Volunteer Safety and Emergency
Keeping your group safe
Keeping people safe is a shared responsibility. Volunteer group leaders, volunteers and rangers work together to plan activities, manage risks and respond quickly if something goes wrong.
Good safety planning helps protect people, parks and the valuable contribution volunteers make. You are not expected to assess risk or interpret policy on your own. If you are unsure at any point, pause and check in with your Contact Ranger. Below outlines the role you play in keeping groups safe and responding to incidents.
If something goes wrong
If there is an injury, near miss or safety concern:
Stop the activity if it is not safe to continue.
Make the area safe if you can.
Provide first aid if you are trained to do so.
Contact your Contact Ranger as soon as possible or Customer Service on 131963 for help in reaching a staff member.
Call emergency services if there is immediate danger.
After the situation is stable, your Contact Ranger will guide you on recording the incident or near miss in ParkConnect and any follow up steps.
Plan safe activities
All volunteer activities must be approved by Parks Victoria so they are covered by insurance.
Before your group starts an activity, talk with your contact ranger about:
- What your group plans to do
- Where the activity will take place
- Any tools, equipment or substances involved
- Any supervision or accreditation that may be needed
Your ranger will confirm what is needed and record the approval. This conversation helps make sure activities are safe, suitable and supported. The Group Leader essentials page outlines how the Volunteer Activity Plan and Annual reviews support you to discuss and work together with your ranger on planned activities.
Safety checks before each activity
Before every volunteering activity, you will work with your Contact Ranger to make sure the right safety checks are in place. Safety planning is a shared responsibility. Rangers help assess the activity and confirm which safety documents are required.
Safety documents you may be asked to use
Safe Work Procedure (SWP)
Used for routine activities. These outline common hazards and agreed safety controls.
Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
Used for high risk or non routine activities. These are completed by Parks Victoria staff and explained to you as part of an activity induction.
High risk activities may also require direct ranger supervision. Your Contact Ranger will confirm whether an activity is routine or higher risk, what safety documentation is required and whether ranger supervision is needed.
Supporting volunteers with health and accessibility needs
Volunteers bring different abilities, experiences and needs to their time in parks. Supporting participation starts with creating a safe and respectful space for people to share what they need.
How Group Leaders learn about health considerations
Group Leaders do not ask volunteers to disclose medical details. Instead, volunteers are encouraged to self‑identify any information that may affect their safety or participation.
This may happen:
- During a group induction
- In a conversation before an activity
- On the day, if conditions change
Examples may include:
- A medical condition that affects mobility, stamina or balance
- Allergies or sensitivities
- A temporary injury
- A need for breaks, modified tasks or support
Only information needed to keep people safe should be discussed. Personal details must be handled respectfully and not shared beyond what is necessary for safety.
What to do with the information:
- Adjust tasks or roles where needed
- Encourage volunteers to work within their limits
- Pause or stop activities if safety cannot be managed
If you are unsure how to support a volunteer safely, contact your Contact Ranger for guidance.
What to do on the day
At the start of every activity:
Complete the Site Safety Survey for the location and conditions on the day, including weather, ground conditions and any new hazards.
Make sure volunteers are:
- Oriented to the site
- Aware of key hazards and controls
- Briefed on emergency procedures
- Check that any required skills, licences or inductions are current
- Group Leaders are encouraged to pause or stop activities if conditions change or safety cannot be managed.
These steps help identify issues early and support safe, confident participation for everyone.
Incidents and emergency response
The best way to manage incidents is to prevent them. Clear planning, safe supervision and strong communication all help reduce risk. If an incident or near miss does occur, get support as soon as possible. A near miss is an event that could have caused harm but did not. Reporting near misses helps prevent future incidents and supports safer volunteering.
What to do in an incident
If someone is injured, feels unwell, or there is a safety risk:
Make the area safe if you can
Provide first aid if trained to do so
Contact your Parks Victoria Contact Ranger as soon as possible
Depending on the situation, you may also need to:
Call the Parks Victoria Information Centre
Record the incident in ParkConnect
Your Contact Ranger will guide you on what to do next and help ensure the right followup occurs.
Group Leaders should always carry up to date contact details for their Ranger and the Parks Victoria Information Centre.
First Aid
Having someone with first aid skills on your activity is strongly encouraged to help manage minor injuries and respond if something goes wrong. If an incident occurs, provide first aid if you are trained, ensure the area is safe, and contact your ranger or emergency services as needed.
Tools, equipment and supervision
All tools, substances and equipment must be included in your activity approval. This allows Parks Victoria to confirm they are appropriate and safe to use in parks and reserves.
Some activities may require specific supervision, training or accreditation before approval can be given. Your Contact Ranger will discuss this with you as part of planning.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment helps reduce the risk of injury and is an important part of working safely in parks and reserves.
Your Contact Ranger will advise what PPE is required for approved activities. This may include items such as gloves, eye protection, high visibility clothing or hearing protection.
As a Group Leader:
Check that required PPE is available before work begins.
Encourage volunteers to wear PPE as instructed.
Do not allow tasks to proceed if required PPE is not available or used correctly.
If you are unsure what PPE is needed, pause and speak with your Contact Ranger.
Accreditations and skills
Some activities require volunteers to complete specific skills, training or licences to help protect the people and the park. Accreditation needs are confirmed during activity planning with your Contact Ranger. You are not expected to determine requirements on your own.
When accreditations may be needed
Accreditations may be required for activities that involve:
Powered tools or machinery
Working at heights or near water
Vehicle or equipment operation
Specialist conservation tasks
Working alone or with limited supervision
Your Contact Ranger will advise what is required for each activity. If a volunteer does not meet required training or accreditation needs, pause the task and offer an alternative where possible. If unsure, contact your Contact Ranger for guidance.
Keeping records
Group Leaders are responsible for making sure accreditation records are current and available. You can manage accreditation records through [Link: ParkConnect] or use your group’s own system.
If you use ParkConnect, volunteers will need to register on the portal to upload and update their own accreditation documents. Training is available in ParkConnect under the support section.
On the day
Before starting work:
Confirm that required accreditations are current
Check that volunteers understand the task and any limits on their role
Pause and check with your Contact Ranger if anything is unclear
If a volunteer does not hold a required accreditation, they must not undertake that task.
The Group Leader FAQs page includes common questions related to Safety and Emergency alongside other topics to help you troubleshoot quickly.