The National Standards

Implementation Guide

This Implementation Guide contains a step-by-step process to follow to help you implement the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement, including:

Steps to implementing the National Standards:

• Step one: Identify benefits and challenges and assess readiness.
• Step two: Conduct a gap assessment.
• Step three: Secure internal support and resources.
• Step four: Develop an action plan and implement the plan.
• Step five: Review, celebrate, and ensure continuous improvement.

View the NSVI Implementation Guide (PDF)

Evaluating the Volunteer Experience

Use these simple ‘Volunteer Experience Checklists’ as prompts to evaluate your current practices against the best-practice National Standards.

A version of the checklist is tailored for managers and leaders, and a version tailored for your volunteers to answer.

• Checklist for Volunteer Leaders (PDF)
• Checklist for Volunteers (PDF)

Simple Gap Assessment Sheet

This is a self-assessment tool that can be used to compare your organisation against the National Standards and identify any gaps or areas for improvement.

Available formats:

• Gap Analysis Assessment (online survey form)
• Gap Analysis Assessment (editable Excel Spreadsheet file)
• Gap Analysis Assessment (PDF file)

Evidence Guide

The Evidence Guide identifies the practices, processes, policies and documentation that can be used to show that an organisation has implemented the National Standards, including:

• A summary and the intention of the standard.
• The specific criteria required for the standard.
• The requirements to show how a standard has been met or can be met.
• Specific examples of evidence that could be used to show criteria have been met.

View the Volunteering Australia NSVI Evidence Guide (PDF).

Using this online portal, will provide:

• Assessment of your organisation’s performance against the Standards.
• Help you identify strengths and spot gaps.
• Recommendations on how to achieve compliance.
• Automatically generated action plan for good practice.
• Great workflow management tools, including a shared digital workspace, the ability to assign actions, and a weekly reminder system.
• Access to even more resources to improve your volunteer program.

To access:

Volunteering WA is pleased to offer complimentary access to the National Standards Online Tool for eligible volunteer-involving organisations. This initiative supports organisations in demonstrating their alignment with the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.

Organisations may submit an Expression of Interest for free access until 31 May 2027.

Training & Workshops

Volunteering WA offers two workshops on the National Standards:

• Introductory Workshop: A 1-hour introduction and overview of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.
• Implementation Workshop: A 3-hour workshop designed to assist organisations with the preparation and planning for implementation. Participants are asked to complete the self-assessment gap analysis prior to attending. During the session, we cover change management, challenges and benefits of implementation, discussion of each participant’s self-assessment, and how to develop an action plan with next steps.

Explore upcoming workshops on the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.

Consultations

Take advantage of a 1-hour consultation with Volunteering WA to discuss your organisation’s alignment to the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement. You’ll learn about any gaps you may have and how to move forward with a reliable action plan.

The consultation is free for Volunteering WA members, and $50 +gst for non-members. An invoice will be issued once your booking has been confirmed.

Book a 1-hour consultation with a Volunteering WA team member:

Louise Giles, Training Manager (meeting request link)
Felicity Smith, Volunteer Management Engagement (meeting request link)