The Whittlesea Partnership on Volunteering and Community Engagement meets bi-monthly to share information and resources on a range of topics relevant to the volunteer sector. Throughout the year, professional development opportunities are provided to volunteer managers as part of these meetings.
To join the network, or to enquire about how the WVRS can support your organisation with volunteering, please ring 9401 6666 or via email at enavarro@whittleseacc.org.au
This resource has been developed for Volunteer Involving Organisations to provide guidance on good practice principles as outlined in The Volunteer National Standards. Each of the eight standards listed here has links to some great tools to help you to provide a positive experience for your volunteers.
1. Leadership and Management
The governing body and senior employees lead and promote a positive culture towards volunteering and implement effective management systems to support volunteer involvement.
The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement provides information about the Australian best practice standards for organisations.
An easy-to-use online self-assessment tool to work towards meeting the new National Standards for Volunteer Involvement. The tool measures your organisation’s performance with volunteer involvement and helps achieve best practice, ultimately improving the organisation’s ability to attract and retain volunteers. Management Tools
The volunteer management toolkit is aligned to the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement, and for ease Volunteering Victoria have provided guidance at different stages of the volunteer lifecycle.
The National Volunteer Guide produced by Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law service (with input from Volunteering Australia) which provide guidance on the legislation that affects volunteering.
2. Commitment to Volunteer Involvement
Commitment to volunteer involvement is set out through vision, planning and resourcing, and supports the organisation’s strategic direction.
Best Practice Creating an Employee Volunteering Program
The principles of Volunteering – Rights and Responsabilties
The key principles of volunteering and how this impacts upon an organisation’s volunteer involvement.
Tip sheet on how to develop a Volunteer Strategy.
The organization Leep covers key elements of volunteer management, including adapting to changing needs, building inclusive programs, providing structured frameworks and involving volunteers in all aspects of the organisation.
6 steps to volunteer management success
Including Volunteer Contributions in Grant Applications
Information on how to including the contirbution of volunteers into the narrative and budgeting of grant applications.
Volunteer policy – example
3. Volunteer Roles
Volunteers are engaged in meaningful roles which contribute to the organisation’s purpose, goals and objectives.
Volunteering Australia
A helpful toolkit on Designing Volunteer Roles and Position Descriptions.
Designing Volunteer Role Descriptions (Volunteer Ireland)
A guide for Managers of Volunteers on how to design a volunteering role, including templates
Virtual Volunteering – Volunteering Victoria
4. Support & Development
Volunteers understand their roles and gain the knowledge, skills and feedback needed to safely and effectively carry out their duties.
Guide for Training Volunteers
National Volunteer Skills Centre & Volunteering Australia have produced a practical guide for training volunteers in two parts. Download Part 1 and Part 2.
Supervision Help Sheet
This help sheet produced by Our Community explains supervising volunteers.
Difficult Conversations with Volunteers (Volunteer Plain Talk)
Identifies when it may be necessary to have a difficult conversation, and provides tips on how to effectively have this conversation. This resource is accompanied by a Difficult Conversations Worksheet.
5. Recruitment & Selection
An excellent guide produced by Not for Profit Law providing guidance on recruiting, inducting, managing and ending the volunteer relationship.
Background screening for volunteers
6. Workplace Safety & Wellbeing
The health, safety and well-being of volunteers is protected in the workplace.
Risk Management Tool for Volunteer Involving Organisations
Volunteering Australia developed this tool to provide a step by step guide on the risk management process.
Not for Profit Law Insurance & Risk Management for Community Organisations
The guide provides detailed information on risk management strategies and different insurance products that can be used as part of a community organisation’s risk management Australia wide.
VMIA Community Service Organisations Program
VMIA’s Community Service Organisations’ (CSO) Insurance Program provides insurance coverage for eligible community service organisations funded by Victorian State Government Departments.
Guidance for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Planning in the Community Sector
The COVID-19 Plan developed by The Department of Health and Human Services for the Victorian Community Services providing overarching guidance for the community services sector to inform its detailed pandemic response and business continuity planning.
Volunteers and COVID-19
Safework Australia information intended to help volunteer organisations and volunteers understand their work health and safety (WHS) duties in relation to COVID-19.
Creating a COVID Safe Workplace
This comprehensive guide sets out steps your organisation needs to take when you’re thinking of bringing your people – your staff, managers and volunteers – back to their usual workplace.
7. Volunteer Recognition
Volunteer contribution, value and impact is understood, appreciated and acknowledged.
Australian Taxation Office
The Australian Taxation office outlines obligations to volunteers.
Recognising volunteers – Volunteering Australia
101 Ways on Recognizing your volunteers – Volunteering Australia
8. Quality Management & Continuous Improvement
Effective volunteer involvement results from a system of good practice, review and continuous improvement.
Our Community Help Sheet on Retention
This help sheet produced by Our Community explains surveying volunteers for feedback.