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.
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.
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.
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
Use the brainstorm idea and whiteboard answers- encourage people to guess – fill in any gaps
Behaviours that characterise bullying may include victimisation and unwelcome, offensive, abusive, belittling or threatening behaviour directed at another person or a group of people.