Welcome!

We’re thrilled you’d like to volunteer with VfCA. There is so much exciting and impactful work to be done. With your help, we’ll achieve a lot together.
Our volunteers play a vital role at VfCA - all our achievements wouldn’t be possible without them. Those who’ve joined us as volunteers bring a positive enthusiasm and have made great friends along the way.

This Agreement starts your journey - showing you what volunteering with us looks like, explaining what you can expect for us and what we ask of you. We’re here to support you.

At the end, please sign this to acknowledge you’ve read and understood it. If you have any questions, please get in touch at [email protected]

Vets for Climate Action Volunteer Agreement

This Agreement is not intended to be a legally binding contract between us and it may be terminated at any time by either you or us. Neither of us intends any employment relationship to be created by the entering into or signing of this agreement either now or at any time in the future. 

1. You are a volunteer

This is a volunteer position. This means that you are not an employee of, or contractor to Vets for Climate Action and, if you agree to help us, you perform all duties on a voluntary basis and you will not receive remuneration or payment for your work, other than reasonable reimbursement of expenses (see below at paragraph 6).

2. What you can expect when volunteering with VfCA

We value our volunteers and we will work hard to provide you with:

• a role that best suits your skills, interests and available time;
• a written position description so you understand your role and the tasks you are authorised to perform;
• a full induction, orientation and any training necessary for the volunteer role;
• a safe, healthy and harassment-free environment in which to perform your role;
• respect for your privacy, including keeping your private information confidential;
• a supervisor, so that you have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback (see para. 4 below);
• reimbursement for your reasonable expenses so you are not out-of-pocket as a result of volunteering for us (for further information see para. 9 below); and
• insurance to cover you for the volunteer duties you are authorised to perform (see para. 10 below)
• Our deepest thanks. Volunteers are the engine that drives us and we’ll always show our appreciation.

3. What VfCA asks of you 

We ask that you:

• support VfCA’s aims and objectives (please see our Strategic Plan);
• participate in all relevant induction and training programs;
• only undertake duties you are authorised to perform and always operate under the direction and supervision of nominated staff and obey reasonable directions and instructions;
• understand and comply with VfCA’s policies and procedures
  
• remain bi-partisan in your capacity as a VfCA volunteer. You can advocate for policy change however it is important to avoid direct or indirect support of any political party or politician;
• notify your supervisor or another member of staff of any health and safety issues or potentially hazardous situations that may pose a risk to you or others and report any accidents or incidents relating to staff, volunteers, or the workplace;
• use any property or equipment given to you in your role safely and only for purpose of the role and return it to us when you finish your volunteer role;
• seek and obtain Board or staff approval before speaking on behalf of VfCA (eg. to the media); and
• let us know if you wish to change the nature of your contribution (e.g. hours, role) or if there is anything, or anything arises, that makes you unsuitable or unable to legally carry out your volunteer role (e.g. your role requires you to drive and you lose your licence).

4. The health and safety of you and others

At VfCA, volunteer safety, and the safety of everyone who is involved with VfCA, is a priority.

VfCA is registered in Queensland where the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (QLD) (WHS Act) applies. 

Under the WHS Act and other laws, VfCA has a duty of care to minimise risks to everyone affected by its conduct (including paid employees and volunteers). It also means that as a volunteer, you may have WHS duties too. We ask that you:

• take reasonable care for your own health and safety;
• take reasonable care for the health and safety of others;
• comply with any reasonable instruction by VfCA;
• let VfCA know of any concerns you may have about safety and/or fitness in undertaking our role; and
• cooperate with any reasonable policies and procedures of VfCA.

We will provide you with a full induction, safety equipment and role training when you commence as a volunteer with us. However, please do not hesitate to talk to our Community Engagement Manager at any time if you have any health and safety concerns.

5. Volunteer expenses and other benefits

To ensure you are not financially disadvantaged as a volunteer with us, we will reimburse you for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that you incur when performing authorised tasks associated with your role, in accordance with our Reimbursement Policy and Procedure. 

These payments are not remuneration or wages. You might need prior approval and will always need to produce receipts.

Should you receive any other benefits as part of your volunteering role (eg: training, free food, accommodation, event entry, clothing or equipment), it is on a gratuitous basis at the discretion of VfCA and is not payment in lieu of salary.

6. Insurance

We are committed to providing adequate insurance cover for volunteers whilst carrying out their volunteering roles that have been approved and authorised by us.

VfCA has the following insurance policies: 

• Voluntary Workers Group Personal Accident Insurance
• Not-for-Profit General and Products Liability Insurance Policy
• Protector/Association Liability Insurance Policy

We note that VfCA and our volunteers are not covered by insurance for any claims arising from any rally, demonstration, protest or similar assembly. 

7. Confidential information 

As a volunteer, you may be given access to VfCA’s confidential information to assist you with your role. 

Confidential information includes any information  (in any form, whether written, electronic or otherwise) belonging to VfCA that might reasonably be expected by either party to be confidential in nature. 

This includes but is not limited to employee information, member/supporter lists, donor lists, donor information, business and activities plans, strategies, financial information, intellectual property, financial information, and business and activities information, including future plans, that are not publicly available. 

You agree to only use or disclose any confidential information other than in the proper discharge of your tasks as a volunteer. And, after the period of volunteering, you agree not to disclose any Confidential Information, permit it to be disclosed, use it for yourself or use it to the detriment of VfCA. 

You agree that, despite anything else in this Volunteer Agreement, the terms of this paragraph 7 are binding on you and continue after this Agreement ends.

8. Intellectual Property

In the course of volunteering with us, you may create intellectual property in the form of ideas or materials. You agree to transfer all intellectual property rights and interests (including copyright) in any ideas or materials you create relating to your provision of voluntary services at VfCA to VfCA.

If you have any moral rights (i.e. the right of attribution of authorship, the right not to have authorship falsely attributed and the right of integrity of authorship, as defined in the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth)) in any intellectual property owned by VfCA, you:

• irrevocably consent to any act or omission by VfCA which infringes those moral rights;
• agree that your consent extends to acts and omissions by VfCA’s licensees and successors in title; and
• agree that your consent is a genuine consent given under Part 9 of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) and has not been induced by duress or any false or misleading statement.

You agree that, despite anything else in this Volunteer Agreement, the terms of this paragraph 8 are binding on you and continue after this Agreement ends.

9. Conflict of Interest

You agree to notify VfCA, our board or staff of any conflicts of interest as soon as they arise. Additionally, you agree not to take part in any VfCA activity or team if directed by the Board or our staff. 

A conflict of interest occurs when your personal interests conflict with their responsibility to act in the best interests of VfCA. Personal interests include direct interests, as well as those of your family, friends, or other organisations you may be involved with or have an interest in (for example, as a member of a political party, or where you work for a direct competitor of a business supporter). 

A conflict of interest may be actual, potential or perceived and may be financial or non-financial. Conflicts of interest are common, and this will not stop you volunteering with us, as long as they are openly and effectively managed.

10. Consent to use photographs and images

You agree that we may take photographs and video footage of you carrying out your volunteer work and use it for the purposes of marketing and promotion of VfCA and its goods or services. This may include printed and digital marketing, including the use of your image on social media platforms. 

You may rescind this consent at any time by emailing [email protected].