STUDENT GUIDE

2

CONTENTS

1 . WHAT IS THE UTS S OUL AW ARD? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2 . HOW DO I COMPLETE THE SOUL AWARD? . . 5

3 . WHAT ARE THE SOUL SKILL UP

WORKSHOPS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4 . VOLUNTEERING AND SOUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5 . FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6 . VOLUNTEER RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILIT IES

AND INSURANCE INFORM ATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

3

1. WHAT IS THE UTS SOUL AWARD? The UTS SOUL Award is a two-stage, extra-curricular community leadership and volunteering

program for UTS students. Through training, peer support and unique volunteering

opportunities, SOUL enables students to venture beyond their degree and into the community to

skill up, give back and make change.

You’ll have the opportunity to use your skills and knowledge to increase capacity in the

community sector or step outside your field of study in new and exciting volunteer roles.

The SOUL Award is open to all students at UTS, from first year undergraduates to doctoral

candidates, across all faculties and discipline areas, so you’ll be connected to a diverse

community of passionate and like-minded SOULies at UTS.

Stage 1: UTS SOUL Badge (41 hours)

Completing the Badge will give you the opportunity to develop communication skills and

knowledge of social issues while gaining ‘real’ workplace experience through volunteering.

The SOUL Badge is a great way for you to get involved and gain recognition, even if you have

limited time.

When you complete the SOUL BADGE you will receive a certificate and a LinkedIn

recommendation, along with volunteering work and training workshops you can include on your

CV.

Stage 2: UTS SOUL Award (Badge + 61 hours)

The Award stage will continue to develop your skills in ethical leadership, project management,

teamwork and articulating your personal brand, while you support the community by using your

skills to step up to new and challenging volunteer roles. What you learn about social innovation

and change you can apply in your community and career.

If completed by 30 May (Autumn Session) or 30 October (Spring Session) of the final semester

of your degree, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement and the Award will be listed your

AHEGS Secondary Statement received at graduation as well as a detailed recommendation.

4

UTS Shopfront

SOUL is one of the programs run by the UTS Shopfront at the Centre for Social for Justice and

Inclusion Shopfront works to build strong and sustainable communities by providing project

support for community based organisations, community engaged scholarship, and facilitating

UTS students to develop leadership skills. It supports students to collaborate on disciplinary

specific projects.

Shopfront offers students an opportunity to deliver a real professional project for

academic/coursework credit. Shopfront projects are only available to final year and

postgraduate students.

We know (because we have mapped and measured) that students who do Shopfront

community projects as part of their coursework commit many more hours to successfully

complete those projects than are required by your regular coursework subjects. For this

reason, we allow UTS student to count their projects as meeting the 35 hours volunteering

requirement for the SOUL Badge. So complete your community project, log your 35 hours on

that project, and complete your workshops and you will receive the SOUL badge.

5

2. HOW DO I COMPLETE THE SOUL AWARD? The program is separated into 2 stages:

Stage 1: UTS SOUL Badge

Your starting point for SOUL is to complete the first stage, UTS SOUL Badge.

To receive the SOUL Badge, you will need to complete and log 35 hours of volunteering for a

not-for-profit organisation with a social mission and attend the ‘Skill-up’ training workshops (6

hours).

That’s a time commitment of 41 hours to receive your UTS SOUL Badge.

When you complete the SOUL BADGE you will receive a certificate and a LinkedIn

recommendation, along with volunteering work and training workshops you can include on your

CV.

Stage 2: UTS SOUL Award To enrol in the Award stage of the program, you must first complete the SOUL Badge (see

above).

To receive the SOUL Award, you must log a further 55 hours of volunteering and attend the

‘Skill-up’ training workshops (6 hours).

That means a time commitment of 61 hours – on top of the 41 hours you have spent on the

SOUL Badge - to complete this Award stage.

If completed by 30 May (Autumn Session) or 30 October (Spring Session) of the final semester

of your degree, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement and the Award will be listed your

AHEGS Secondary Statement received at graduation.

6

7

3. WHAT ARE THE SOUL SKILL UP WORKSHOPS? As part of the SOUL Award, you will complete four workshops which allow you to develop and

reflect on your experience as a social leader and volunteer. These workshops are offered in

several different modes, including 2-day intensives. You can check out when the workshops

are running here.

SOUL offers these block workshops multiple times each semester, sometimes over Saturdays

or during semester breaks.

The four workshops are:

Stage 1: SOUL Badge

Active Communication: Effective communication strategies useful in volunteer roles, such

as active listening, assertive communication, networking and pitching.

