Getting Started NFP

1. Think about the type of volunteer you need.

We understand that there are often many different tasks that need to be addressed within organisations. However, to truly gain as much value from a skilled volunteer as possible, it’s best to identify an area that needs attention or a specific role that needs to be placed. This allows for potential volunteers to decide if they are suited for your role, while also helping to clarify the rights and responsibilities of both your organisation and the volunteer.

• What physical and mental tasks are needed?
• How is the task done?
• Why is the task done?
• What qualifications are needed for the task?
• The quantity of work to be done (this will also indicate how many positions you need to fill each type of job).

For more resources and an in-depth analysis of volunteer role development visit:

Australasian Association of Volunteer Management
Volunteering Australia 
Victorian Government Volunteering Portal

If you find that the role you need to fill doesn’t necessarily need to need a person with specific skills, rather a more general volunteer, you would be best advertising on some of our friend's other websites. 
View them here... 

2.Think about who will supervise or train your volunteer

Some organisations are able to hire a specific Volunteer Manager while others choose to appoint a lucky staff member. Either way, it’s important to ensure your volunteer is sufficiently guided within an organisation and has someone they’re able to easily access and communicate with on organisational matters.

Skill Share provides project monitors who are happy to develop volunteer programs with your organisation. They can also supply project monitors to facilitate agreements at the outset of individual projects and administer feedback and evaluation processes. Visit them here...

Visit the sites below for some best practice tool kits:

Volunteering Australia
Australasian Association of Volunteering Administrators
Victorian Government Volunteering Portal

3. Think about developing a policy or guide to involvement of volunteers within your organisation

This might seem like a bit of a drag or a perhaps an unnecessary procedure, but having a volunteer policy is an incredibly useful tool in clarifying the exact role of a volunteer in your organisation and also ensuring your volunteer’s time is used practically and your time together runs smoothly.

It doesn’t have to be a complex or lengthy document,- just a few simple elements to be discussed and clarified. Here are a few elements that you could consider:

• statements on how volunteers are to be managed
• conditions of their employment
• statements ensuring the rights of volunteers
• travel allowance
• reimbursements for out of pocket expenses
• occupational health and safety conditions
• insurance coverage
• equal opportunity, grievance and disciplinary policy
• training requirements or commitments
• support and supervision
• personal details and privacy, security and confidentiality.
  For some more information on developing a policy visit
• Australasian Association of Volunteering Administrators
• Volunteering Australia
• Victorian Volunteer Portal

4.Think about the information to be included in the job description

Try and give as much detail in the description as you would a paid position (most organisations use exactly the same format).

The information you use should allow the applicant to  fully understand the role and the specific assistance that your organisation is seeking.

Here is a list of things to include: 

• Name of volunteer organisation
• Overview of business
• Job title
• Overview of job duties
• Applicant requirements
• Contact person
• Contact details
• Method of applying
• Time requirements

 More....  

5.Do you have a paid position?

If you have a paid position available at your organisation you should advertise with Pro Bono Australia Jobs.

Our Jobs webpage is dedicated to advertising positions available within the Not for Profit sector and attracts jobseekers dedicated to working with Not for Profit and community organisations. And plus if you're a Not for Profit you can get a discount! More...