General Advice on engaging volunteers under 18 years

Here are some general tips and advice to help reduce common barriers to NFP organisations involving young people.

In this section read about:

• Rethinking volunteering article
• Age limits
• Young People and Volunteer Insurance
• Working with Children Checks
• Volunteer Declaration
• Child-Safe Child-Friendly Resources
• Youth volunteer checklist

Rethinking volunteering

Start engaging young people now – it'll pay off for you in the future!

In this interview with Inspire Foundation, The Centre's Youth Volunteer Program Manager, Maia Giordano, gives some fantastic, practical tips on how to get young people moving and shaking in your organisation. Read the full article on "Rethinking volunteering".

Age limits

In general, there is no bottom age limit for volunteers. You may need to consider the type of role and responsibility that is appropriate for particular age groups.

Your organisation’s insurance (or other internal organisational policies) may stipulate an age limit. If so, read on.

Young People and Volunteer Insurance

Volunteer Worker’s Personal Accident Insurance does not have to be a barrier to involving young people. The following are some quick checks to ensure you are covered.

Check if insurance:

• Can be covered by the young person’s school
• Is covered as part of a Leadership program (such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards (Duke of Ed Awards Resources under Essentials)
• At your organisation has a bottom age limit

Insurance Tip

Insurers may be able to extend your insurance policy to include young people if written approval is received. To do this:

• Email them in advance for written approval;
• State the age, date(s) and tasks of the youth volunteer; and
• Make sure you receive written approval from the insurance broker.

Students who are required to complete volunteering or community service are often covered by the school’s work experience insurance. You will need to confirm this with the school.

Working with Children Checks

All Volunteers engaged in a child-related role should sign a Volunteer/Student Placement Declaration (formerly known as a Prohibited Employment Declaration).

Employers are required to do Working with Children Checks on people engaged in child-related employment.

Volunteers however are not required to have a Working with Children Check unless they are:

• mentoring disadvantaged children
• providing personal care to children with disabilities
• religious leaders
• foster carers
• an adult living at a registered carer for three months or more
• a student on placement at Community Services (formally known as Department of Community Services)

For more information go to Which Volunteers need a check?

Volunteer Declaration

The NSW Commission for Children and Young People has information on relevant employment checks and prohibited employment for employees and volunteers working with children and young people.

If a volunteer is supervising youth volunteers they are not required to have a working with children check; however a Volunteer Declaration Form should be filled in, signed by the volunteers who are in child related roles/ voluntary work and kept on record at the voluntary agency.

NB: All forms can be completed on-line

Child-Safe Child-Friendly Resources

Respect and safety of children and young people is everyone’s responsibility.

The NSW Commission for Children and Young People have developed Child-Safe Child-Friendly resources to assist organisations involving children and young people.

Find out more information about best practices that help to create a child-safe child-friendly organisation check out the Child-Safe Child-Friendly Resources.

Youth volunteer checklist

Organisations may need to:

• Review their risk management strategy to ensure that they have considered duty of care and safety of youth volunteers.
• Get parental permission for volunteers under 18 years old.
• Check is your insurer can extend your insurance policy to include youth volunteers.
• Involve the parent/guardian in the volunteer role (for younger volunteers)
• Consider what role is appropriate for young people:
  • It may be a role where young people are working in a small team and/or assisting an older volunteer with a particular task.
  • Have a buddy system – this will mean that youth volunteers are not left on their own during their volunteer role.
  • Youth volunteers can also be involved to run an awareness project at their school or assist at an event.