Volunteers' Rights and Responsibilities

As a volunteer, you have the right:

To receive accurate information about the organisation and its policy and/or philosophy on volunteers.
To receive a clearly written, comprehensive job description.
To have a reasonable understanding of lines of accountability.
To be seen as belonging - through inclusion at meetings, social functions, etc.
To be seen as an individual, deserving of individual support while performing your role.
To receive proper training, initially and on an on-going basis.
To know who to turn to with problems and difficulties.
To have your work valued by the organisation.
To regularly receive constructive feedback. -
To be trusted with confidential information if it is necessary in order to carry out your job.
To be safe on the job.
To be covered by insurance.
To have choices.
To be able to negotiate.
To be able to say No.
To carry out your role without being exploited.
To be taken seriously.
To be informed of the organisation’s policy on reimbursement of volunteer transportation costs.
To be consulted on matters which directly or indirectly affect you and your work.

As a volunteer, you have the responsibility:

To arrive on time.
To be reliable
To notify the appropriate person in the organisation if you are not available, or running late.
To agree to the organisation’s policy on volunteers.
To respect confidentiality.
To respect the rights of the patients or residents and other workers in the organisation.
To have a non-judgmental approach.
To represent the interests of the organisation - not yourself.
To carry out the specified job description.
To give feedback, communicating relevant and important information.
To be accountable and to accept evaluation.
To be committed to the program.
To recognise personal and external limitations on commitment.
To acknowledge decisions made by staff.
To undertake training and have a good understanding of the organisation.
To address areas of conflict with the appropriate staff member, the coordinator of volunteers.
To ask for support when it is needed.