Volunteers

Resources

City of Port Phillip Volunteer Register

The City of Port Phillip Volunteer Register has been designed to facilitate connections between volunteers and local community organisations. Through encouraging greater volunteer participation, Council aims to promote active citizenship and build a stronger, healthier community.

To view current volunteer vacancies click here.

To advertise a vacancy on behalf of a community organisation click here.

Note: Council does not provide a matching service for potential volunteers and organisations. Any correspondence or dealings between potential volunteers and organisations is solely between the organisation and those volunteers. Council will not be liable or responsible for any loss or damage incurred as a result of any correspondence or dealings.

What is Volunteering?

Formal volunteering is an activity that takes place in not for profit organisations or projects and is undertaken:

To be of benefit to the community and the volunteer
Of the volunteer's own free will and without coercion
For no financial payment
In designated volunteer positions only.

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
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
Volunteering promotes human rights and equality.

Volunteer Rights

Unlike paid staff, volunteer staff are not covered by award conditions or work place 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 various Occupational Health and Safety Act[s])
To be interviewed and engaged in accordance with equal opportunity and anti- discrimination legislation
To be adequately covered by insurance
To be given accurate and truthful information about the organisation for which you are working
To be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses
To be given a copy of the organisations volunteer policy and any other policy that affects your work
Not to fill a position previously held by a paid worker
Not to do the work of paid staff during industrial disputes
To have a job description and agreed working hours
To have access to a grievance procedure
To be provided with orientation to the organisation
To have your confidential and personal information dealt with in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 1988
To be provided with sufficient training to do your job.

Check that:

The organisation is a 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.

Source: Volunteering Australia, 2008.

Volunteer Resources

For volunteer opportunities outside of Port Phillip, you can visit the following websites:

Go volunteer: http://www.govolunteer.com.au/
Australian Volunteers International: http://www.australianvolunteers.com/
Australian Emergency Service Volunteers Network: http://www.aesvn.org/
Youth Challenge Australia: http://www.youthchallenge.org.au/

For general information on volunteering you can contact the following organisations:

Volunteering Australia: http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/
Volunteering Victoria: http://www.volunteeringvictoria.com.au/

More information

Contact us or use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer phone ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 and ask for Volunteer Opportunities.