Recruitment

Application, interview and selection

Volunteers may offer to volunteer with the council in a number of ways - some may apply for a particular venue/interest area and others may express a general desire to volunteer without being sure of which program area may suit. A Volunteer may also respond to an advertised position available in the council. Others may apply for volunteering opportunities to gain experience to assist their future employment options. Each volunteer will have different expectations of their role and it is important this is understood so the role meets the needs of both the volunteer and the council. Volunteering opportunities will be advertised in ways that are accessible to all sections of the community, including the council website (wodonga.vic.gov.au). The website currently provides links to the volunteer handbook and the online application form. The application form will collect contact information, relevant personal details and may request additional information for the position, for example, driver’s licence, health condition, etc. It also includes a volunteer agreement statement. All volunteer application forms and personal details will be held centrally by the volunteer co-ordinator and your immediate supervisor and stored in a safe and secure way. Your details will otherwise be kept strictly confidential. Volunteers will be selected in a non-discriminatory manner, taking into account the persons’ ability and suitability to perform the duties of the volunteer role, as well as any site or program specific requirements. Prior to any appointment, volunteers will have an informal interview with the volunteer co-ordinator or supervisor of the program they may volunteer in, to explain the volunteer role and to assess whether the role is suitable for the applicant.

Background check/screening

The council is required to carry out a number of background checks when it receives the application form. This includes a Working With Children check and police check. It should be noted that this process can take up to three weeks, being beyond the council’s control. Further details are in this handbook on p. 10 Safety and Standards. Volunteers are also required to show vaccination status to be placed within our program. The mandatory vaccination rules apply to persons employed or engaged for Wodonga Council. The rules apply whether the person performing work is paid or unpaid.

Placement

In determining a suitable placement for volunteers, the council will look at the skills, experience and interests of the volunteer as well as the requirements of the council and of the role (s). From time to time volunteer programs are at capacity and are unable to accept new applicants. Applicants will be advised at the time of receipt of their expression of interest if a program is at capacity.