Group Leader Resources
Welcome! Volunteering as a group leader is a vital part of caring for Victoria’s places. Together, we achieve more than we ever could alone. We are glad you are here. This hub has the information you need to lead your volunteer group with confidence.
Our shared promise
Volunteering We work as a team to protect our parks. To support you, we provide a dedicated contact ranger for every group. This partnership ensures you have expert advice and a direct link to Parks Victoria. How we support you:
Your contact ranger helps your group success by:
- Providing safety advice and supervision to manage risks on-site
- Technical guidance: expert tips on planting, track, work, weeding and other relevant activities.
- Resources: Supporting you with tools and an induction to get started.
Learn more
Getting started and your tasks
Leading a group starts with a clear understanding of how we operate. Most of your leadership tasks happen through our online portal or in conversation with your ranger.
- Induction: All leaders complete a brief induction to learn about park safety and culture. [LINK Start your induction].
- Your roles: Group leaders oversee group safety and contributions. They are also the main point of contact for the ranger and work in collaboration to develop partnership agreements, address challenges and opportunities and recognise and celebrate impacts and achievements. [LINK See the Group Leader Task Checklist].
Volunteer partnership agreements (VPAs)
To make the biggest difference, your group will create a volunteer partnership agreement (VPA). You will build this plan with your contact ranger. This agreement helps us match your group’s passion with the areas of our parks that need the most help.
A VPA can last for up to 3 years. It is a simple roadmap that covers:
- How your work helps meet park goals
- The activities you have planned for the year
- The tools, funding, and support your group needs to succeed
- Safety and Working with Children Check (WWCC) requirements.
Annual Review
Once a year, you will meet with your contact ranger to check in on your VPA. This is a chance to celebrate your wins and plan for the future.
During a review, you’ll work with your contact ranger to:
- Look at what your group has achieved and resolve any problems
- Plan the training and support you may need for the next 12 months
- Finalise your list of activities for the coming year
We recommend picking one month each year to focus on this review. You can choose a time that best suits your group and your ranger.
How it works
The review can be one long meeting or a few short chats over 2 weeks. The length depends on your groups needs, such as starting a new project or requiring extra training. To make the most of this time, please come prepared with:
Your date: A summary of your group’s activities and volunteer hours from the past year.
Your ideas: A list of activities you would like to propose for the year ahead. Talk to your group first to make sure these ideas match their goals
Park priorities: Your ranger will help you align your plans with the latest park needs. You may benefit from reaching out to understand priorities before drafting your plans.
Support from Park Connect
You don’t have to remember every detail alone. Park Connect will send you automatic reminders when it is time to start planning. These prompts will help you:
- Collate your volunteer hours
- Develop your activity plan with your group
- Review safety and training requirements