Volunteering - its place in community capacity building

This paper was delivered by Diane Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, Volunteering Queensland at the MAQ State Conference, 15-16 September 2001, Cairns

PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY

There is now a need within community organisations to seriously address the issues of risk management. The most ellaborate and expensive insurance policy will not protect any organisation if there are no policies and procedures and infrastructure that support and protect the work of volunteers within that organisation. Volunteers are also covered by all of the legislation which protects paid workers.

While there are no industrial awards or conventions such as in America that address the legal issues of volunteer workers, volunteers still have the ultimate say in how well they are managed and that is they can walk if they feel in any way unsafe or uncomfortable about their environment.

Insurance companies with which Volunteering Australia and Volunteering Queensland have regular contact in regard to volunteer insurance are reporting a rapid increase in the number of claims and litigation. It is a startling revelation to learn that Victoria has the highest number of recorded insurance claims from voluntary workers, outside of America.