Shrine volunteers

No previous experience, qualifications, special knowledge or connections to Australia’s wartime history are required to volunteer at the Shrine.

Applicants should possess a desire to learn, or an interest in Australia’s wartime history and serve the visiting general public.

We are looking for people with excellent presentation, communication and interpersonal skills. Everything you need to know for this role is covered in the training. Some people volunteer to gain skills that will help them to apply for paid work.

Volunteers are asked to commit to one regularly rostered shift per week. Shifts are 9:30am to 1pm (Morning Shift) and 12:30pm to 4pm (Afternoon Shift), across seven days of the week except for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Staff welcome Volunteers at the beginning of each shift at briefings.

Volunteers are provided with many opportunities to increase their skills and knowledge and this in turn helps the Shrine to ensure a high quality of visitor engagement. We usually find that Volunteers want lots of information to help them perform their role well. The amount of time you spend doing this is up to you. Shrine and Galleries fact sheets are provided to Volunteers that include basic information and suggested reading lists, including books, articles and websites as a starting point to learn more.

Volunteers are invited to undertake additional ongoing and regular training, such as curator walk throughs and Volunteer Luncheons. The days for these vary and might fall outside of your allocated shift time. We think these sessions are valuable to help you perform your role.

During peak times Volunteers may be asked to alter their usual rostered day or time for a short period or invited to undertake additional shifts to meet increased demand or on major commemorative days such as ANZAC Day. All such arrangements are made by mutual consent of the Shrine and the affected Volunteer.

We also hope that a Volunteer who has completed successful induction and training can commit to being a Shrine Volunteer for at least two years.

Shrine Volunteers are men and women of varying ages, with diverse education, work and life experiences. They possess varying degrees of knowledge about Australia’s wartime history but are keen to learn more. Some volunteers have first-hand experience of wartime having served in the forces. Others have close or distant family members that have been affected. Other Volunteers have no association to this history but are connected through a desire to learn and engage with our diverse visitors.

Volunteering at the Shrine is for adults over 18 years of age. For students in Year 9 the Shrine offers a Young Ambassador leadership program. Information about this is available on the Shrine website. See the Shrine's Young Ambassadors information here. Young people with an interest in Australia’s wartime history may like to attend the Shrine’s public programs and events. See what's on for more.

Induction training consists of core training modules that cover Policies and procedures, history of the Shrine, volunteer rights and responsibilities, daily logistics of being a volunteer, good visitor engagement practices, managing a group of visitors/ students and storytelling. This induction training goes over 3 separate sessions and volunteers are required to attend all 3 of these sessions.

Once the Induction training is concluded new volunteers will be allocated to their shift where they will work with experienced volunteers and staff on developing their skills.

Trainee volunteers will have their learning milestones mapped out on a Trainee Passport which they will work through over approximately a 3 month period. There will be a final assessment which will include an assessment of their tour delivery and an online quiz.

When trainee Volunteers have completed these steps they will be presented with a Volunteer jacket, their name badge and lanyard.

Weekday volunteers will work towards delivering tours to school groups and community groups.

Weekend volunteers will be working towards delivering community group tours and supporting ceremonial staff.

After induction training Volunteers have ongoing opportunities to learn more at:

• daily briefings 15-30 minutes at the start of each shift
• quarterly training and luncheon meetings
• orientation, curator or educator lead floor talks and training sessions for exhibitions and displays. These are usually offered as close to the launch as possible
• other briefings or training opportunities as they arise, one-on-one mentoring from the Education and Volunteer Manager and Education staff, team teaching, ongoing shadowing of local community tours and education programs presented by other Volunteers and Education staff
• mandatory training to ensure the Shrine meets its ethical and legal obligations
• additional texts and information regarding the Shrine, exhibitions and newsletters will be distributed electronically.

As Volunteers have a role that puts them at the forefront of visitor interactions, as the face of the Shrine, they should dress professionally. After completion of training, Volunteers are provided with a jacket to wear during their shift. For men, ties are optional during regular shifts but usually worn for commemorative events.

In warmer weather Volunteers may prefer to wear a plain shirt/top. Volunteers are encouraged to be ‘sun smart’ when outdoors and to keep hydrated. A white, beige or tan panama or straw brimmed hat will look smart and provide sun protection.

Volunteers are asked to wear their Shrine photo identification badge on a red lanyard, silver Volunteer name badge and carry their Working With Children Check card or Victorian Institute of Teaching registration card on them, during shifts.

All Volunteers are required to pass a Police Check and Working With Children Check (WWCC). Volunteers must abide by current legislation as outlined in theChildren, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic.). WWCC and Police Checks are one part of creating and maintaining a child-safe environment that the Shrine of Remembrance takes very seriously and there are penalties for organisations who do not comply. Checks are renewed on a regular basis.

• Police checks are submitted to CrimCheck and paid for by the Shrine.
• WWCCs can be completed online at the Department of Justice website, workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

Teachers with Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration have a WWCC included in their registration. This registration does not exempt holders from completing a CrimCheck. Volunteer hours spent working with students at the Shrine can be used towards the 50 days currency of practice and professional development for the purposes of VIT registration. Refer to the VIT website vit.vic.edu.au.

As a not-for-profit organisation involving volunteers in its work, the Shrine is committed to an ongoing, relevant, high quality Volunteer Program. The Shrine adheres to the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.

Unlike paid staff, volunteers are not covered by awards or workplace agreements. However, volunteers do have rights, some of which are set out in legislation and some which are ethical obligations of an organisation involving volunteers. If at any time volunteers have any concerns they should in the first instance contact the Education and Volunteer Manager. All of this is detailed in the Volunteer training.

For more information on volunteers rights and responsibilities visit http://volunteeringvictoria.org.au/for-volunteers/.

Aside from giving back to the community Volunteers are passionate people who freely provide their time and energy to support the work of paid staff at the Shrine. The benefits you could enjoy include:

• the chance to learn new or extend skills and knowledge (i.e. public speaking, personal communication, history knowledge and develop employability skills)
• opportunities to broaden social circles and meet a diverse range of people, including staff, volunteers and visitors with similar interests
• involvement in commemorative activities including ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, Legacy Day and Battle for Australia Day
• an opportunity to impart their own, family’s or community’s experience of wartime
• discounted tickets and invitations to attend Shrine public programs and events
• recognition of milestone years of service effective 11 November each year and formal acknowledgement at a presentation held each December.

Please read the Position Description and the Shrine Volunteer FAQs carefully.

All points in this handout are covered in greater detail in the volunteer induction training.

If you have other questions please send an email to volunteer@shrine.org.au and we will get back in touch with you as soon as practicable.