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Set up a volunteer LEAD program at RMIT and become a Champion



What is a Champion?

Program Champions organise RMIT voluntary programs that are accredited through RMIT LEAD, and provide direction, support and the main point of contact for the student volunteers within those programs. Champions facilitate the voluntary activities that make up these programs and provide training or request RMIT LEAD (a service within Career Development and Employment) to arrange training for the volunteers.

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How do I set up a volunteer program under RMIT LEAD?

Programs accredited under RMIT LEAD need to meet several criteria that ensure the training and activities in which the student volunteers are involved provide sound learning and personal development opportunities as well as contributing to student life at RMIT.

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What support can I get?

RMIT LEAD can give Champions assistance with:

  • program development
  • ongoing consultation in the growth of your program
  • connecting you to others who have set up volunteer programs through network meetings.

A toolkit is currently being revised and will be available for downloading from this web page.

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Who can set up a volunteer program at RMIT?

Any RMIT staff member or student who can commit to coordinating a volunteer program for at least one cycle—either a semester or a year.

In the case of a student setting up a volunteer program, ideally he/she would have the support of an RMIT staff member, except in the case of student associations approved by RMIT LEAD.

Under RMIT LEAD the accreditation of new volunteer programs is the responsibility of:

  • Study and Learning Centre - for academic mentoring programs within RMIT
  • Career Development & Employment – for all other student volunteer programs
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What are the responsibilities of running a volunteer program?

If you set up a volunteering program it will involve:

  • recruiting volunteers (e.g. mentors, sports team leaders, student events organisers). RMIT LEAD can provide templates on role descriptions, points to consider when drafting a recruitment advertisement, Code of Volunteer Conduct to help in this stage of setting up the program
  • organising training for the student volunteers in conjunction with RMIT LEAD
  • supporting volunteers through face-to-face or online discussion
  • providing structured activities for volunteers
  • organising logistics, e.g. venue, dates, times for volunteer meetings if this is part of the program
  • ensuring that volunteers are well-informed and understand the expectations of the program, e.g. through training, information sessions, written documentation
  • responding to volunteers’ concerns in a timely and appropriate manner
  • encouraging volunteers to reflect on their learning from the experience of voluntary work, e.g. through discussions, tools like e-journals
  • keeping a record of volunteer training and activities to determine eligibility for official recognition
  • providing information on volunteer hours and completion of training at the end of the program, in preparation for the awarding of certificates and transcript entries (using the headings provided by RMIT LEAD).
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How do I start?

If you are thinking about setting up a volunteer program here are some things that you should think about:

  • What will the program create or achieve, such as will it solve issue or problem in your school.
  • What will activities will the student volunteers have to do as part of the program
  • What skill set will the volunteers need and what are learning objectives for the students to achieve this skill set.
  • How will you evaluate the program.
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For further information

Student Leadership Officer

Tel. +61 3 9925 4199

Email: lead@rmit.edu.au