Research conducted by CPA Australia during 2005 found that 40 per cent of members are currently involved in some form of volunteer work with a not-for-profit organisation.
The following guide provides useful information for members interested in working in the volunteer arena. It also serves as an ongoing guide for those who are already volunteering.
What is volunteering and is it relevant for me?
Volunteering is performing or offering a service for an organisation out of your own free will, often without payment.
Before you decide to volunteer, it is important that you are aware of your obligations. Most experienced volunteers will tell you that the personal benefits and rewards outweigh the sacrifices, but there may be some frustrations along the way. Many not-for-profit organisations speak a different language and have different criteria for success to the commercial world. Getting to understand the community sector will be part of your learning process and part of your reward. You cannot assume that they will be familiar with what your expertise is.
These pointers are worth considering to ensure you understand the work and committment involved.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
- making a difference
- meeting new people
- gaining knowledge
- gaining new skills from fellow volunteers
- expanding a network of associates
- experiencing new challenges
- gaining confidence as your skills get used in a different environment
- good health (research show those involved in altruism of some sort have better health)
What is expected of volunteers?
- a positive attitude
- willingness to assume assigned tasks
- respect for confidentiality
- sensitivity to special conditions and attitudes of the organisation
- respect for policies and procedures
- resourcefulness
- punctuality
- time management
- team work
- taking initiative
- advance notice of absence
What frustrations could I experience with volunteering?
- turnover of volunteers (organising replacements may be time consuming)
- your personality may clash with fellow workers
- you may not receive a lot of recognition
- you may lose motivation (often the process takes longer than expected)
- you may be required to work in unclear circumstances
- you may not be provided with a job description
What questions should you ask yourself before volunteering?
- Do you have time in your life for another commitment?
- Is your schedule flexible enough to accommodate this commitment?
- Is it a weekly or monthly commitment and how many hours will be required?
- Are you willing to take the necessary training?
- Are you comfortable working with different people?
- Are you interested in the subject you are volunteering for?
- How much travel will be required between your work place, volunteer position and home?
If you are interesting in joining the board of a not-for-profit organisation read Ten questions to ask before joining a board.
How do you find the right volunteer position?
Once you have decided that you are indeed ready and prepared to take on a volunteering role, your next step is to find the right not-for-profit / charity organisation.
What are your main areas of expertise and what can you offer?
Review and think about the skills you have acquired, however also look beyond that. Think about the industries you have dealt with, life experiences, issues you are passionate about it, communities you have knowledge of etc. Recognise that the things you have learned in one arena can often be adapted to suit another.
For example, budgeting skills are always useful and required by many volunteering organisations. If your company was involved in exporting, a volunteer organisation that operates in Australia and East Timor may suit your areas of expertise.
Examples of areas you may be skilled in, include:
- management accounting
- budgeting
- tax returns
- treasurer
- committee member
Questions to ask and answer before signing on
- Ask who is on the Board, who you will be working closely with and if you can meet them.
Decide if you are likely to function well as part of the team.
- Ask how much time will be required for your service.
Decide if you are willing to commit the time required.
- Ask what the organisations mission is and direction.
Decide whether this fits into your plans whether you can support the mission.
- Ask if you can have a copy of the Boards last few annual reports, including financial statements.
Decide whether or not you are satisfied that the Board and its finances are in good shape.
Mandatory legal considerations
Are there any legal implications you should consider?
Ensure you have read the CPA Australia / PricewaterhouseCoopers corporate governance toolkit. This toolkit focuses on the practical application of governance principles for small and medium enterprises and provides straightforward guidance.
Here are some example governance-related questions you should ask yourself:
- Do you have competent technical skills?
- Are you independent enough to take on an engagement?
- Have you complied with the joint code of professional conduct? e.g. changes in professional appointments
Overview of legal issues
Members should be aware that the provision of professional advice attracts liabilities even when given on a pro bono basis. It is essential that members consider the following before taking on any position:
- Where an individual purports to hold certain qualifications and experience in respect to professional services and a third party relies upon those representations, then should a negligent act of the provider result in a loss occurring, the individual suffering the loss may recover against the professional even though no fee or remuneration of any kind was received.
- It is important that members contemplating the provision of pro bono advice carefully consider the nature of the services that it is proposed they give and determine whether they have the correct expertise to undertake the work envisaged. They should look at the potential for loss occurring to the body they service and any third party who may incur so called consequential loss as a result of a negligent act.
- Members should hold adequate professional indemnity insurance to help ensure that they are suitably covered for potential losses. Likewise if the body is incorporated, they may have a directors and officers liability even if they are not appointed as directors or officers. The liability can arise from the provision of advice and their involvement / interaction with the actual Board. If a Board is used to accepting the advice or allowing the member to take such a part in the decision making of the body then they can be deemed directors or officers of the body with liabilities equal to those of actual appointed persons. Always ensure that such bodies have a directors and officers policy and adequate professional indemnity insurance to cover your contribution to the body.
- Members should be aware of the legislation, if any, which may govern the provision of services by them and which may require them to hold minimum registrations such as Registered Company Auditor or Tax Agent. Certain pieces of state legislation sometimes also set such qualifications and experience in respect to the provision of professional services, so a careful consideration of such legislation is required prior to the service being given. A regulator will not excuse a breach of an Act simply because a member acted in a pro bono capacity.
- Members should be aware of the potential liabilities associated with accepting appointments as honorary directors or officers of organisations.
These positions can attract a range of liabilities arising from the decision-making processes of a board or committee of management or the like.
You should ascertain if the body has current directors and officers insurance in place to cover the contingency of claims arising from the appointment.
A number of potential claims can be differentiated from a claim, which can be commenced under professional indemnity insurance, and if there is no insurance in place, then you may become personally liable for the losses, if any, alleged to arise from the decision in which you participated.
- Members may be requested to undertake a security clearance or police check due to the nature of the position held - e.g. director at an aged care facility.
Why and when to exit
People finish working in volunteering roles for numerous reasons, you may feel you have outgrown your role when:
- Your goals have been achieved
- You feel you have contributed enough
- You have stopped growing
- You feel the need for new or different challenges
- There may be problems that are intractable
- Your term or the role has changed
Where can I get more information?
If you are interested in further information about volunteering, have a look at some of the volunteering opportunities that are available to you:
Further information on volunteer services in your local community visit your state government website.
