Information on Volunteering

Transcription

1 Infrmatin n Vlunteering Intrductin Thank yu fr yur interest in jining the Natinal Vietnam Veterans Museum Vlunteer Prgram. Yur cmmitment in becming a vlunteer at the Museum is highly valued. The rle f vlunteers is imprtant in enhancing the museum activities and prviding prgrams and services that wuld nt therwise be available withut the dedicatin f ur Vlunteers. The Vlunteer Prgram at the Museum is crdinated by the Vlunteer Crdinatr and the Administratin Manager. The Museum was pened n its current site at Newhaven in March This fllwed a decade f develpment arising frm a twed display turing Australia under the auspices f the Vietnam Veterans Assciatin f Australia. It is the largest and mst cmprehensive museum f its kind in Australia, funded and built by Vietnam veterans, family members and ther vlunteers. Fllwing the recent cmpletin f a Museum Master Plan, the Museum nw has a radmap t take its develpment t Vlunteers assist the Museum t remember, interpret and relate the experience f the veterans f the Vietnam era and the enduring impact f the war n sciety. All prspective vlunteers will be interviewed prir t placement. The interview is a chance fr us t learn abut the vlunteer, their interests and t discuss vlunteer pprtunities within the Museum. Standard recruitment reference checks may be made after the interview. All applicants will be ntified f the utcme f the interview prcess. Vlunteer s rle and duties are utlined in the Vlunteer Rles dcument. All appinted vlunteers will be required t cmplete an inductin and training as sn as practicable. The inductin will be cnducted by the Vlunteer Crdinatr/Administratin Manager and the training may be cnducted by anther Vlunteer wh wrks in the same area. Additinal training may be required which may cver such tpics as, wrk health, safety and security. Hurs and days vary accrding t the vlunteer rle. Sme vlunteers may wrk 3 hurs a week r frtnight, whilst thers may wrk a 7 hur day 10am t 5pm nce a week. Days and hurs can be negtiated with their supervisr. Vlunteers are nt required t wrk mre than 16 hurs per week. Generally vlunteer wrk will be cnducted during Museum pening hurs. Our vlunteers are engaged in a variety f areas and have diverse skills including cllectin and heritage management (histrical research); crdinatin f galleries and exhibitins; ffice duties including data prcessing; library crdinatin, maintenance f buildings and displays; restratin f vehicles/aircraft and custmer service etc. Successful vlunteers will be allcated tasks in cnsultatin with the Vlunteer Crdinatr and the Administratin Manager. Allcatin f rles and tasks will be based n the vlunteer s interests, individual knwledge, skills, experience and availability. All vlunteers at the Museum are cvered fr persnal accident r injury whilst they are perfrming their duties. This des nt include travel t and frm the Museum.

2 All vlunteers will be required t read and sign the Cde f Cnduct Plicy as well as a Daily Attendance Register when wrking at the Museum. Vlunteers will nly be reimbursed fr pre-apprved ut f pcket expenses incurred n behalf f the Museum. All Vlunteers are encuraged t attend events managed by the Museum, such as event days, functins and training prgrams. NVVM accepts Vlunteer applicatins at any time and the mre detail yu can prvide in yur applicatin the mre it will help us t make the best use f yur skills and t place yu in the right area fr yu and the Museum. Next Steps: Please cmplete the Applicatin Frm and return t the Museum either by mail r Please attach: A cpy f yur current Resume (Wrd r PDF Frmat) If yu hld a current Wrking With Children Check (see belw fr requirement) Fr yur Infrmatin: A Wrking with Children Check (WWCC) is a mandatry State Gvernment and NVVM requirement in rder t undertake paid r vlunteer wrk at the Museum. Applicatin Frms fr the WWCC can be accessed at As a Vlunteer there is n charge t apply fr the WWCC Mail: Natinal Vietnam Veterans Museum Attentin: Vlunteer Crdinatr P O Bx 318 SAN REMO. VIC ffice@vietnamvetsmuseum.rg The Vlunteer Crdinatr will cntact yu as sn as pssible after the receipt f yur applicatin. Yu will be asked t attend the next Vlunteer Infrmatin Sessin and/r an Interview with the Vlunteer Crdinatr t assess yur interests and suitability fr a rle within the Museum. The Vlunteer Crdinatr will discuss yur applicatin with Management and Team Crdinatrs t determine where vacancies may ccur, and then cntact yu with a pssible start date. If yu require any further infrmatin, please call the Vlunteer Crdinatr r Cheree Dysn (Administratin Manager) n (03)

