Volunteers

Volunteer Workers - Non-School Based

A non-school based volunteer worker is a person who undertakes to perform certain tasks at no cost to the department. For the relationship between the individual and the department to be deemed to be on a voluntary basis no remuneration, fee, etc is demanded by the individual or is payable by the department.
Volunteers working as Assisting Adults must be over 18 years old. See Supervision.

Note: Non-school based volunteer workers are not to be engaged for the purpose of reducing salary costs.

All volunteers including parents, leaders, commercial operators and students working as volunteers who are involved in overnight outdoor education programs must have a Good Character Check [Word 295KB]
Principals should decide with their School Council whether all volunteers working with their school during the day should also have a police check.

The Department of Education holds insurances which cover volunteers in respect of:
- Liability claims [department staff only] from third parties in respect of injuries sustained; and
- Personal accidents [department staff only]
The Combined General and Product Liability Policy adequately covers volunteers in respect of ‘traditional’ activities such as school excursions. For this reason, it is not necessary for budget centres, schools and colleges to purchase additional insurance. However, it is necessary for volunteers covered by this policy to conduct activities in a safe and lawful manner.

In order to ensure that volunteers are covered [department staff only], budget centres must record the names of volunteers who are actively participating in departmental activities. The records may be general. It is sufficient for a register to be established at the beginning of the year which lists all volunteers, additional volunteers offer their services throughout the year, and updated as required.
In the case where volunteers are injured, they are required to make their own arrangements for the payment of the cost of medical treatment, etc. and claim the reimbursement directly from the insurer.
For details regarding the claim process for volunteers, see the Personal Accident [department staff only] page of the Department's Risk Management Section.

In the case of a claim for damages being made by a third party against a volunteer, the Department of Education's Public (General) Liability, Product Liability, Professional Liability, or Medical Negligence Insurance Policies will provide protection. Information about these policies is available from the Risk Management page. [department staff only]
The Department's Legal Officer must be informed of incidents that could result in claims being made against the Department.

Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses or a small honorarium paid to a volunteer does not invalidate the status of a volunteer. However, the regular payment of monies (irrespective of the amount paid) for services rendered will invalidate the status as a volunteer.