Helping out at school is a great way to get involved in your child’s education as well as get to know the staff and other parents and carers.
Research shows that children benefit when their parents or carers are actively involved in their education and school life.
You can help by:
- listening to children read in the classroom
- volunteering on sports days
- helping supervise excursions
- getting involved in fundraising activities
- volunteering for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
- helping in the Canteen or Uniform Shop
There are two types of volunteers in schools: exempt volunteers and specified volunteers.
Parents or close relatives are regarded as exempt volunteers and are required to complete the WWCC Declaration for Volunteers and Non-Child Related Contractors and provide photo ID to the school office before volunteering.
Specified volunteers are people over the age of 18 who are not parents or close relatives of the child, for example: a nanny or family friend.
Specified volunteers are required to apply for the WWCC clearance with the Office of the Children's Guardian (OCG). There is no fee for WWCC clearance for volunteers.
Specified volunteers need to provide the school office with the following documents before they can volunteer:
- WWCC clearance from the OCG
- completed WWCC Declaration for Child-Related Work - Specified Volunteers and Child-Related Contractors
- Photo ID (see WWCC - Guide to Identity Documents)