Welcome to the Volunteering at CareSuper program and knowledge base. Search here for answers to your questions.

What is the purpose of the Volunteering at CareSuper program?

CareSuper is committed to making a meaningful contribution to our members and community. By having the opportunity to take time off to volunteer, staff can gain a greater understanding of how not-for-profit organisations make a practical difference in the communities around us.

Who’s eligible to participate in Volunteering at CareSuper?

This policy applies to all CareSuper staff who meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Are employed by CareSuper on a permanent (full time or part-time) basis,
• Have successfully completed their Probationary Period,
• Are not currently on a Performance Management Plan.

Why have we introduced Volunteering at CareSuper?

Volunteering at CareSuper is part of our commitment to support our people to make a difference in the community. We know that CareSuper’s contribution to the community is an important part of attracting and retaining talented people.

In addition, past feedback from staff has confirmed staff want choice when it comes to volunteering with a charity. That’s why we’ve partnered with GoodCompany to launch this portal and make it easy for you to volunteer with the charity of your choice.

What does CareSuper want to achieve with Volunteering at CareSuper?

We’re committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and strongly believe that we can help drive positive and sustainable changes in our local communities. Our goal is to make it easy for as many staff as possible to volunteer through this program each year. Together we can make a big difference.

Who has CareSuper partnered with to deliver Volunteering at CareSuper?

CareSuper has partnered with GoodCompany. Founded in 1999, GoodCompany was Australia’s first Skilled Volunteer portal and now supports over 1,500 of Australia's most respected charities.

Which charities are available through Volunteering at CareSuper? How do I add one?

There are more than 1,500 charities listed on the Volunteering at CareSuper. Charities must meet certain criteria to be added to GoodCompany’s portal including Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1.

You can check to see if a charity is DGR item 1 by searching the Australian Business Register here.

If a charity you’re passionate about is not registered with GoodCompany and they meet the DGR criteria, please let GoodCompany know if you are willing to champion their cause via advocacy, donations, volunteering or fundraising.

You can get in touch with GoodCompany team and send them details of the charity at support@goodcompany.org.

Do charities pay a fee to be registered with Volunteering at CareSuper?

Charities that are members of GoodCompany network do not pay any membership fee if they are using GoodCompany’s volunteering services only.

Where do I go for help or support?

Please refer to these Frequently Asked Questions and the Volunteering at CareSuper Policy in the first instance. If you still need help, please contact the People & Culture Team.

Why should I volunteer?

There are many reasons to volunteer, including:

• Volunteering provides an opportunity to make a difference to both a charitable organisation and yourself; the right opportunity can be an extremely rewarding experience.
• Volunteering offers new ways to develop your skills and use your transferable skills. For example research shows that volunteering can help to develop communication skills, improve an individual’s ability to adapt to different environments, and balance competing priorities.
• Volunteering can contribute to your overall wellbeing and can help you feel more in touch with with and responsible for others in your wider community.
• Volunteering brings people from all walks of life together. Regardless what your personality, interests or background are - you're bound to connect with new people.

What types of volunteering are available?

Volunteering at CareSuper helps to match your skills and interests to hundreds of volunteering opportunities from hundreds of charities. The portal includes both skilled and 'hands on' volunteering for individuals and teams.

Skilled volunteering puts your skills and talents to work for the benefit of the community. Examples include IT, design, project management, public relations, administration, event management, legal, governance or even advising on a Board.

'Hands on' volunteering includes roles like land clearing and regeneration, tree planting, maintenance and working bees.

Please use the drop-down menu or the search functionality to find your perfect activity.

Do I have to use the portal to find a volunteer opportunity?

You are welcome to source your own volunteer opportunity. However, it’s a good idea to browse the website before you choose which volunteer opportunity is right for you. Staff may also volunteer for an organisation not listed on the GoodCompany portal, however staff must ensure that the company has the necessary public liability insurance in case of an accident or injury. If the volunteering opportunity is with a company not listed on the GoodCompany portal, documentation and permission must be confirmed with the People & Culture team before the staff member commences volunteering. Any organisations that engage in the following will not be approved:

• Engage in or promote political lobbying, illegal activities, financial gain,
• Contravene CareSuper’s employee obligations, policies and values, or
• Pose a safety risk

What is the process for taking volunteer leave?

Once applying for the opportunity through the portal, please apply for leave via CareSuper’s payroll system, selecting ‘volunteer leave’ from the drop down options and enter the name of the organisation you are volunteering for.

Who approves my volunteer leave?

Your Manager will approve your volunteer leave (just like any other leave request).

My manager won’t approve my volunteer leave. What should I do?

Speak to your Manager about it – at the end of the day, it’s up to them. CareSuper will try to accommodate all requests for volunteer leave where possible. Please ensure that you provide your manager with suitable notice to ensure your request can be accommodated, or consider volunteering during quieter business periods.

How do I organise a team volunteer activity?

