Volunteers

What do you need to know to be a volunteer?

When you decide to be a volunteer you bring with you your energy, generosity, local knowledge and wealth of experience. You also become part of the Great Lakes Tourism Team. Volunteers are not meant to replace paid staff but rather compliment existing staff and aid in the service of visitors.

As a member of the Great Lakes Tourism Team you are entitled to a job description, supervision, training and insurance cover while volunteering with us.

There are a number of policies and procedures you need to know in order to work effectively as a volunteer and as part of the Great Lakes Tourism Team. The following handbook outlines all you need to know to be a volunteer for Great Lakes Tourism. It contains the following sections..

-          Our Code of Behaviour

-          Privacy and Confidentiality

-          Volunteer Rights and Responsibilities

Principles of Volunteering

Great Lakes Tourism recognises and values the contribution made by volunteers too not only the provision of visitor services but also to the wider community. Volunteers are valued because:

-          Volunteering enables people to contribute to their community and to build caring networks

-          Volunteering provides an opportunity to utilise existing life skills, the development of new skills and an opportunity for work experience in the local community

-          Volunteering enhances the range of services available due to the diversity of volunteers skills

Volunteering allows for wider community participation in the provision of visitor services.

Insurance

When you work as a volunteer for Great Lakes Tourism you are covered by insurance under Great Lakes Council.

Part of the application to be a volunteer includes completing the Great Lakes Tourism Volunteer Agreement Form. On this form you are declaring that you are offering Great Lakes Tourism your time and support without remuneration.

Our Code of Behaviour

Volunteers are bound by the same code of behaviour as paid staff.

-          Treat visitors with courtesy, respect and consideration

-          Treat staff with courtesy, respect and consideration

-          Abide by the philosophy and procedures of Great Lakes Tourism and Great Lakes Council

-          Represent Great Lakes Tourism in a positive way

-          Consider requests, issues and queries consistently, promptly and fairly

-          Remain drug and alcohol free while performing the duties of a volunteer

-          Refrain from smoking while performing the duties of a volunteer

Key Principles

The following principles are adapted from the Model code of conduct for Local Councils and apply equally to your role within Great Lakes Tourism

·         Integrity - You must not place yourself under financial or other obligation to any individual or organisation that might reasonably be thought to influence you in the performance of your duties.

·         Leadership - You have a duty to promote and support the key principles by leadership and example and to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of Great Lakes Council and Great Lakes Tourism.

·         Selflessness - You have a duty to make decisions solely in the public interest. You must not act in order to gain financial or other benefits for yourself, your family, friends or business interests. This means making decisions because they benefit Great Lakes Tourism, not because they benefit the decision-maker.

·         Objectivity - You must make decisions solely on merit. This means fairness to all.

·         Accountability - You are accountable to the public for your decisions and actions and must consider issues on their merits, taking into account the views of others.

·         Openness - You have a duty to be as open as possible about your decisions and actions, giving reasons for decisions and restricting information only when the wider public interest clearly demands. This means communicating clearly and ensuring that all matters of concern are brought to senior staff’s attention.

·         Honesty - You have a duty to act honestly. You must declare any private interests relating to your public interests and take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in such a way that protects the public interest. This means following the law; following the letter and spirit of policies and procedures; observing the code of behaviour and fully disclosing actual or potential conflict of interests.

·         Respect - You must treat others, staff and customers, with respect at all times. This means not using derogatory terms towards others, observing the rights of other people, treating people with courtesy and recognising the different roles others play in community decision making.

Volunteer Rights & Responsibilities

Great Lakes Tourism has the right to:

-          receive as much effort and level of service from a volunteer as a paid worker, even on a short-term basis

-          select the best volunteer for the job by interviewing and screening all applicants

-          expect volunteers to adhere to their job description/outlines and Great Lakes Tourism’s/Great Lakes Council’s policies and procedures

-          expect volunteers to undertake training provided for them and observe safety rules

-          make decisions regarding the best placement of a volunteer

-          express opinions about poor volunteer effort in a diplomatic way

-          release volunteers under certain circumstances

Volunteers have the right to:

-          a task or job worthwhile to them, for no more than 16 hours a week on a regular basis

-          appropriate orientation and training for the job

-          be kept informed of organisation changes and the reasons

-          a safe place to work and suitable equipment

-          a verbal reference or statement of service if appropriate

-          refuse any volunteer duties that they feel are unsafe for them

-          a verbal reference or statement of service if appropriate

-          have their personal information kept in a confidential manner

Responsibilities of Great Lakes Tourism

-          to ensure that volunteers are covered by appropriate insurance

-          to provide each volunteer upon request a statement of reimbursement paid to them for out of pocket expenses at the conclusion of each financial year

-          to choose suitable assignments, tasks or jobs that are worthwhile to them

-          to explain the purpose and ‘ground rules’ of the organisation

-          to give appropriate orientation and training for their work

-          to treat each volunteer as a co-worker in relation to anti-discrimination, EEO, OH&S legislation and organisational grievance processes

-          to receive sound managerial support and leadership

-          to be heard and encouraged to make suggestions

Responsibilities of the Volunteer

-          to carry out conscientious work performance with punctuality and reliability

-          to adhere to their job descriptions

-          to treat visitors with courtesy, respect and consideration

-          to treat staff with courtesy, respect and consideration

Calling Volunteers

Great Lakes Tourism is always looking for volunteers to aid in the promotion of the region.

Who – anybody who has at least four hours a week to spare, is good with people, likes to enjoy work and wants to contribute to the local community.

Where – Work will primarily be based at the Forster Visitor Information Centre, however there may be opportunities for working at one of the other Great Lakes Visitor Centres or at events promoting the region.

What – Volunteers normally serve customers and assist with the layout of the Visitor Information Centre.

How – contact Great Lakes Tourism on 1800 802 692