Application

This unit covers the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage a volunteer workforce, maximising the retention of its members. It requires the ability to determine and evaluate volunteer staffing requirements, and coordinate the recruitment and training of volunteers.
The unit applies to individuals working in any industry who need to manage volunteer involvement in business or community activities.
It applies to senior personnel who operate independently or with limited guidance from others, including dedicated specialist staff, and operational supervisors and managers.
It is particularly relevant in the community, cultural, sporting, events and tourism sectors where volunteers feature prominently as part of the workforce, both as part of one-off events and ongoing activities.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

What You'll Learn

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
• determine volunteer staffing requirements for one organisation, project or activity
• recruit and select one or more volunteers for the above organisation, project or activity, including the following:
• preparation of position description
• targeting sources for recruitment
• provision of volunteer rewards
• prepare and implement induction and training for the above volunteers
• maximise retention of the volunteers recruited above including:
• monitoring their volunteer experience
• evaluating their involvement in organisation, project or activity, and following up as required.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
• contribution made by volunteers in the relevant industry or community sector
• motivational patterns of volunteers
• benefits, costs and risks to an organisation of using volunteers:
• community development
• community engagement
• financial implications
• impact on the paid workforce
• risks of using untrained or partially trained staff
• human resource management practices and principles for volunteers:
• defining broad work roles and position descriptions
• recruitment methods
• training requirements
• information inclusions in volunteer position descriptions:
• accountability
• commitment
• reimbursement of costs
• required knowledge
• responsibilities
• rewards
• skills and attributes
• contribution of volunteer work to broader organisational or project goals and strategies
• insurance issues that impact on using a volunteer workforce
• key elements of legislation that impact on managing volunteers:
• equal employment opportunity (EEO)
• work health and safety (WHS)
• workplace relations.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated in an operational business or activity for which volunteers are recruited, selected and managed. This can be:
• an industry workplace; or
• a simulated industry environment or activity set up for the purposes of assessment.
Assessment must ensure access to:
• organisation specifications:
• operational information about the organisation, project or activity subject to volunteer use
• current recruitment documentation
• others with whom the individual can interact. These can be:
• volunteers, colleagues and stakeholders in an industry environment who are assisted by the individual during the assessment process; or
• individuals who participate in role plays or simulated activities, set up for the purpose of assessment, in a simulated industry environment operated within a training organisation.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Reading skills to:', 'description': 'research sources of a volunteer workforce.'}
• {'skill': 'Writing skills to:', 'description': 'write volunteer recruitment information and position descriptions.'}
• {'skill': 'Oral communication skills to:', 'description': 'provide information about volunteer responsibilities and responsibility for volunteer coordination to paid personnel; discuss volunteers’ experience with the organisation.'}
• {'skill': 'Numeracy skills to:', 'description': 'estimate numbers of volunteers.'}
• {'skill': 'Problem-solving skills to:', 'description': 'research and evaluate aspects of volunteer recruitment and management; identify and resolve volunteer skill deficiencies through training, coaching or reassignment of duties.'}

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