and urgent. Threats to peace are getting more pressing, and the act of thinking and talking about peace is essential in diffusing these threats. We all need to practise using the language of peace and to have access to non-violent ways of resolving conflict.
At the Salon you can:
- meet other people who are committed to peace;
- come with an openness and curiosity to hear what is happening in the peace movement in Australia and overseas;
- talk about and seek advice on your own peace activities;
- hear about the creative arts and peace: music, performance, poetry and visual arts;
- share information about new developments in peace;
- find information and encouragement to be involved in events and actions, with no pressure to do so (most participants are already involved in peace organisations);
- help start possible new actions or collaborations.
The Salon runs as a Zoom meeting every second month, on a Monday evening from 7 pm to 8 pm. The next Salon is on Monday 9 November. To join, email Wies Schuiringa at wies.schuiringa1@gmail.com, and Wies will send you a link to the meeting. Please share this invitation with others.
Anyone can act as the facilitator of a Salon. If you have an idea you would like to pursue, let the organisers know. Short presentations of up to 10 minutes are welcome as catalysts for conversation.