Social issues 101: An overview of the social issues facing society today and tools to help you

understand and address social issues in the community, and be part of social change

making.

Stage 2: SOUL Award

Skills 4 leaders: Skill development to help you think about leadership in many different

contexts, from social and family structures, uni group work and community organising.

SOUL in Action: The how-to’s of project management and team work, you will leave this

workshop with an action plan for taking your learnings and passions into action.

8

4. VOLUNTEERING AND SOUL

The UTS SOUL Award requires you to complete 90 hours of volunteering over the course of

your degree. You’ll need to complete 35 hours of volunteering for the SOUL Badge and a

further 55 hours of volunteering to complete the SOUL Award.

SOUL has a focus on social leadership and active volunteering, which means we want you to

be thinking about your role as a leader within your community. There are many organisations

that can count towards your SOUL Award, however the work must be unpaid, within Australia

and with a not-for-profit.

You can read more about the volunteering activities recognised by the SOUL Award here:

9

How do I get started volunteering? A step-by-step guide

SOUL volunteering can be done in a wide variety of roles and for many different organisations.

Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or just getting started, this section will help you find the

best possible volunteering experience for you.

Step 1. Before you begin… Volunteering self-assessment

Step 2. Choosing the right organisation

Step 3. Finding volunteer opportunities

Step 4. Making Contact

Step 5. Volunteer!

Step 6. Logging your hours with SOUL!

10

Step 1. Before you begin - volunteering self-assessment

With all the many and varied organisations looking for volunteers out there, it’s easy to rush into the next available opportunity. But is that volunteer role really right for you? Before you start looking for volunteer roles it’s important to know what you want and what you can offer.

Preparing to volunteer questionnaire

1 How much time do I have to give to volunteering?

2 Do I want to volunteer on a:

ongoing basis

short term

special events

3 What type of volunteer work do I want?

4 What type of volunteer work do I NOT want to do?

5 What existing skills do I want to use?

6 What new skills do I want to learn?

7 What type of organisation do I want to volunteer for?

8 What benefits do I hope to get from being a volunteer?

11

Step 2: Choosing the right kind of volunteer role

After you’ve completed the volunteer self-assessment you can start to think about choosing a

role that suits your values (and your availability!). Start to think specifically about the area you

would like to volunteer in.

Types of organisations in the community and non-profit sector:

Type Purpose Example Organisations

Social Enterprise

Generating profit for a good cause and reinvesting profit in cause

Looloopaper, WorkVentures, Bread and Butter Project.

Community Service

Practical assistance, renovation Clean Up Australia Day, Optus RockCorps, UTS Big Lift, Conservation Volunteers.

Social movements and collectives

Grassroots collectives coming together on a specific issue

UTS Student Association collectives, Broadway Food Co-op, activist groups etc.

Advocacy and campaigns

Speaking out about issues with and on behalf of groups.

Oaktree Foundation, Australia Youth Climate Coalition, Oxfam, Amnesty International

Welfare and direct services

Supporting those in the community through providing education, meals, financial and job assistance, disability care, community engagement

Salvation Army, Oxfam, Red Cross, Anglicare, Communicare, Wesley Mission, Lifeline, Reachout.com, etc.

12

Step 3: Finding Volunteering opportunities

Once you’ve thought about what kind of volunteering you’d like to do, and what kind of

organisation you’d like to work with, you’ll need to seek out some volunteering roles.

We send out a regular newsletter, which includes volunteering opportunities, and you can also

follow us on facebook where we share volunteer roles.

We recommend you start by looking at opportunities online, check out the resources below;

Do Something Near You: www.dosomethingnearyou.com.au

Ethical Jobs: http://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/

Go Volunteer: www.govolunteer.com.au

SEEK Volunteer: https://www.volunteer.com.au/

UTS CareerHub: https://careerhub.uts.edu.au/students/jobs/

NSW Centre for Volunteering:

- Volunteer Referral Service (VRS):

http://www.volunteering.com.au/for-volunteers/individual-volunteering/

- Skills Volunteering weekly e-newsletter:

http://www.volunteering.com.au/for-volunteers/skilled-volunteering/

If you get stuck, don’t know how to proceed or would like some advice, email us here at soul

and we’ll do our best to help you find what you’re looking for.

13

Step 4: Making contact

It is up to you to make contact with the organisation once you see a volunteer role that you

like. SOUL will share opportunities with you and help you develop skills to be an excellent

volunteer, but, once you make contact you need to communicate directly with the

organisation.