Talk to your Manager and your team first to establish what’s happening, when, and who’s attending. When you’re applying for a volunteer position, select the drop down on the application which says ‘team application’. After you send the initial application, a second screen will enable you can enter email addresses for your team members.

Will CareSuper cover my expenses for volunteering?

Expenses incurred during volunteer work, for example lunch, water, transport and any fee charged by the hosting organisation will be at your expense and will not be reimbursed by CareSuper. If your team is organising volunteering as a team building event, your Manager can cover expenses incurred if it fits within their team budget.

I’m involved with a charity outside of work and would like to advertise a volunteer opportunity on the website. What’s the process?

All volunteer opportunities are housed on the Volunteering at CareSuper site and are sourced from charities registered with GoodCompany. Charities must meet certain criteria to join the program including Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1. You can check to see if a charity is DGR item 1 by searching the Australian Business Register here. If a charity you’re passionate about is not registered with GoodCompany and they meet the criteria, please let the GoodCompany know. Details of the charity can be emailed through to support@goodcompany.org.

How can I track how much time I’ve given?

You track the volunteer opportunities you’ve applied for and how much time you’ve volunteered, by clicking on your name in the top right hand corner on CareSuper Volunteering Portal, and then clicking on ‘volunteering’ on the left hand side.

How do I apply for a volunteer opportunity in the portal?

• Select ‘Volunteer’ from the homepage on the right-hand side of the navigation bar
• Under ‘Find volunteer opportunities’ fill in the boxes - select your skill, location, availability and suitable for
• Select an activity that appeals to you and click ‘View’
• Click ‘Volunteer’ at the end of the description
• Fill in the details on the application page and save your activity

Your application will be emailed to the charity who will respond to you directly. Staff will also need to apply for Volunteering Leave through CareSuper’s payroll system.

What if I need to cancel my Volunteer Day?

If you need to cancel your volunteer day, please let your manager and the charity know as soon as you can, and cancel your leave via CareSuper’s payroll system.

Skilled based Volunteering

Volunteer projects vary in length. Some will require only several hours of your time, others may involve several hours over weeks or months and some may involve an ongoing commitment such as joining the board or committee of a not-for-profit. Each volunteer opportunity on the site includes some information about the time commitment. As a CareSuper employee you receive one day of paid leave for volunteering each year. Employees wanting to volunteer more than one day for longer skill based opportunity or on an ongoing basis will need to do so in their own time.

I’ve applied for a volunteer opportunity but haven’t received a response. What should I do?

Please allow 10 business days for the charity to respond to you. If after this period you have not heard from the charity, please contact support@goodcompany.org or People & Culture.

What if I need to cancel my skill based volunteer opportunity

When you first meet with the charity, be open and honest about your level of commitment (taking into account your professional and personal commitments). If you think that it’s too much of a commitment then you are entitled to withdraw at this stage. However, once you agree to proceed with the project, the charity will be relying on you and it costs them time and money if you pull out of the project. If you need to withdraw once the project is already underway, ask your colleagues if they are interested in helping out. The most important thing is to communicate with the charity about your situation.

What if I have a genuine interest in the area the project falls under but don't necessarily have the skills or experience in that particular area, can I still be considered?

The volunteering opportunity has been scoped by the charity relative to the needs they have. Please carefully assess the criteria provided and if you need clarification or have questions, please click ‘volunteer’, add your enquiries in the ‘reason for volunteering’ field then click ‘apply’.

Can my team volunteer together?

Yes, absolutely. Team Based Volunteering is encouraged and you will need to work together to find a relevant opportunity on the portal. The portal will list how many positions are available for each opportunity to help you select the appropriate one for your team.

Will CareSuper and GoodCompany protect my privacy?

Yes. When applying for volunteering opportunities, the applicant will be required to submit limited personal information, such as name and email address. Personal information will only be used for administering this program For more information read the GoodCompany Privacy Policy

Who has access to my information?

The information will be shared with IT, and HR for internal tracking and reporting purposes. GoodCompany have access to information about your volunteering through the CareSuper Volunteering Program system. For more information read CareSuper Volunteering Program Privacy Policy.

Where is my information stored?

Your personal information is stored on servers located in Australia and is used for the purposes of the CareSuper Volunteering Program site only.

Who is GoodCompany? Who is GoodCompany Foundation?

Founded in 1999, GoodCompany was Australia’s first Skilled Volunteer portal. In 2007 GoodCompany merged with the GoodCompany Foundation. Today, GoodCompany is an exciting hybrid social enterprise that embraces both a non-profit Public Ancillary Fund (PAF) with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status and ‘for purpose’ structures to create greater social outcomes. GoodCompany now supports over 1,500 of Australia's most respected charities, and inspires a new generation of professionals who can make a positive difference in our communities.

Is CareSuper paying GoodCompany?

Yes. If you’d like more details, please speak with our People & Culture team. We believe GoodCompany shares similar values to CareSuper and is best placed to respond to our needs.