Managing your volunteers better

A quick reference guide

Coordination

Appoint a volunteer co-ordinator to your organisation; someone who is responsible for recruiting managing and recognising your volunteers;  someone who is a point of contact for volunteers.

Planning

Develop a volunteer management plan. This plan should address:

• number of volunteers required and the roles they are required for;
• identification of skills already in the organisation (i.e., conduct a skills audit of existing members and volunteers);
• recruitment strategies;
• roles and responsibilities of volunteers;
• roles and responsibilities of the organisation;
• training that can be offered to volunteers;
• ongoing daily support that can be provided;
• recognition strategies.

Job Descriptions

Develop job descriptions outlining volunteers’ duties. Job descriptions enable potential volunteers to understand what is expected of them before taking on the position

Orientation

Provide new volunteers with an orientation, including:

• a welcome to the organisation;
• details of their position;
• information on the day-to-day operations of the organisation;
• support that will be provided to them;
• introductions to key people in the organisation.

Training

• Identify the training requirements of your volunteers;
• keep up to date with the training that is available for various positions in the organisation;
• include an allocation for volunteer training in the organisation’s budget.

Support

• Provide volunteers with a central point of contact ie: volunteer coordinator.
• ensure open channels of communication are available to volunteers. Provide them with the opportunity to ask questions, discuss problems, raisie issues, put forward complaints;
• make sure that volunteers are not out of pocket (where possible, cover their expenses);
• ensure that the roles and responsibilities of the volunteers and the organisation are clearly defined and communicated;
• keep volunteers regularly informed about what is happening in the organisation;
• ensure that recognition of volunteers is ongoing.

• Screening volunteers
• Volunteer protection
• Volunteer recognition
• Volunteer recruiting guide
• Volunteering Australia, National Australia Bank Community Link
• Volunteering WA, Go Volunteer
• Volunteers' rights and responsibilities