Review of Volunteering Australia’s National standards for involving volunteers in not for profit organisations

As part of a continuous improvement process, Volunteering Australia is reviewing its National Standards for Involving Volunteers in Not for Profit Organisations. This has been segmented into a multi-phase approach.

Together with the Definition and Principles of Volunteering, and the Model Code of Practice, the National Standards are foundation documents setting the benchmark for best practice and providing guidance for organisations involving volunteers.

The Standards cover the following aspects of volunteer involvement:

1. Policies and procedures
2. Management responsibilities
3. Recruitment
4. Work and the workplace
5. Training and development
6. Service delivery
7. Documentation and records
8. Continuous Improvement

Read more detailed information about the review in our Background Paper. 

Phase 1: initial consultation

Phase 1 of the review is now complete. We wish to thank the many volunteers, managers of volunteers, employees of not for profit organisations, government volunteer programs, corporate volunteer programs and researchers who took part in this Phase.

As part of the methodology of Phase 1, Volunteering Australia undertook an online survey; held face to face meetings with state volunteering centres; held forums with volunteer resource centres; sought feedback from organisations that had implemented the National Standards and welcomed submissions.

Overall the results found that:

1. Respondents called for a refinement of the National Standards rather than a major rewrite.

2. The National Standards are used in a variety of ways – from checklist, through to complete adoption. The term ‘implementation’ was found to be different, largely but not wholly due to the material and physical resource base of the organisation.

3. Accreditation of the National Standards was viewed very favourably. This will be explored fully in Phase 2. In the development of any accreditation model, consideration will be given to organisations that have previously adopted the National Standards so that they too can be accredited in accordance with ‘best practice’ principles of volunteer management.

Download the full report [PDF 140k]

Phase 2

Volunteering Australia is currently developing a timeline and costing for the second phase of this process and we will provide further updates as we progress.