Banner: Training
Training for Volunteers

Regular training for volunteers can be:

  • Motivational
  • A practical acknowledgment of the value of the volunteer's work and the importance of the volunteer to the organisation
  • An organisational requirement to ensure safety and best practice
  • A necessity to satisfy health and safety and insurance requirements or statutory regulations (such as the use of certain equipment or chemicals)

There are many different ways to provide training to volunteers who work in natural areas. Organisations that run volunteer programs, such as local councils, often deliver their own training for volunteers according to their own particular requirements. This training can be in the form of classroom style structured workshops, hands-on demonstrations in the field and informal activities (such as field days, slide nights and special interest presentations).

Some organisations may not permit volunteers to undertake work until they have met a basic training requirement that may be offered in-house.

Since the development of the Conservation and Land Management (CLM) Training Package endorsed by the Australian National Training Authority there is also the opportunity for volunteers to receive accredited training outcomes. There are individual modules in the CLM package that are appropriate to volunteer training needs, for which participants would receive a Statement of Attainment, as well as the opportunity for those interested to undertake further modules to gain a Certificate level qualification. As a nationally accredited training module the qualifications are recognised nationally and transferable across States. However, courses must be delivered and assessed by a Registered Training Organisation provider (RTO).

Individual RTOs can develop their own options for delivery and assessment of modules or courses and an RTO may be able to put together a course for groups of organisations to meet their specific requirements. As the CLM Training Package is a competency-based program there are a range of options for delivery and assessment. Formal classroom training can be provided but other options include supervision and training provided by the organisation and various methods involving Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The RTO is required to complete the assessment processes.

Tips

  • Make training obligatory if the position demands training.
  • Make training desirable by keeping it interesting and relevant

Some useful areas of training for environmental volunteers include:

  • Preparation of grant applications
  • Stormwater management
  • Plant identification and propagation
  • Fauna habitat
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • First Aid
  • Chemical use
  • How the program operates
  • Basic skills and work techniques
  • Identification of plants/ weeds/ fauna

Some of these are included in modules of the Conservation and Land Management (CLM) Training Package.

Tip

If you are designing a training program or putting a tender out for delivery of a training program, be clear on whether it is to be for Accredited Training.

Checklist

What is your organisation's policy on:
  • Minimum training requirements before volunteers can start work
  • Time frame for a new volunteer to complete minimum training after joining the program

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The Volunteer Coordinators Network (Natural Areas) Manual © 2004