Rae Plush ran a session for the Broadband for Seniors Volunteer Network, on the rights & responsibilities of volunteering. This presentation includes whiteboard comments from participants.

1. Rights and
Responsibilities:
Volunteering experience
© Volunteering SA&NT Inc.

2. This session will cover:
• Definition of Volunteering
• Volunteering Principles
• Volunteer Stats
• Rights/Responsibilities of Organisations
• Rights / Responsibilities for Volunteers
• Volunteer Protection Act
• Questions

3. Volunteer : White board

4. Universal declaration
of volunteering
“All people in the world should have the right to freely offer
their time, talent and energy to others and their
communities through individual and collective action,
without expectation of financial reward.”
Adopted IAVE Netherlands 2001

5. Definition of volunteering
Formal volunteering is an activity which takes place in
not-for-profit organisations or projects and is:
• A service given of one’s own free will without coercion
• For no financial payment
• To benefit the community and the volunteer
• In designated volunteer positions only
Informal volunteering occurs outside an organisational
setting

6. Who is a volunteer?
A housewife who donates time to charitable
causes because the women in her family have
always gained community prestige by doing so.

7. Who is a volunteer?
A teenager who offers to program the computer at
a non-profit agency in order to establish an
“employment” history. After three months, he
intends to quit and apply for a job at a local
company.

8. Who is a volunteer?
A mother who becomes leader of a Girl Scout
troop because of her daughter’s desire to be a
Scout. No one else will lead the troop, so the
mother agrees to take over, but only as long as her
own daughter is involved.

9. Who is a volunteer?
The six-month-old baby who accompanies her
parents to visit seniors at a nursing home and
lightens the hearts of the residents.

10. Difference between paid
and volunteer staff
What is your understanding: Whiteboard

11. Difference between paid
and volunteer staff
Paid staff
•Perform for a wage or salary
•Conditions set through awards or
agreements
•Legal rights and responsibilities
Volunteers
•License

12. Principles of volunteering
• Volunteering benefits the community and the volunteer;
• Volunteer work is unpaid;
• Volunteering is always a matter of choice;
• Volunteering is not compulsorily undertaken to receive
pensions or government allowances;
• Volunteering is a legitimate way in which citizens can
participate in the activities of their community;

13. Principles of volunteering
• Volunteering is a vehicle for individuals or groups to address
human, environmental and social needs;
• Volunteering is an activity performed in the not for profit
sector only;
• Volunteering is not a substitute for paid work;
• Volunteers do not replace paid workers nor constitute a threat
to the job security of paid workers;
• Volunteering respects the rights, dignity and culture of others; and
• Volunteering promotes human rights and equality.

14. Intent behind these:
• Volunteering is an activity performed in the not
for profit sector only;
• Volunteering is not a substitute for paid work;
• Volunteering is not a substitute for paid work;

15. The Stats
How many people volunteer in Australia:
a.2.8 million
b.3.4 million
c.6.4 million
d.7.2 million

16. The Stats
The volunteer workforce in Australia was estimated to
provide over $14.6 billion of unpaid labour in 2006-2007
(ABS Satellite Accounts)
The total annual hours volunteered in 2006 were 713
million.
The median weekly number of hours volunteered in 2006
was 1.1hrs.
The median annual number of hours volunteered in 2006
was 56hrs.

17. The Stats

18. Volunteer
Who is a typical volunteers?
Where do they usually volunteer?

19. Diversity of volunteer roles
 Sport
 Education/ Training/ Youth development
 Community/Welfare
 Religion
 Health
 Art/Culture
 Business/Professional/Union
 Environment/Animal
 Law/Justice
 Emergency Services
 Foreign/International

20. Why do people Volunteer?
ABS Voluntary Work, Australia, 2006

21. Profile of today’s volunteer
• Very busy
• Wants flexibility
• Wants new hi-tech ways to get the job done
• Not only want to make a contribution - they
want to make a difference
© Volunteering SA&NT Inc.

22. Rights of Organisations
• make decisions about appropriate placement
• review volunteer performance according to
organisational policies and procedures
• expect volunteers to perform the given tasks
• expect from all volunteers, respect and courtesy
towards all clients, paid and voluntary staff
• set the parameters and guidelines of the volunteer work
positions
• release a volunteer who is not appropriate for the role
© Volunteering SA&NT Inc.

23. Organisation
Responsibilities….

24. Responsibilities of Organisations
• provide a clear outline of duties
• provide insurance cover for their volunteers
• provide orientation and necessary training
• recognise volunteers for their hours and years of service
• set clear lines of communication about complaints and conflict
resolution procedures
• provide safe, healthy working conditions
• include volunteers in relevant decision making processes
• provide supervision and support
• provide emergency procedures guidelines
• provide required documentation relating to the volunteer work
to be undertaken
© Volunteering SA&NT Inc.

25. Volunteer rights
• To work in a healthy and safe environment
• To be covered by insurance
• Not to be discriminated against
• Not to do the work of paid staff
• To receive orientation and training
• To have a role description and agreed working hours
• To have access to relevant policies and procedures that affect
your work
© Volunteering SA&NT Inc.

26. Volunteer
responsibilities…….

27. Volunteer Responsibilities
• Adhere to policies and procedures
• Respect and maintain privacy and confidentiality
• Be punctual, dependable and reliable
• Be respectful of others
• Speak to your supervisor when something goes wrong or isn’t
working
• Undertake any training required
• Carry out your agreed duties in the agreed time frame
• Accept evaluation and feedback
© Volunteering SA&NT Inc.

28. Volunteer checklist
 Aim/s of volunteer involvement in the organisation
 Support structures/mechanisms for volunteers
 Recruitment & employment procedures of volunteer
staff
 Volunteer involvement, appropriate roles and job &
person descriptions
 Orientation, education & training for volunteers
 Recognition of volunteer contribution to the
organisation
© Volunteering SA&NT Inc.

29. Legislative requirements
What laws do you think may apply to you as a
volunteer/ or your volunteers?
What do you need to know about them?

30. Relevant Legislation
Volunteer Protection Act

31. VOLUNTEER
PROTECTION ACT
The Volunteer Protection Act 2001 clearly states that “a volunteer
incurs no personal civil liability for an act or omission done or made
in good faith and without recklessness in the course of carrying out
community work for a community organisation”.
The organisation supports the volunteer by limiting the personal
liability for negligence of the volunteer by transferring the liability to
the community organisation which is covered by Department of
Health public liability insurance. Also the organisation will limit the
right to bring proceedings against the volunteer personally.

32. Workplace Safety Laws
Harassment/bullying
Equal opportunity
Discrimination
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)
Insurance and liability
Industrial policy relating to volunteer work

33. Summary
Valued role
Recognised role
Support available for both organisations and
volunteers

34. Any reflections to share

35. Resources
Volunteering Australia website
VSA & NT Publications
AAMoV

36. Thank
You