In order to enhance the volunteers' experience and comply with legislation and duty of care, organisations that take on volunteers will:

• interview and employ volunteer staff in accordance with anti discrimination and equal opportunity legislation;
• provide volunteer staff with orientation and training;
• provide volunteer staff with a healthy and safe workplace;
• provide appropriate and adequate insurance coverage for volunteer staff;
• not place volunteer staff in roles that were previously held by paid staff or have been identified as paid jobs;
• differentiate between paid and unpaid roles;
• define volunteer roles and develop clear job descriptions;
• provide appropriate levels of support and management for volunteer staff;
• provide volunteers with a copy of policies pertaining to volunteer staff;
• ensure volunteers are not required to take up additional work during industrial dispute or paid staff shortage;
• provide all staff with information on grievance and disciplinary policies and procedures;
• acknowledge the rights of volunteer staff;
• ensure that the work of volunteer staff complements but does not undermine the work of paid staff;
• offer volunteer staff the opportunity for professional development;
• reimburse volunteer staff for out of pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the organisation;
• treat volunteer staff as valuable team members, and advise them of the opportunities to participate in agency decisions; and
• acknowledge the contributions of volunteer staff.

This code has been put together by Volunteering Australia.