3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ S) What is a Vlunteer? A Vlunteer is smene wh gives freely f their time and skills t a nt-fr-prfit rganisatin in rder t help it further its gals. Vlunteers are unpaid fr their cntributin t the rganisatin but are highly regarded fr the assistance they give. Wh can Vlunteer? Anyne wh is 17 years f age and ver - if yu are under 17 years, yur parents' permissin is required. What d Vlunteers d at the NVVM? Vlunteers perfrm a variety f rles, with a range f interesting duties, prviding invaluable supprt t the paid staff and a high standard f custmer service t visitrs. What qualificatins and experience is required? The Vlunteers Prgram attracts peple with a range f backgrunds and skills, a shared cmmitment t the histry f the Vietnam War, and a desire t help the Museum. Sme psitins require a degree f experience and knwledge, whilst ther psitins may nly require a desire t help the Museum, and skills may be learnt whilst being a Vlunteer. D I need a Wrking with Children and a Plice Check? Yes, it is a Museum requirement. All successful applicants t the prgram must apply fr a Wrking with Children Check befre cmmencing their vlunteer rle. NVVM may als undertake a Natinal Plice Check after the infrmatin sessin with yur permissin. Why is the prcess t becme a Vlunteer s invlved? The Museum is lucky enugh t have many peple interested in vlunteering; we receive many enquiries in a year. Our prcesses help us and yu t establish whether we are a gd fit fr neanther. Our inductin prcess als makes sure that thse that d get accepted int the prgram have been given all the infrmatin they need t effectively and safely carry ut their vlunteer rle. What can't Vlunteers d at NVVM? At the Museum the rle f Vlunteers is t augment and enhance the rle f paid staff. Vlunteers cannt undertake cre business. Can I vlunteer any day r time? It depends upn the vluntary rle yu take up. Mst 'Frnt f Huse' rles are available every day that the Museum is pen; that is, 7 days a week all year ther than Christmas Day and Gd Friday, between 10am-5pm. Behind the Scenes r Back f Huse rles are usually nly available n weekdays. There are n regular evening vluntary psitins, thugh sme special events may ccur in the evening.

4 What kind f time cmmitment d I need t make as a vlunteer? Once established, mst vlunteers cmmit t a weekly r frtnightly rstered psitin but this is flexible. A shift can be between 2-7 hurs lng. Hurs and days vary accrding t the vlunteer rle. Sme vlunteers may wrk 3 hurs a week r a frtnight, whilst thers may wrk a 7 hur day t 5.00 nce a week. Days and hurs can be negtiated with the Vlunteer Crdinatr r the Administratin Manager Am I limited t ne Vlunteer rle nly? While we encurage new Vlunteers t start with ne vluntary rle, we hpe that nce established, Vlunteers will expand r cntract their vluntary cmmitments t suit their interests and lifestyle. Vlunteers are welcme t change r add t their rle at any time, subject t availability. What training is invlved? As part f Vlunteering with NVVM further training will be prvided n an nging basis t supprt vlunteer rles. All Vlunteers must attend Inductin Training. The Inductin Training prvides an verview f the Museum and its related plicies and what vlunteering is all abut. In sme cases inductin is cnducted ne n ne with the Vlunteer Crdinatr. Skills and jb specific knwledge may be cnducted as a separate training sessin. In sme instances training is cnducted n the jb. What happens if I am sick r want t g n hliday r dn t feel like cming in? It is expected that Vlunteers will have ther things ging n in their life alngside their vluntary cmmitments. Our prgram is flexible enugh t accmmdate thse needs, hwever we ask that Vlunteers keep management infrmed f times that they are nt available. Vlunteers are always free t change their minds. Can I vlunteer fr the Museum at hme? N, unfrtunately yu cannt. This is because f the insurance implicatins if anything were t happen t yu while yu were carrying ut museum business at hme. I have the next tw mnths available - can I use them t vlunteer with yu? While we appreciate the ffer f help, we are lking fr vlunteers wh feel they can make an nging cmmitment t being part f the museum. Hw d I keep in tuch with what s happening at the Museum? It is f great benefit fr Vlunteers t have an address. Regular newsletters are sent cntaining Museum news, pprtunities and reminders abut cming dates and events. It is a vital part f keeping in tuch between shifts. Des the Museum prvide travel assistance r reimbursement f expenses? N, it des nt. We ask yu t carefully cnsider the financial impact that regular attendance at the Museum will have n yur budget. As a Vlunteer yu ll receive n remuneratin, nly cases where expenses are incurred, at the request f Management. Where required the Museum will prvide special prtective clthing t meet the Wrkplace, Health and Safety Act. Will I be cvered by insurance while vlunteering? The Museum is cvered by insurance that prtects vlunteer wrkers fr injury r damage that results frm wrk related activities. All vlunteers at the Museum are insured fr persnal accident r injury whilst they are perfrming their nrmal duties. Is there any dcumentatin I need t sign? Vlunteers will be required t sign a Vlunteer Cde f Cnduct and an Attendance Register when wrking at the Museum.

