This is an Agreement between the Digital Law Association Ltd (sometimes referred to in this document as 'Digital Law Association' or ‘we’) and the Volunteer (referred to in this document as ‘the volunteer’ or ‘you’).
This Agreement is not intended to be a legally binding contract between us and it may be cancelled at any time by either us or you.
1. You are a volunteer
Any effort you contribute to the Digital Law Association is provided on a volunteer basis. This means you are not an employee of, or contractor to, the Digital Law Association and, if you contribute effort to the Digital Law Association, you perform all duties on a voluntary basis and you will not receive remuneration or payment for your work, other than reasonable reimbursement of expenses (see below at paragraph 9).
Neither the Digital Law Association nor you intend any employment or contractual relationship to be created (you are not an employee, independent contractor or consultant at the Digital Law Association). If this changes at any time, and there is a possibility that you might perform paid work for the organisation or be involved in vocational training, we will discuss this and document the arrangement in a formal contract.
2. What you can expect when volunteering at the Digital Law Association
The Digital Law Association values its volunteers and we will endeavour to provide you with:
- a written role description so you understand your role and the tasks you are to perform;
- an induction, orientation and training relating to the volunteer role;
- a safe environment in which to perform your role;
- respect for your privacy, including keeping your private information confidential;
- a supervisor, so that you have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback (see paragraph 4 below);
- reimbursement for your reasonable expenses so you are not out-of-pocket as a result of volunteering for us (for further information see paragraph 9 below).
3. What the Digital Law Association asks of its volunteers
We ask that you:
- support the Digital Law Association’s aims and objectives;
- act in accordance with the Digital Law Association Charter;
- participate in all relevant induction and training sessions;
- only perform duties you are tasked to perform and always operate under the direction and supervision of the Digital Law Association’s Portfolio Lead or Leads (or other nominated Lead or Coordinator of a Digital Law Association project) and obey reasonable directions and instructions
- understand and comply with the organisation’s policies and procedures;
- notify your supervisor or another appropriate member of the Digital Law Association of any health and safety issues or potentially hazardous situations that may pose a risk to you or others and report any accidents or incidents relating to members, volunteers, or the place/s at which efforts are being undertaken
- behave appropriately and courteously to all members, volunteers and the public in the course of your role;
- use any property or equipment given to you in your role safely and only for purpose of the role and return it to the organisation when you finish your volunteer role;
- let us know if you wish to change the nature of your contribution (for example, hours, role) to the Digital Law Association at any time;
- let us know immediately if there is anything, or anything arises, that makes you unsuitable or unable to legally carry out your volunteer efforts (for example, your role requires you to drive and you lose your licence or you injure yourself)
comply with the law at all times; and
- be open and honest in your dealings with us and let us know if we can improve our volunteer program and the support that you receive.
4. Contact person
Your contact person at the Digital Law Association will be the person appointed to be the point of contact when you receive confirmation of the Volunteer role. If you have any questions or concerns about your role, your health and safety, or if you need any assistance to help you perform your role, please contact the appointed person as soon as possible.
5. Role description and details
We ask that you only perform duties you are tasked to perform, always operate under the direction and supervision of the Digital Law Association’s Portfolio Lead or Leads (or other nominated Lead or Coordinator of a Digital Law Association project) and obey reasonable directions and instructions. This is particularly important for health, safety and insurance reasons (see paragraph 6 below).
We will have a role description to help you understand your role and the tasks you are authorised to perform and tasks that are prohibited.
If you are unsure whether a particular task or work is part of your role, or who you can and can’t receive directions and instructions from please don’t hesitate to talk to your contact person.
6. The health and safety of you and others
At the Digital Law Association volunteer safety, and the safety of everyone who is involved in our organisation, is a priority.
- The Digital Law Association has safety obligations towards:
- you in your capacity as a volunteer at the Digital Law Association; and
the people that you interact with as a part of your volunteer role.
It’s important to understand that you may be personally liable (that is legally or financially responsible) for any harm or damage caused to yourself or others if you act outside of the role description, outside of the instructions given to you or you are affected by drugs or alcohol when you are volunteering.
It’s therefore important that you only perform the tasks in your role description and that you follow the instructions of your contact person and the Digital Law Association’s Portfolio Lead or Leads (or other nominated Lead or Coordinator of a Digital Law Association project).
Depending on the nature of your role and where you perform it, one or more laws may be applicable. Also, there may be other legal actions (such as negligence claims) that mean we always need to consider safety issues.
The Digital Law Association has a duty of care to minimise risks to everyone affected by its conduct (including paid employees and volunteers). It also means that as a volunteer, you may have duties under the relevant laws too. These include:
- taking reasonable care for your own health and safety;
- taking reasonable care for the health and safety of others;
- complying with any reasonable instruction by the Digital Law Association;
- letting the Digital Law Association know of any concerns you may have about safety or fitness in performing your role; and
- cooperating with any reasonable policies and procedures of the Digital Law Association.
We will provide you with a full induction, safety equipment (as applicable) and role training when you commence your volunteer efforts with our organisation, as relevant. However, please do not hesitate to talk to your contact officer at any time if you have any health and safety concerns.
7. Induction and training required before you start in the volunteer role
The Digital Law Association is committed to providing suitable training in support of the organisational policies relevant to your efforts as a volunteer. For this reason, it’s our policy that all volunteers undertake induction and training at the Digital Law Association before starting their volunteer efforts.
Your appointed contact officer will confirm the details of the induction and training schedule with you.
8. Information we need before you can start in the volunteer role
Before you can start the volunteer role, we may request information from you that is necessary for your performance in the role and our obligations under applicable laws.
9. Volunteer expenses and other benefits
As a volunteer, the Digital Law Association will reimburse you for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that you incur when performing authorised tasks associated with your volunteer efforts.
We do this to ensure that you are not financially disadvantaged as a result of your volunteer efforts with us. These payments are not remuneration or wages. You might need prior approval and will always need to produce receipts.
We may sometimes provide you with other benefits as part of your volunteering role (examples include training, free food, accommodation, event entry, clothing or equipment). Where this occurs, it is on a gratuitous basis at the discretion of the Digital Law Association and is not payment in lieu of salary.
10. Insurance
The Digital Law Association does not currently have any insurances in place for volunteers.
11. Confidential information
Volunteers are likely to be given access to the Digital Law Association’s confidential information as part of, or to assist them with, their role. Confidential information includes any information about the Digital Law Association, its business, services and clients which has been designated by the Digital Law Association as confidential or which is, by its nature, confidential or proprietary to the Digital Law Association.
You are not permitted to use or disclose any confidential information for any purpose other than the proper discharge of your duties as a volunteer of the Digital Law Association.
12. Intellectual Property
You agree to transfer all intellectual property rights and interests (including copyright) in any ideas or materials you create relating to your provision of voluntary services at the Digital Law Association to the Digital Law Association.
You consent to the use by the Digital Law Association of such creations in a manner reasonably contemplated by the voluntary services provided under this document. As a volunteer you also agree not to bring any claim for infringement of your moral rights in respect of that use.
13. Consent to use photographs and images
You agree that the Digital Law Association may take photographs and video footage of you carrying out your volunteer work and use it for the purposes of marketing and promotion of the Digital Law Association unless you advise us that you do not wish for us to do so. This may include printed and digital marketing, including the use of your image on social media platforms.
Please provide your full name and the date in the section below to acknowledge that you have read and agree to this volunteer agreement and have had an opportunity to ask questions.