Volunteer Policy

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand the information in this policy please contact the assistant principal at Frankston Special Developmental School.

Purpose

To outline the processes that Frankston Special Developmental School (SDS) will follow to recruit, screen, supervise and manage volunteers to provide a child safe environment, and to explain the legal rights of volunteers.

This policy applies to:

• The recruitment, screening, supervision and management of all people who volunteer at our school.

DEFINITIONS

Child-connected work: work authorised by the school governing authority/provider of a school boarding services and performed by an adult in a school or school boarding premises environment while children are present or reasonably expected to be present.

Child-related work: As defined by the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic), child-related work is work that usually involves direct contact (including in person, over the phone, written and online communication) with a child that is a central part of that person’s duties. It does not include work that involves occasional direct contact with children that is incidental to the work.

Closely related family member: parent, carer, parent/carer’s spouse or domestic partner, stepparent, parent/carer’s mother or father in-law, grandparent, uncle or aunt, brother or sister, including step or half siblings.

Volunteer worker: A volunteer school worker is a person who voluntarily engages in school work or approved community work without payment or reward.

School work: School work means:

• Carrying out the functions of a school council
• Any activity carried out for the welfare of a school, by the school council, any parents’ club or association or any other body organised to promote the welfare of the school
• Any activity carried out for the welfare of the school at the request of the principal or school council
• Providing assistance in the work of any school or kindergarten
• Attending meetings in relation to government schools convened by any organisation which receives government financial support

This is a broad definition and means that volunteers who participate in school community activities, such as fundraising and assisting with excursions, are legally protected (ie indemnified) from action by others in the event of an injury or accident whilst they are performing volunteer school work in good faith.

Policy

Frankston SDS is committed to implementing and following practices which protect the safety and wellbeing of children and our staff and volunteers. Our school recognises that voluntary workers and undergraduate students completing placements at Frankston SDS make a significant contribution to our school community by applying their skills to enrich the learning programs for our students. It also helps attract future employees into special education by allowing students and volunteers a first-hand experience of the joys of working with students with special needs.

The procedures set out below are designed to ensure that Frankston SDS’ volunteers are suitable to work with children and are well-placed to make a positive contribution to our school community.

• Volunteers / students will be provided with induction training including: Child Safety Policy and Procedures; Code of Conduct; manual handling and OH&S procedures; duty of care to students and confidentiality requirements.
• Volunteers / students must present a current “Working with Children” (WWCC) card to the assistant principal before commencing work.
• Volunteers / students will be matched with work that is suitable to their skills, interests, time commitments and health status.
• Volunteers and students completing placement must sign onto the school’s IPAD at the front desk each day before and after work.
• Volunteers / students will be supervised by a FSDS staff member at all times.
• Volunteers / students are expected to treat others professionally, respectfully and courteously and should expect the same treatment returned to them.
• Every opportunity will be taken to publicly recognise volunteers/ students for the contributions they make to the FSDS community.
• Scope of work will include: working with students in the classroom, carrying out duties, preparing resources and providing assistance during community access programs and camps.

BECOMING A VOLUNTEER

Members of our school community who would like to volunteer are encouraged to contact the assistant principal to express their interest in becoming a volunteer at Frankston SDS.

COVID-19 VACCINATION INFORMATION

Our school follows Department of Education and Training policy with respect to the requirements relating to attendance on school sites and COVID-19 vaccinations.

For further information, refer to:

• COVID-19 Vaccinations – Visitors and Volunteers on School Sites

SUITABILITY CHECKS INCLUDING WORKING WITH CHILDREN CLEARANCES

Frankston SDS values the many volunteers that assist in our classrooms, sports events, camps, excursions and other programs. To ensure that we are meeting our legal obligations under the Worker Screening Act and the Child Safe Standards, Frankston SDS is required to undertake suitability checks which in most cases will involve asking for evidence of a Working with Children (WWC) Clearance and may also involve undertaking reference, proof of identity, qualification and work history involving children checks.

Considering our legal obligations, and our commitment to ensuring that Frankston SDS is a child safe environment, we will require volunteers to obtain a WWC Clearance and produce their valid card to reception for verification in the following circumstances:

• Volunteers who are not parent/family members of any student at the school if they are engaged in child-related work regardless of whether they are being supervised.
• Parent/family volunteers who are assisting with any classroom or school activities involving direct contact with children in circumstances where the volunteer’s child is not participating, or does not ordinarily participate in, the activity.
• Parent/family volunteers who assist with excursions (including swimming), camps and similar events, regardless of whether their own child is participating or not.

