Training for volunteers
All volunteers receive training to help them understand their role and responsibilities.
The training also helps you uphold older people’s rights and support their safety, dignity and wellbeing, including your obligations under the Aged Care Act 2024.
Your provider or Volunteer Manager will explain what training applies to your role. They will support you to complete it before or as soon as possible after you start.
The five core topics are:
- the Aged Care Code of Conduct
- reportable incidents and the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)
- complaints and feedback
- elder abuse awareness and advocacy pathways
- diversity and inclusion.
These core topics help you understand how to act respectfully, respond to concerns, support older people’s rights, and know when to ask for help.
Training should be flexible and match your role and learning needs. This may include written guidance, eLearning, videos, discussion, group sessions or one-on-one support.
You may need role-specific training depending on your role and setting, for example:
- dementia
- communication
- infection prevention and control
- privacy
- safety
- supporting specific activities.
Training resources
Read the Volunteer Learning Guide - Part Three: What volunteers need to know to learn more about volunteer training. An optional role-specific volunteers in aged care training and resource kit is also available.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission also provide eLearning modules and resources for eLearning modules and resources for Volunteers in aged care.
Pathways into a career working in aged care
Volunteering is unpaid and separate from paid employment, but it can help you learn about paid work in the aged care sector.
Becoming a volunteer can help you build experience, confidence and a better understanding of aged care roles, while contributing to your community.
If you are interested in paid aged care work, visit I want to work in aged care. It contains information about career pathways, training options and learning and development opportunities.
Read more about workforce programs, training and support in the aged care workforce.