What rights does a volunteer have?

Unlike paid workers, volunteer workers are not covered by award conditions or workplace agreements. But volunteers do have rights, some of which are written into legislation.

As a volunteer you have the right to:

  • accurate and truthful information about the organisation
  • look at the organisation’s volunteer policy and other policy documents affecting their work
  • interviews and selection processes that are free of bias
  • agreed working hours
  • an agreed job description
  • be properly trained to do the job
  • a healthy and safe work environment
  • be covered by adequate insurance provided by the organisation they work for
  • be reimbursed for any money your spend on behalf of the organisation in the course of your work
  • effective grievance procedures
  • not be used during an industrial dispute to perform work usually done by a paid worker
  • confidentiality, your personal information being managed using the principles of the Privacy Act 1988.