Please read the Volunteer Agreement below and sign the declaration below.
Volunteer Agreement
This document is not intended to be a legally binding contract between us and it may be cancelled at any time by either us or you.
1. You are a volunteer
As a member of TVWC, you perform all duties on a voluntary basis and you will not receive remuneration or payment for your work, other than reasonable reimbursement of expenses (see below at paragraph 9).
2. What you can expect when volunteering at TVWC
TVWC values its volunteers and we will endeavour to provide you with:
• a written position description so you understand your role and the tasks you are authorised to perform
• a full induction, orientation and any training necessary for the volunteer role • respect for your privacy, including keeping your private information confidential • a Mentor so that you can ask questions and get feedback (see para. 4 below)
• reimbursement for your reasonable expenses so you are not out-of-pocket as a result of volunteering for us (for further information see para. 9 below), and
• insurance to cover you for the volunteer duties you are authorised to perform (see para. 10 below).
3. What TVWC asks of its volunteers
We ask that you commit to:
• Support TVWC’s aims and objectives
• participate in all relevant induction and training programs
• only undertake duties you are authorised to perform and always operate under the direction and supervision of our Co-ordinator’s and obey reasonable directions and instructions
• understand and comply with the organisation’s policies and procedures and the NPWS licensing regulations and codes of practice forwildlife
• notify your Co-ordinator of any health and safety issues or potentially hazardous situations that may pose a risk to you or others and report any accidents or incidents relating to members or rescues, phone volunteering or animal caring
• behave appropriately and courteously to all members and the public in the course of your role
• use any property or equipment given to you in your role safely and only for purpose of the role and return it to the organisation when you finish your volunteer role
• let us know if you wish to change the nature of your volunteering at TVWC at any time • comply with the law at all times, and
• be open and honest in your dealings with us and let us know if we can improve our volunteer program and the support that you receive.
4. Contact person
Your contact person at TVWC will be the Membership Officer. If you have any questions or concerns about your role, your health and safety, or if there is any assistance you need to help you undertake your role, please contact the Membership Officer as soon as possible. You will receive a handout of our office holders’ contact details at Orientation and you be able to see them in the members area on our website. You will receive your login and password when your application is processed at our next committee meeting.
5. Role description and details
It is important that you only perform the tasks in this role description and that you follow instructions. It is also important that you are not affected by drugs or alcohol when you are volunteering.
If you are unsure whether a particular task or work is appropriate, please do not hesitate to talk to your contact person.
6. The health and safety of you and others
Volunteer safety is a priority at TVWC. It also means that as a volunteer, you may have OHS duties too. These include:
• to take reasonable care for your own health and safety
• to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others
• to comply with any reasonable instruction by TVWC
• to let TVWC know of any concerns you may have about safety and/or fitness in undertaking our role, and
• to cooperate with any reasonable policies and procedures of TVWC
We will provide you with a full induction, including information about safety equipment and role training. However, please do not hesitate to talk to your contact officer at any time if you have any health and safety concerns.
7. Training required before you start in the volunteer role
TVWC is committed to providing suitable training. For this reason, it is our policy that all volunteers undertake induction and/or training at TVWC prior to commencing their volunteer position.
We will be holding the next volunteer rescue training session in two weeks. Please contact our training officer to confirm if you can attend this session or for details of alternative sessions.
8. Volunteer expenses and other benefits
As a volunteer, TVWC will provide you with limited reimbursement for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that you incur when performing authorised tasks associated with your role.
We do this to ensure that you are not financially disadvantaged as a result of your volunteer position with us. These payments are not remuneration or wages. You might need prior approval and will need to produce receipts.
9. Insurance
We are committed to providing adequate insurance cover for volunteers whilst carrying out their volunteering roles that have been approved and authorised by us.
TVWC has insurance cover under the umbrella of the NWC. It covers all volunteers between the ages of 18 and 90.
We want to let you know that the following events are unlikely to be covered by our insurance:
• actions that are beyond the scope of your volunteer role, or that occur without appropriate
authority or permission from us
• criminal activity (including criminal charges arising out of driving incidents)
• reckless activities
10. Intellectual Property
All volunteers at TVWC agree to transfer all intellectual property rights and interests (including copyright) in any ideas or materials they create relating to their provision of voluntary services.
Volunteers are taken to consent to TVWC’s use of such creations in a manner reasonably contemplated by the voluntary services provided under this document. As a volunteer you also agree not to bring any claim for infringement of your moral rights in respect of that use.
Please sign to acknowledge that you have read this Volunteer Agreement and have had an opportunity to ask questions.