Information & Resources
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR INVOLVING VOLUNTEERS IN NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS
By Volunteering
The National
Standards for Involving Volunteers in Not-For-Profit Organisations,
2nd Edition, September 2001
represents what Volunteering Australia regards as ‘best practice’
in the management of volunteers. These standards are about improving
the way we manage and support the 4.4million people in
The National Standards are organised around principles that describe what is required for a quality volunteer-based program. Principles include policies and procedures; management responsibility; recruitment, selection and orientation; work and workplace; training and development; service delivery; documentation and records; and continuous improvement.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
An organisation that involves volunteers shall define and document its policies and procedures for volunteer involvement and ensure that these are understood, implemented and maintained at all levels of the organisation where volunteers are involved.
MANAGEMENT RESONSIBILITY
An organisation that involves volunteers shall ensure that volunteers are managed within a defined system and by capable personnel with the authority and resources to achieve the organisation's policy goals.
RECRUITMENT, SELECTION AND ORIENTATION
An organisation that involves volunteers shall plan and have clearly documented volunteer recruitment, selection, and orientation policies and procedures that are consistent with non-discriminatory practices and guidelines.
WORK AND THE WORKPLACE
An organisation that involves volunteers shall clearly specify and control the work of volunteers and ensure that their place of work is conducive to preserving their health, safety and general well being.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
An organisation that involves volunteers shall ensure that volunteers obtain the knowledge, skills, feedback on work, and the recognition needed to effectively carry out their responsibilities.
SERVICE DELIVERY
An organisation that involves volunteers shall ensure that appropriate processes and procedures are established and followed for the effective planning, control, and review of all activities relating to the delivery of services by volunteers.
DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDS
An organisation that involves volunteers shall establish a system and have defined procedures to control all documentation and personnel records that relate to the management of volunteers.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
An organisation that involves volunteers shall plan and continually review its volunteer management system to ensure that opportunities to improve the quality of the system are identified and actively pursued.
NATIONAL STANDARDS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS INVOLVING VOLUNTEERS
By Volunteering Australia 2001 (92 pages)
This manual presents a logical and practical approach to implementing the national standards. The manual provides a step-by-step guide and set of resources to assist in understanding and applying the standards and how to apply best practice management methodologies.
NATIONAL STANDARDS WORKBOOK AND RESOURCES KIT FOR IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR INVOLVING VOLUNTEERS IN NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS
By Volunteering Australia 2001 (203 pages)
This workbook and resource kit is designed as a systematic and ‘user friendly’ method for implementing the national standards in your organization. It contains a comprehensive set of instructions and resources to guide you task by task through the implementation process.