The National Standards were an initiative of Volunteering Australia and were established with the aim of protecting volunteers, organisations that involve volunteers and customers of these organisations. The standards aim to help organisations ensure that the rights of volunteers are protected, their role is explicit and they work in safe and healthy environments.
The standards recommend the elements that should be part of a best practice system for involving and managing volunteers. Each standard contains a brief statement that defines its scope and a set of criteria against which the level of achievement of that standard can be assessed.
The benefits of implementing the National Standards include:
- Volunteer satisfaction – people who work in an environment that is harmonious, respectful and well managed are likely to express high levels of job satisfaction.
- Customer satisfaction – the national standards are designed to enhance customer satisfaction with the services delivered by volunteers.
- Volunteer recruitment and retention - an organisation that is able to provide its volunteers with satisfying work and good management is likely to be successful in recruiting volunteers and retaining them for longer periods.
Purchase the National Standards
The National Standards are supported by an implementation guide and are available to:
More information
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Information for organisations that involve volunteers
Volunteer rights and protection