National standards for best practice in the management of volunteers

Purchase the National Standards 

The National Standards for Involving Volunteers in Not for Profit Organisations (National Standards) have been developed by Volunteering Australia through a consultation process with volunteer-involving organisations and volunteers, and aim to promote a model of best practice in the management of volunteers.

The National Standards is a set of three books comprising of the National Standards, an Implementation Guide and a Workbook. 

1. National Standards

The National Standards emphasise the importance of adopting a systems approach to managing volunteers and compliance with the standards will ensure that volunteer rights are protected, their role is explicit and they work in safe and healthy environments.

Not for profit organisations can use the National Standards in a number of ways:
• As an audit tool that provides an overall appreciation of where the organisation is placed with respect to best management practice for volunteer involvement
• As a guideline or checklist to help identify opportunities for making improvements
• As a framework of reference to assist in planning and establishing a new volunteer service
• As a baseline from which progress in making improvements can be monitored and measured

An organisation that is able to demonstrate compliance with the standards is well positioned strategically to recruit and retain more volunteers, as well as attract funding or sponsorship for new initiatives.

Topics covered in the National Standards are:
1. Policies and procedures
2. Management responsibilities
3. Recruitment
4. Work and the workplace
5. Training and development
6. Service delivery
7. Documentation
8. Continuous improvement

The National Standards are supported by an Implementation Guide and Workbook.

2. Implementation Guide

The Implementation Guide presents a logical and practical approach to implementing the National Standards. It is a manual designed to help anyone who manages or coordinates volunteers to implement the National Standards in their own organisation.

After working through this manual you will:
• Understand how the National Standards can be used as an effective management tool
• Apply best practice management methodologies
• Master the special requirements of the national standards

3. Workbook and resource kit

The workbook and resource kit is designed as a systematic and 'user-friendly' method of implementing the National Standards in your organisation. It contains a comprehensive set of instructions and resources to guide you task-by-task through the implementation process.
 
The work book is divided into three parts.
• Part One - provides a list of the steps and tasks in implementing the National Standards.
• Part Two - provides an individual and team scorecard. These scorecards require judgments to be made about the appropriateness and achievement of each criterion of the National Standards.
• Part Three - provides a set of presentation slides that can be used by facilitators to educate and train those involved in implementing the National Standards.

4. How to purchase your copy

Purchase the National Standards online using Shopping Cart

Price List (GST inc):
- National Standards complete set $117.00
- National Standards $35
- Implementation Guide $35
- Workbook $60

For orders of 10 or more please complete the Bulk Order Form [PDF 20kb].