Skip to main content
Create an account for suggestions personalised to you and your organisation
Guides
1 minute read

Volunteer health and safety: a handbook for community service organisations

Meeting National Standards and Strategy Seal Meeting National Standards and Strategy What's this?

This handbook provides guidance on work health and safety responsibilities when involving volunteers in community service organisations. The resource explains legal duties, common risks and practical approaches to managing health and safety for volunteers.

Benefits for volunteer managers

Understand legal duties and responsibilities under health and safety law

  • manage health and safety for volunteers
  • identify and manage volunteer?related risks
  • create safe systems of work and support wellbeing for volunteers.

How to apply this resource

Use this handbook to inform policies, procedures and risk management practices related to volunteer health and safety.

Downloads and sources

More about the author

Victorian Government authority responsible for workplace health and safety regulation, guidance and enforcement.

Contribute to the Gateway

Leave feedback

Was this resource useful?

Make a Suggestion

If you find a great resource that isn't in the directory or want to provide feedback on the Volunteering Gateway, drop us a line!

More like this

Guides

Equipment requirements for volunteer roles

Guide and template to help organisations identify and plan equipment needed to safely involve volunteers in their roles.
1 minute read
Volunteering WA
General
Research and Reports

Volunteering & gender key statistics

Factsheet providing key statistics on volunteering in Australia by gender.
1 minute read
Volunteering Australia
General
Better Impact
Tech

Better Impact

Better Impact offers a comprehensive software solution for volunteer program management, to simplify administrative tasks and enhance volunteer engagement across every stage of the volunteer lifecycle.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Social media Donations
SEEK Volunteer
Tech

SEEK Volunteer

SEEK Volunteer helps connect people to volunteering opportunities that enrich their communities, lives and careers.
Recruitment
GoodCompany
Tech

GoodCompany

GoodCompany is a Workplace Giving Platform based in Australia and NZ. It's designed to enable companies and their people to come together to donate, volunteer, fundraise, and match donations for the charities closest to their hearts.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management Donations
scheduled

October Volunteer Leadership Network meeting 2026

Volunteering is strongest when it is understood, valued and supported across an organisation, not just by volunteer leaders. Hear how one organisation built awareness, gained support and created shared ownership of volunteering. Explore practical ideas.
Volunteering Queensland
Free
scheduled

Ready to Volunteer

Thinking about volunteering but not sure where to begin? Whether you’re looking to give back, meet new people, gain experience, or simply try something new, this workshop will help you find your place in the volunteering community.
Free
scheduled

Not-for-profit Risk: Current Legal Issues for the Board Agenda - Sep 2026

Stay up to date on key legal risks affecting not-for-profits. This webinar covers psychosocial hazards, privacy, cyber security and AI, with practical guidance on risk management, director liability and governance.
Justice Connect's Not-for-profit Law Training
A$49.00