Draft Volunteer Policy

At Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s Ordinary Council Meeting held on 21 April 2022, Council resolved to place the Draft Volunteer Policy on exhibition for a period of 28 days. The Volunteer Policy was last reviewed by Council in October 2015.

Council engages the services of volunteers directly through projects and indirectly through partnerships with community organisations. Council recognises that volunteers are integral to building a strong community and make a valuable contribution to community life both socially and economically and will ensure that all volunteers receive training where necessary, are given appropriate recognition and support and protected through the provision of a safe and healthy workplace.

The objectives of the Volunteer Policy are to:

• Establish a procedure for the way Council engages with volunteers and community organisations
• Establish a high quality and consistent standard approach to recruiting, training and managing volunteers across all areas and activities of Council
• Provide the opportunity for community members to participate in Council programs or services as volunteers
• Ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of volunteers is protected in the workplace.

In review of the Volunteer Policy the following minor amendments were made:

• Refined the existing information to be more succinct and relevant
• Updated organisational information to reflect current roles and structures
• Added in selection, engagement and management of volunteer to provide greater clarity regards to the selection, engagement and management of Council’s Volunteers

The Draft Policy will be on exhibition from Friday 3 June 2022 to Friday 1 July 2022.