POLICY CONTENT

At the Akidamy we believe in giving back to those in need in our community. Our volunteering day provides employees with the personal opportunity to do this whilst still receiving their standard pay for the day.  
 

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS) 

QUALITY AREA 7: Governance and Leadership

7.1	Governance	Governance supports the operation of a quality school.
7.1.1	School philosophy and purposes	A statement of philosophy guides all aspects of the school’s operations.
7.1.2	Management Systems	Systems are in place to manage risk and enable the effective management and operation of a quality school.
7.1.3	Roles and Responsibilities	Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and understood and support effective decision-making and operation of the school.
7.2	Leadership	Effective leadership builds and promotes a positive organisational culture and professional learning community.
7.2.2	Educational leadership	The educational leader is supported and leads the development and implementation of the educational program and assessment and planning cycle.
7.2.3	Development of professionals	Educators, co-ordinations and staff members’’ performance is regularly evaluated and individual plans are in place to support learning and development.

PURPOSE

Our School supports all full time and part time employees to undertake a volunteering day per year, to give back to those in need in our community. 

We aim to build relationships with community members, and organisations providing appropriate learning opportunities for our employees to contribute to our program.   

SCOPE

This policy applies to staff and management of the School. 
 

IMPLEMENTATION

We have a strong commitment to provide a range of opportunities for our employees to participate in programs and activities while adhering to clear guidelines regarding appropriate interactions and communication within the community. 
 

VOLUNTEERING DAY (1 day per annum) 

• The volunteering day is available to full time and part time employees.  
• Part time employees will be eligible to access this day where they are employed for 24hrs per week or more at the School. 
• The volunteering day needs to be performed at an approved Charity signed off by the Director. 
• To facilitate staffing across the School the timing of this day must be pre-approved by the Director with a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice. The Director will consider the employee’s request in conjunction with the business and operational needs of the School. 
• Simply making a request for a volunteering day does not automatically entitle an employee to take this day. The Director may refuse to authorise the day on the grounds of the operational requirements of the School or if the employee has provided insufficient notice of their desire to take the day. The Director will not unreasonably refuse to approve a volunteering day or deny an employee a volunteering day which has already been authorised.  
• We encourage employees to utilise this volunteering day but ultimately accessing this day is voluntary. There won’t be any adverse action for employees who choose not to access the day, however it cannot be accrued and is not cumulative from year to year- it will be foregone if not accessed. 
• The volunteering day does not accrue annual leave and carries 0% leave loading. 
• Superannuation guarantee does not apply to the day as it is not considered Ordinary Time Earnings. 
• The day can be used within the 12 month period of any year from 1 July to 30 June. 
• The volunteering day cannot be taken either immediately prior to or following a Public Holiday, an Annual Leave day or immediately prior to or following a School closure day. 
• The volunteering day cannot be accessed following the resignation of an employee. 
• The volunteering day cannot be accessed if it comes to the attention of the School Director or management that an employee is actively looking for alternative employment.
  Such an example may be, but is not limited to, the School Director, management or another member of staff being contacted to provide a reference check for a current employee or situations similar to this in nature and outcome.
• An employee is not entitled to receive payment for the balance of the unused volunteering day accrued but untaken when they cease employment.

SOURCE

Department of Education, Education and Skills (2009). Belonging, being and becoming: The early years learning framework for Australia.  
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010. (Amended 2018). 
Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2011).  
Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). 
Fair Work Commission: Anti-bullying jurisdiction. 
Guide to the National Quality Framework. (2018). (Amended 2020). 
Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment. (1996). Dealing with employee 
work-related concerns and grievances: Policy and guidelines: 
Revised National Quality Standards. (2018). 
Safe Work Australia. (2016). Guide for preventing and responding to workplace bullying 
Work Health and Safety Act, 2011.