5 VOLUNTEER ROLES Custmer Services (Frnt Cunter/Retail) Vlunteers in custmer service are the public face f the museum. They meet and greet visitrs t the museum and act as museums hsts. Other tasks include assisting in the Retail shp. Pssess basic Cmputer skills; Custmer Service experience; Excellent cmmunicatin skills; Able t adapt t changes and t wrk well with the public; Ability t wrk in a dynamic envirnment with visitrs f all age and abilities, Museum staff and vlunteers frm diverse backgrunds; Well-prepared, dependable and punctual. Hld a Wrking with Children Check Educatin: Custmer Service Officers and Guides assist schl grups as they arrive and get started n their visit t the Museum. In ne f the busiest f vlunteering rles, Schl Teachers wrk clsely with the Educatin Vlunteers and Tur Guides t welcme students int Museum s that teachers and students can cnfidently mve arund the Museum, equipped with infrmatin t make their experience an enjyable and smth ne. Schl Grup Turs Tur Guides in cllabratin with Educatin Vlunteers: The ability and willingness t deliver a structured educatinal prgram t schl children; The ability t maintain a psitive and cntrlled learning experience with grups f schl children; The ability t gauge the needs and interests f schl children (primary and secndary) and respnd accrdingly. Office Administratin: Assist with administratin tasks in the Museum such as Market Research, Public Relatins, Marketing, Membership and Educatin; Administrative tasks fr vlunteers include wrd prcessing, data entry, catalguing, phtcpying, filing, mail-uts. Gallery/Museum maintenance: Gallery and Museum maintenance vlunteers assist with installing and demunting f bjects; minr maintenance; inspectin and cleaning f exhibits. Other tasks carried ut in this rll include, but are nt limited t, patching up and painting where needed thrughut the museum, checking lighting and general handypersn jbs.

6 Cllectin: Cnservatin vlunteers assist in the care and maintenance f the cllectin. This includes the receipt f new items, audits, inspectins, c-rdinatin f lcatins f cllectin items, maintenance f apprpriate strage cnditins etc. Vlunteer tasks in cllectin r curatrial areas include research, catalguing cllectin bjects, administratin; data entry, filing and srting. The nature f vlunteer wrk in these areas largely depends n the needs f the particular wrk area and the interests and skills f vlunteers. Sme research assistance and basic cllectin management fr staff, including curatrs and cllectin managers in the natural science and scial histry cllectin and curatrial areas. High level f cmputer skills is required Accuracy and attentin t detail are essential Psitins are limited in these areas and many Vlunteers cmmence wrking in Educatin and Cmmunity Prgrams first. A high level f Cmputer skills, accuracy and attentin t detail is necessary. Tur Guides: Museum Guides serve as a vital surce f infrmatin, cnducting turs f bth the cllectins and selected special exhibitins t ensure visitrs make the mst f their time at the Museum. These turs are prvided t diverse audiences, including peple with disabilities; schl grups; Cmmunity Grups Key Guide Tasks: Meet and greet and answer questins frm visitrs; Cnducts general and/r themed guided turs f the museum fr visitrs and grups Prvide a security presence in the museum; Excellent cmmunicatin skills and the ability t engage with a range f age grups and peple f different backgrunds; Attend regular meetings and training sessins t keep abreast f museum cntent/prgrams; Ability t wrk as bth part f the Museum team and individually; A strng cmmitment t prviding a high standard f custmer service; Willingness t participate in nging training; Ability t cpe with the nature f the site i.e. walking f extensive grunds Hld a current Wrking with Children Check The Museum turs prvide highlights f the Exhibitins, Galleries and histry f the Vietnam Cnflict. Gardening: Cleaning: Maintaining Garden f Cllectin General gardening surrunding the Museum Mwing f grassed areas Vacuuming Museum areas General cleaning, as required, excluding exhibits as these may need speciality handling.