How CC Volunteer approaches safety, respectful behaviour, supervision and incident reporting.
This Safety and Conduct Policy explains how CC Volunteer, part of CAQA Groups and Career Calling International Pty Ltd (ABN 53 162 651 238), approaches safety and behaviour across the volunteer placements and programs described on this website. Volunteering should build skills, confidence and community connection - and it can only do that when every placement is safe, supervised and respectful for volunteers, host organisations and the people they serve.
This policy applies to volunteers matched through CC Volunteer, including students, job seekers, people new to Australia and corporate teams; to host organisations that receive volunteers through our service; and to our own team when arranging and supporting placements. It works alongside our Volunteer Placement Terms, Host Organisation Terms and Screening and Suitability Notice.
Everyone involved in a placement is expected to behave respectfully. That means treating others with courtesy regardless of age, background, culture, language, disability, gender or beliefs; keeping communication professional and free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and intimidation; respecting the privacy and dignity of clients and community members encountered during a placement; and respecting the property, policies and reasonable directions of the host organisation.
Every placement should begin with an induction covering the role, the workplace, emergency procedures and who to go to with questions. Host organisations are responsible for providing appropriate supervision throughout the placement, matched to the volunteer's experience and the nature of the role. Volunteers under 18, and volunteers in roles involving vulnerable people, require closer supervision and any additional safeguards the law or the host's own policies demand. A volunteer should never be asked to work alone in circumstances that are unsafe or outside the agreed role.
Host organisations must provide a safe environment that complies with work health and safety law, including any training, protective equipment or safe work procedures the role requires. Volunteers, in turn, are asked to follow safety instructions, use equipment as directed, stay within the boundaries of the agreed role and raise hazards as soon as they see them. No task is ever so urgent that it cannot be done safely - a volunteer may always decline a task they believe is unsafe, and doing so will never disadvantage them with CC Volunteer.
Any incident, injury, near miss or conduct concern during a placement should be reported promptly - first to the host organisation's supervisor where it is safe and practical to do so, and then to CC Volunteer at info@caqa.com.au or on 1800 266 160. In an emergency, always call 000 first. We record and review reports, follow up with the volunteer and the host, and where necessary pause referrals to a host until concerns are resolved. Reports are handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, and raising a genuine concern will never be held against the person who raises it.
A volunteer may withdraw from any placement that feels unsafe, unsuitable or inconsistent with what was agreed - immediately where safety is involved, and otherwise with reasonable notice. CC Volunteer may also withdraw a volunteer, or end referrals to a host organisation, where safety or conduct concerns arise and are not addressed. Where a placement ends for these reasons we will, where appropriate, work with the volunteer to find an alternative role, and any verified hours already contributed can still be recognised.
The same standards apply online. When using this website's forms you agree to provide honest, accurate information and not to submit content that is unlawful, misleading, offensive or intended to harm others. Personal information submitted through the site is handled under our Privacy Policy. No payments are taken through this website, so safety concerns about this site relate to information and conduct rather than transactions.
This policy describes CC Volunteer's expectations and processes; it is general information, not legal advice, and it does not replace the work health and safety, child safety or insurance obligations that apply directly to host organisations and volunteers under Australian law. Where a legal obligation sets a higher standard than this policy, the legal obligation prevails.
If you have any concern about safety or conduct - before, during or after a placement - please contact us and we will treat it seriously. Concerns can also be raised through the process described on our Complaints and Feedback page.
You can contact CC Volunteer by email at info@caqa.com.au, by phone on 1800 266 160, or through our contact page. Postal correspondence can be sent to Career Calling International Pty Ltd, 2/10 Lawn Court, Craigieburn, VIC 3064, Australia.
