Relevant training for co-ordinators and supervisors who work with volunteers can be:

• Necessary
• Motivational
• To enhance professional qualifications and skills
• To satisfy health and safety requirements
• To satisfy insurance requirements

Paid staff members will normally be trained in natural resource management, bush regeneration, sciences, wildlife rehabilitation etc so they can manage on-ground projects and train volunteers in those technical skills.

Paid staff members also need training to develop their people skills. Accredited competency-based training opportunities are available in this area. Distance education courses customised to meet the needs of managers and co-ordinators of volunteers are also available through Registered Training Organisations.

Useful areas of training for paid staff include:

• Managing and supporting volunteers
• Supervising volunteers
• Workplace training
• Group dynamics and team work
• Motivation and leadership
• Recognition of volunteers
• Rights and responsibilities of volunteers
• Facilitation, negotiation and conflict management
• Dealing with grievances
• Handling performance discussions
• Public relations
• Workplace health and safety
• Risk management
• First aid
• Project management
• Change management
• Planning and developing a volunteer program
• Legal issues for organisations involving volunteers
• Recruitment and selection of volunteers
• Orientation of volunteers

If there is a good short course being offered and only one paid staff member can attend, run an in-house training session and summarise the notes for the other paid staff involved with supervising, managing and training volunteers.