Information for Volunteer Organisations
This booklet provides information to volunteer organisations about Community Work. It explains what Community Work offers to participants and volunteer organisations, and the role of Community Work Coordinators. It also explains how you can take part if you are interested in having a Community Work placement in your organisation.
Community Work is voluntary work in an approved volunteer organisation for job seekers and other people who receive income support payments.
By choosing Community Work, participants get valuable work experience while making a worthwhile contribution to their community. Participants also become eligible for other benefits if they meet attendance requirements. They may receive a Passport to Employment which provides assistance and training to look for work. They can also earn a Training Credit worth up to $800 which pays for education or training in approved courses recognised by employers, State and Territory Governments and education institutions.
Mutual obligation is based on the principle that participants supported financially by the community should actively improve their work skills and give something back to the community that supports them. Community Work is one of a wide range of activities which participants can choose from to meet their mutual obligation. Community Work replaces voluntary work as an activity option for job seekers aged 18-39 years. Others on income support payments may volunteer for Community Work if they wish to earn a Training Credit or receive a Passport to Employment.
Participants gain valuable work experience, good work habits, and improved communication skills. They also gain the satisfaction of knowing that they are contributing to their community.
When participants complete Community Work requirements, they may receive a Passport to Employment which provides assistance and training to look for work. They can also earn a Training Credit worth up to $800 which pays for education or training in approved courses recognised by employers, State and Territory Governments and education institutions.
Those who choose to do Community Work find their own placement with a volunteer organisation. Community Work Coordinators provide assistance and advice on how to find a suitable opportunity including through VolunteerSearch or GoVolunteer websites or Volunteer Resource Centres. Volunteer organisations use these sites to advertise volunteer opportunities.
Organisations benefit from the extra assistance provided by motivated and enthusiastic people who have volunteered their services and want to learn.
Organisations approved for Community Work must be not-for-profit (such as charities, church and religious groups, local community associations and service organisations) and hold the required types of insurance. To be approved, volunteer organisations should be registered on the VolunteerSearch website or the GoVolunteer website. Volunteer organisations can register through a simple step-by-step process at www.volunteersearch.gov.au. Once you enter the site, just go to Register your organisation. You can also contact Centrelink for registration information.
Volunteer organisations must provide and maintain public liability insurance to a minimum value of $5 million while they have Community Work participants. They must also comply with relevant State/Territory workers’ compensation legislation.
For the course of their participation in a Community Work activity, the Commonwealth provides participants with the following insurance cover:
The Community Work Coordinator supports and assists participants to find a placement with a volunteer organisation. They help participants to do this by telling them about VolunteerSearch and GoVolunteer websites, and Volunteer Resource Centres. Volunteer organisations can also use their usual contacts to attract Community Work participants.
Participants are responsible for finding a suitable placement with a volunteer organisation and volunteer organisations select these participants in their usual way. Once a job seeker has commenced a placement, their Community Work Coordinator monitors the job seeker’s hours of participation. They maintain contact with the volunteer organisation to make sure that the job seeker has started work and to confirm their hours of attendance. This contact is usually a short telephone discussion once a month. Community Work Coordinators use attendance information to provide participants with Training Credits and Passport to Employment services.
Volunteer organisations are not under any obligation to take part in Community Work. If they do not wish to do so, including confirming a participants hours of attendance with a Community Work Coordinator, they are asked to let the volunteer know before work experience begins so that he/she can find another placement.
Some participants need to do a minimum number of hours to meet their mutual obligation, some do a minimum only if they wish to get additional benefits. Details are outlined in the table below. All participants can volunteer for more hours if their volunteer organisation agrees. Where applicable, these additional hours are counted towards a Training Credit and Passport to Employment.
| Age |
Type of Allowance |
Hours over a six month period |
| 18-20 |
Youth |
200 to meet your mutual obligation and to earn a Training Credit of $500
310 to receive a Passport to Employment and to earn a Training Credit of $800 |
| 21-39 |
Youth/Newstart |
240 to meet your mutual obligation and to earn a Training Credit of $500
390 to receive a Passport to Employment and to earn a Training Credit of $800 |
| 40-49* |
Newstart |
A minimum of 240 to earn a Training Credit or 390 to receive a Passport to Employment |
| 50 and over* |
Newstart |
A minimum of 240 to earn a Training Credit or 390 to receive a Passport to Employment |
| All ages on other income support payment |
Other income support recipients such as Parenting Payment, Widow Allowance, Mature Age Allowance, Partner Allowance |
A minimum of 240 to earn a Training Credit or 390 to receive a Passport to Employment |
*If you are in one of these groups you would not usually take up Community Work unless you plan to do the minimum number of hours required to earn a Training Credit or receive a Passport to Employment.
Volunteer organisations provide activities such as these:
-
helping to organise horse riding classes for children with a disability;
-
assisting with the management of charity market days;
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providing office administration at a family day care centre;
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helping to raise funds to build a local nursing home;
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teaching people English through conversation classes in community centres;
-
planting trees with other team members to form a new wildlife corridor;
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coordinating a community event on energy efficient housing and alternative energy sources;
-
providing practical help and support to people with a serious illness; and
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helping community groups organise team sporting events.
Community Work activities must not:
Community Work Coordinators can assist with more information and help you to understand these requirements.