Volunteers - Being a Volunteer

2013 Premier's Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service

This certificate provides a great opportunity for volunteer-involving organisations to nominate a volunteer(s) who has made an outstanding commitment and contribution to the community and/or organisation.

Guidelines and Nomination forms are available from the Office for Volunteers website or on 1300 014 712.

Nominations close Friday 12 April 2013.

Please Note:
These 'Volunteer' pages will be replaced in mid-2013 with an online tool to assist clubs manage their volunteers.

How do I become a volunteer?

Sport volunteers are all around you and perform many roles.

How can you get involved?

There are many ways you can become a volunteer in the sport and recreation industry:

1. Contact your local club and offer your services.
2. Contact a State Sporting or Recreation Association that interests you and ask them if there are any volunteering opportunities within their organisation.
3. Visit some other volunteer websites for opportunities
   • Sport SA - www.sportsa.org.au
   • Volunteering SA - http://www.volunteeringsa.org.au/
   • Office for Volunteers - http://www.ofv.sa.gov.au/
   • Volunteering Australia - http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/

What are your rights as a volunteer and what should you expect of your organisation?

Volunteer rights
Unlike paid staff, volunteer staff are not covered by award conditions or workplace agreements. Volunteers, however, do have rights, some of which are enshrined in legislation and some of which are the moral obligations of an organisation involving volunteers. The following list is the basis of your rights as a volunteer. As a volunteer you have the right to:

• Work in a healthy and safe environment (refer to the Occupational Health and Safety Act)
• Be interviewed and employed in accordance with equal opportunity legislation (Equal Opportunity and You.pfd)
• Be adequately covered by insurance
• Be given a copy of the organisation's volunteer policy and any other policy that affects your work
• Have a job description and agreed working hours
• Have access to a grievance procedure
• Be provided with orientation to the organisation
• Have your confidential and personal information dealt with in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 1988
• Be provided with sufficient training to do your job
• Work in an harassment free environment

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Volunteer Protection Act (2001)
The Volunteer Protection Act 2001 commenced operation within South Australia in 2002. The intent of this legislation is to provide protection to individual volunteers from personal liability for loss, injury or damage caused as a result of an act or omission on their part while undertaking their volunteering duties on behalf of an incorporated organisation.

Checklist for Volunteers
Check if:

• The organisation is not for profit
• The purpose of the organisation matches your own values and beliefs
• The organisation carries volunteer insurance
• Your role is clear and specific
• The organisation can provide you with written information about its purpose and activities
• You are satisfied that the funds of the organisation are expended in accordance with its mission
• Reimbursement is provided for out of pocket expenses.
  

Help with choosing the right people checklists, interview questions, job descriptions, questions for referees, suitability checks etc.
NSW Commission for Children and Young People

Recruiting coaches and officials
Information on screening and selecting volunteers or paid staff.
Australian Sports Commission

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