In Australia, you will need police or character certificates for such purposes as court requirements, residence permission, volunteering or securing employment. If you run a community organisation, screening of your paid and unpaid staff before you bring them on board will reduce the number of potential risks that you may encounter.

The screening check provides an Australia-wide summary of a person’s criminal history. The type, cost and application forms required for clearance certificates vary from state to state.

  National Police Checks

  How to apply for Police Checks

  DHS Screening (special types of screenings)

Volunteering is an activity which takes place through not-for-profit and community organisations and projects or your local community and is understaken to: be of benefit to the community and the volunteer, of the volunteers own free will and without coercion and for no financial payment.

People volunteer for different reasons such as: make a difference in their community, build self-esteem or confidence, learn and develop skills, a way to enhance skills for work, to get active.

Communities need to ensure they have some procedures and policies ready for engaging volunteers and recognising their contribution.

Code of conduct Template

Volunteer Code of Conduct

Personal Details Form

Volunteer Insurance

Volunteer Handbook

Volunteer Induction Checklist

Volunteer Handbook (example MCCSA)

Role Description – Project Support

Role Description – Event Planning Assistant

Reimbursement Policy

Police Check Procedure

Conflict Of Interest Checklist

Confidentiality Agreement

Personal Details form (Volunteer)

PD Volunteer Manager

Advertising your volunteer roles

Useful Volunteer Management Websites

Volunteering National Standards

Planning for Volunteer Involvement Checklist

Sample Templates from Volunteering SANT

Volunteer Management Toolkit

Volunteer Involvement Guide by Volunteering SANT

Provide First Aid [formerly Apply First Aid or Senior First Aid] is a comprehensive first aid course suitable for everyday emergency situations.  A First aid qualification should be renewed every three [3] years, however, the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) www.resus.org.au recommends the CPR unit is re-certified annually. Here are some links to organisations who provide First Aid Trainings in South Australia.

First Aid Training Providers:

Red Cross

First Aid Training Adelaide CBD

First Aid Pro

Tafe SA

First Aid Certification and Training

According to the Children’s Protection Act 1993, anyone working with or providing services to children will need to undertake Child Safe Environment training. If you have never done Child Safe Environments training before, you will be required to complete the full 7 hour course. From that point, the general consensus is that you are required to complete a ‘refresher’ course every three years.

Child Safe Enviroments Training Providers:

Tafe SA

Community capacity building (CCB), also referred to as capacity development, is a conceptual approach to social or personal development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from realizing their development goals while enhancing the abilities that will allow them to achieve measurable and sustainable results. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

Strengthening the skills, competencies and abilities of its people is vital for community organisations to achieve sustainable development goals. Capacity building projects such as improving recruitment process, ensuring thoughtful leadership succession, identifying communication strategy, updating to new technology, and improving how it measures its outcomes strengthens a community organisation’s mission over time. 

Here are some links to organisations who provide capacity trainings for free. You may find it helpful for your volunteers and staff.

Training Available for Communities:

Volunteering SA

Multicultural Communities Council of SA