Volunteering at Glenelg Primary School
We really value all the wonderful ways volunteers assist at Glenelg Primary School. Volunteers help in the canteen, as sports coaches and managers, assist in classrooms, on camps and excursions, in P&F and help out many other ways too.
For new volunteers, there are 9 steps to be completed.
Application forms to be a volunteer at GPS are available from the Downloads section below. There are also paper copies available at the Front Office.
When listing 2 referees on the application form, please list at least 1 of the 2 referees on your volunteer application as any current staff member of GPS. If there is a special reason why this is not possible, please speak with Deb in the Front Office:
Step 1: Volunteer completes a GPS volunteer application form; please first speak to any current GPS staff member about your wish to (continue to) volunteer and then list them as one of your referees.
Step 2: Volunteer gives the application form to Deb, at the front office, with photo ID and has a brief discussion.
Step 3: A GPS staff member contacts a referee.
Step 4: Either the volunteer or Deb starts the WWCC (Working with children check) clearance process. This step can often take 4 to 6 weeks; the volunteer can continue with the steps below while waiting for the WWCC process to be completed.
If you do not currently have a Working With Children Check (WWCC), Deb can start the process for you by e-mail or in person. Or you can start the process yourself at this link: Apply for a Check.
You will need to provide 6 pieces of information:-
- Your first name – this must be your full official first name, for example, Peter, not Pete
- Your surname
- An e-mail address – the WWCC unit will send further instructions to you via this e-mail address
- Your date of birth
- The name and room number(s) of any child(ren) you have at GPS in 2021
- A brief reason for the WWCC clearance, i.e. sports coaching, assisting on excursions, helping in the canteen, helping with children in the classroom etc. One or two brief reasons are sufficient, even if you intend to volunteer in more than 1 or 2 ways.
Please e-mail our dedicated volunteers email address – dl.1017.volunteers@schools.sa.edu.au
Once we enter the above information for you, you’ll receive an e-mail asking you to continue the process yourself online. Once you complete your sections and submit the WWCC application, most applications take 4 to 6 weeks. There is no cost to volunteers for a Volunteer WWCC clearance check.
Step 5: The volunteer completes a Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care (RRHAN-EC) course for volunteers, either online or at GPS.
If you would prefer to complete the RRHAN-EC: Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care training online, please go to the Department of Education website at RRHAN-EC: Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care training.
If you would prefer to complete the RRHAN-EC: Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care training person at GPS, details about the next course are in the Courses at GPS section, below.
Step 6: Various role descriptions for volunteers are available below, in the Downloads section.
Step 7: The volunteer completes a general induction course, either online or at GPS.
If you would prefer to complete the Volunteer General induction course online, please go to the Department of Education website at www.plink.sa.edu.au/pages/signup.jsf
If you would prefer to complete the Volunteer General induction course in person at GPS, details about course times are in the Courses at GPS section, below.
Step 8: GPS Site-specific induction, including work health and safety and role-specific training (if relevant), is done at GPS during Volunteer training sessions. Alternatively, a hard copy can be accessed via the front office, you will be required to read the document, and sign an acknowledgment for our records.
Step 9: The volunteer signs a volunteer agreement. These agreement forms are available at the courses run at GPS and also below, at the Downloads section. There are also paper copies available at the Front Office.
Step 10: GPS to sight the volunteer’s proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Along the way, GPS staff must record/document the completion of each step. Volunteers will need to sign in/out at the Front Office to receive a Volunteer pink badge that must be worn onsite and returned to the front office to complete the sign-out procedure. Classroom teachers will be required to ask you to leave at 9.05 am if you are not wearing a Volunteer badge and only approved volunteers will be able to assist or attend any excursion or camp.
We look forward to working through these new steps with you to maintain and build the excellent support we have from volunteers at Glenelg Primary School.
Courses at GPS
GPS staff will conduct courses at school that covers a number of aspects for GPS volunteers.
Face to face course will cover:
- GPS site-specific induction
- Work health and safety information
- Information about role-specific training
- Volunteer general induction course
- RRHAN-EC: Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care training for volunteers
Next training sessions:
- TBC – we are still looking into 2023 arrangements.
Downloads
Role descriptions for volunteers:
FAQ
We will try to keep this section updated when we see patterns of the same/similar questions being asked.
Question: I am a registered teacher, do I still need to do this new process?
Answer: Yes. Your current registration is proof of WWCC and RRHAN-EC: Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care training, but you still need to do all the other steps.
Question: Does my RRHAN-EC: Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care training expire after a certain period of time?
Answer: Yes. The RRHAN-EC is valid for 3 years. The expiry date will appear on your certificate
Question: I’ve now done the whole process above, from Step 1 to Step 8. Is that all I need to do?
Answer: Yes. Apart from making sure you re-do your WWCC that’s all you need to do.
Question: Do I have to do a WWCC even though I have a valid DCSI?
Answer: No. The WWCC – Working With Children Check – is the new type of clearance check that starts on July 1st, 2019. If you have a current DCSI, that DCSI remains valid until your DCSI expires. Prior to your DCSI expiring, you will need to do a WWCC, which replaces the DCSI. Your DCSI certificate will indicate when your current DCSI expires.