• Parent/family volunteers who regularly assist in school activities, regardless of whether their own child is participating or not

• Parent/community School Council members sitting on School Council with student School Council members, regardless of whether their own child is a student member or not

In addition, depending on the nature of the volunteer work, our school may ask the volunteer to provide other suitability checks at its discretion (for example, references, work history involving children and/or qualifications). Proof of identity may also be required in some circumstances.

Non child-related work

On some occasions, parents and other members of the school community may volunteer to do work that is not child-related. For example, after hours/weekend maintenance, working bees, school council, participating in sub-committees of school council, special events coordination, other fundraising groups that meet in the evenings during which children will not be, or would not reasonably be expected to be, present.

Volunteers for this type of work are not required to have WWC Clearances or other suitability checks as they are not engaged in child-related work and children are not generally present during these activities. However, Frankston SDS reserves the right to undertake suitability checks, including requiring proof of identity and WWC Clearance, at its discretion if considered necessary for any particular activities or circumstances.

Training and induction

Under the Child Safe Standards volunteers must have an appropriate induction and training in child safety and wellbeing.

To support us to maintain a child safe environment, before engaging in any work where children are present or reasonably likely to be present, volunteers must familiarise themselves with the policies, procedures and code of conduct referred to in our Child Safety Induction Pack and ensure the actions and requirements in these documents are followed when volunteering for our school.

Depending on the nature and responsibilities of their role, Frankston SDS may also require volunteers to complete additional child safety training.

Management and supervision

Volunteer workers will be expected to comply with any reasonable direction of the principal (or their nominee). This will include the requirement to follow our school’s policies, including, but not limited to our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, our Child Safety Code of Conduct, our Statement of Values and School Philosophy and our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy.

Volunteer workers will also be expected to act consistently with Department of Education and Training policies, to the extent that they apply to volunteer workers, including the Department’s policies relating to Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Workplace Bullying. 

The principal (or their nominee) will determine the level of school staff supervision required for volunteers, depending on the type of work being performed, and with a focus on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students.

The principal has the discretion to make a decision about the ongoing suitability of a volunteer worker and may determine at any time whether or not a person is suitable to volunteer at Frankston SDS.

Privacy and information-sharing

Volunteers must ensure that any student information they become aware of because of their volunteer work is managed sensitively and in accordance with the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Department’s policy on Privacy and Information Sharing.

Under these policies, student information can and should be shared with relevant school staff to:

• support the student’s education, wellbeing and health;
• reduce the risk of reasonably foreseeable harm to the student, other students, staff or visitors;
• make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the student’s disability; or
• provide a safe and secure workplace.

Volunteers must immediately report any child safety concerns that they become aware of to a member of staff to ensure appropriate action. There are some circumstances where volunteers may also be obliged to disclose information to authorities outside of the school such as to Victoria Police. For further information on child safety responding and reporting obligations refer to: Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures.

Records management

While it is unlikely volunteers will be responsible for any school records during their volunteer work, any school records that volunteers are responsible for must be provided to Kris Baker to ensure they are managed in accordance with the Department’s policy: Records Management – Schools.

Compensation

Personal injury

Volunteer workers are covered by the Department of Education and Training’s Workers’ Compensation Policy if they suffer personal injury in the course of engaging in school work.

Property damage

If a volunteer worker suffers damage to their property in the course of carrying out school work, the Minister (or delegate) may authorise such compensation as they consider reasonable in the circumstances. Claims of this nature should be directed to the principal who will direct them to the Department’s Legal Division.

Public liability insurance

The Department of Education and Training’s public liability insurance policy applies when a volunteer worker engaged in school work is legally liable for:

• a claim for bodily injury to a third party

• damage to or the destruction of a third party’s property.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Available publicly on our school’s website
• Included in induction processes for relevant staff
• Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Related policies and resources

The following policies and resources can be found on the FSDS website:

• Statement of Values and School Philosophy
• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
• Child Safety Code of Conduct
• Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures
• Duty of Care
• Visitors Policy

Department policies:

• Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination
• Child Safe Standards
• Privacy and Information Sharing
• Records Management – School Records
• Sexual Harassment
• Volunteers in Schools
• Volunteer OHS Management
• Working with Children and Other Suitability Checks for School Volunteers and Visitors
• Workplace Bullying

policy review and approval