Volunteer > organisation

Who can join the Fremantle Volunteer Centre?

Organisations requiring volunteers to be referred to them by the Fremantle Volunteer Service must:

• provide proof of both Public Liability AND Personal Accident insurance policies;
• AND be non-profit.

Approval for organisational membership also requires acknowledgment, acceptance and support of the “Principles of Volunteering”.

Organisations should also be aware of the Rights and Responsibilities of Volunteers.

What are the benefits of community groups/agencies becoming a member of the Fremantle Volunteer Service?

• Registration of volunteer position opportunities on our database.
• Referral of prospective volunteers from our database - All volunteers are interviewed by trained staff and given information on the rights and responsibilities of volunteers and agencies prior to referral and placement.
• Assistance with recruitment of volunteers - negotiation of custom designed volunteer position opportunities for volunteers with particular skills.
• Increase of visibility of your organisation to potential volunteers and the community - The Fremantle Volunteer Service, located at the Meeting Place Community Centre, is an easily accessible, local contact point for potential volunteers.
• Access to the South Metro Volunteer Management Network (in partnership with Melville and Cockburn Volunteer Centres) – holds bi-monthly meetings on issues affecting volunteers.
• Newsletter (as part of the Meeting Place Community Centre program) - quarterly updates on volunteering issues and activities.
• Resources / Library - access to a selection of materials and research to enhance your volunteer program.
• Coordination of Recognition Events for volunteers - International Volunteer Day and National Volunteers Week.

What can the Volunteer Management Network provide?

The Volunteer Management Network (see above) offers opportunities for coordinators and managers of volunteers to share their experiences, learn from others and contribute to the development of volunteering in the Fremantle and greater South Metropolitan area.

Objectives of the Volunteer Management Network include:

• Information exchange on current developments in volunteering
• Sharing of experiences, discussion and problem solving
• Supporting each other in issues relating to volunteer management
• Collation of information and feedback to the Network

What are your rights and responsibilities if volunteers are referred to you?

Agencies have the RIGHT to:

• Assess the volunteer’s capacities, place them appropriately and expect assignments to be adequately completed.
• Plan and facilitate training for volunteers.
• Redirect volunteers determined unsuitable for placement or to say NO to volunteers.

Agencies have the RESPONSIBILITY to:

• Empower volunteers to meet their own and agency needs.
• Offer volunteers work opportunities appropriate to their skills, experience and aspirations.
• Provide volunteers with clear duty statements and orientation to their work and the agency.
• Offer training and support for volunteers to achieve goals.
• Implement procedures to ensure volunteer safety and well being.
• Offer reimbursement or other compensation to cover out of pocket expenses.
• Recognise volunteers as valued team members, with opportunities to participate in relevant agency decisions.
• Provide mechanisms to acknowledge the value of contributions made by volunteers.