Over the years our research has constantly shown how important it is to appropriately manage your volunteers. Not only does this ensure that you maximise the experience for your organisation but also that the volunteer gets the most out of the project too – thereby increasing the chance that they will want to continue to volunteer for you!

Tips to consider when planning your volunteer project:

Concise communication

Clearly outline the scope of the volunteer’s project, including timeframes, deadlines, expected outcomes, background information, resources available, potential pitfalls, how the job will be evaluated and reporting back to goodcompany.

Your organisation

Provide the volunteer with details of your organisations’ mission, culture and values. Also introduce them to and provide them with contact details for key people in the project. Ensure that you have informed relevant staff internally of this volunteer and have their support for the project.

Connecting heart and mind

Our volunteers are keen to help you make a difference, so demonstrating how the task/project contributes to your organisation’s purpose and the overall community is incredibly important to the volunteer.

Resources

Organise in advance that the volunteer has access to all required resources and policies, particularly:

• Infrastructure: allocation of adequate equipment, desks, computers, etc
• Suitable training/induction including relevant reporting, emergency procedures, grievance resolution, potential discrimination & abuse, building layout, and any other relevant policies. You should take care to prepare volunteers for their duties and for any physical or psychological stresses that may be involved.
• OH&S and working conditions: suitable hours, accommodated around work commitments.
• Do your current policies and procedures adequately cover volunteers? If not, what do you need to change?
• To provide adequate supervision, if required.

Other considerations

• Do you want publicity for the work that volunteers do?
• Do you have the support of your stakeholders and are they prepared for this? (Include board, suppliers, consultants, etc), have you informed the volunteer?
• Who will cover any costs associated with the project (inc. travel)?

Risk Management: Things to consider:

(a) Insurance: You need to be aware of your organisation’s insurance status with regard to volunteers. You want to be able to protect your organisation in the event of claims by voluntary workers injured while undertaking their voluntary work. You need to be able to answer the following questions:

• Does the organisation have insurance to cover the work volunteers do?
• Does the organisation have public liability insurance that would cover volunteers in the event of an accident?

(b) Privacy - Are there any privacy issues over and above the usual requirements?

(c) Confidentiality - Do you require volunteers to sign a confidentiality document?