Always be professional and clear in your communication about a volunteer role, treat it like you

would a paid position.

Things to include in first communication (either by phone, email or online application form):

• Make the email subject clear that you are looking to apply for a volunteer role

• Attach an up to date CV

• Indicate your availability: how many hours/days a week, and for how long

• Express why you are interested in the role, what you can offer the organisation and

what you are seeking to gain from the experience in terms of your own growth and

learning

• Provide clear contact details

Step 5. Volunteer! Volunteering for a new organisation is exciting but it can be scary. Each opportunity and

organisation will be different but this advice from a SOUL-alumni is a good starting point for

volunteering:

There’s often quite a bit to take in when you start volunteering for a new organisation. Each

opportunity will be different, but this following advice offered from a SOUL Alumni is a good

start.

14

Advice from a former SOULie to be a successful volunteer;

❖ Have written record of the expectations of a role, and confirmation of a written

reference letter/recommendation

❖ Be honest about time commitment and availability – don’t flake

❖ Remember to network while volunteering

❖ Spread positive energy

❖ Ask questions and show initiative

❖ Volunteer for organisations you believe in

❖ Be clear about your availability and boundaries

❖ Don’t expect a volunteer gig to lead to a job

❖ Dress appropriately for the role

❖ Be on time

❖ But most of all, have fun!

Step 6. Recording your SOUL volunteering activity

When you’ve decided where you want to volunteer, contacted your organisation, and had your

first day, you can start recording your hours!

Recording your volunteer activity happens via your SOUL workflow on CareerHub.

SOUL Badge Workflow Or SOUL Award Workflow

It’s up to you how you manage logging your volunteer hours. Some students find it easiest to

record their hours after each time they volunteer, others track the hours they have completed

and log them in one go at the end.

You will be asked to share brief information about the organisation you volunteered for

including a contact name at the organisation, and to share any key highlights or learnings you

have had. You can also upload a photo of your experience that we might share on Facebook,

but it’s not compulsory.

15

5. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

REGISTRATION & COMMITMENT

Q. Does it cost to register for the UTS SOUL Award?

A. No, it’s a free program at UTS!

Q. I’m a post-graduate student, is this program for me?

A. Yes, the program is open to all students at UTS, from first year undergraduates to PhD

candidates

Q. Which faculties can join the SOUL Award?

A. Any and all! We encourage everyone doing any degree at UTS to join

Q. I’m only here on exchange for a short time, will I be able to complete the program in

that time?

A. Sure, the SOUL Badge is perfect for students on exchange. You’ll need to complete 35 hours

of volunteering and 6 hours of workshops and you’ll receive recognition before your exchange

ends. If you think you can complete 90 hours of volunteering and all 4 workshops of the SOUL

Award during your time in Sydney then go for it!

Q. How do I register?

A. You can register for the SOUL Badge or SOUL Award below

NB – The Soul Badge is a requirement of the award, so if your new to SOUL you must start there

SOUL Badge Workflow Or SOUL Award Workflow

VOLUNTEERING

Q. Can I volunteer on weekends or holidays?

A. You can volunteer anytime, as long as it suits your schedule. If you are busy during the week,

there are loads of volunteer work opportunities available on weekends. Conversely, if you are

really busy during the whole of semester but have spare time in your holidays, then try

volunteering for an event or campaign, which might require only a few weeks’ worth of

16

volunteering. The goal is for you to use your time wisely, so find opportunities that work with your

timetable!

Q. Is there a time frame for completing my volunteer hours?

A. You have the course of your study at UTS to complete your volunteer hours and workshops,

however you must have everything done by 30 May or 30 October of your final semester at UTS

Q: I signed up for a volunteer role but now I can’t go.

A: Let the event organiser know as soon as you can that you won’t be able to make the

commitment. In future seriously consider taking on a role if you are unsure if you have the time –

volunteers get a bad name when they sign up for things and then don’t show up – and it affects

the community organisations who rely on volunteers. It also affects SOUL – organisations are

less likely to work with volunteer programs if they have bad experiences of people being

unreliable.

VOLUNTEER HOURS – WHAT COUNTS AND HOW TO RECORD IT?

Q. How do I record the volunteering I am doing?

A. You can log your volunteer hours via your SOUL workflow on CareerHub

SOUL Badge Workflow Or SOUL Award Workflow

Q. What kind of volunteering opportunities count towards SOUL?

A. If you want your volunteer hours to count towards SOUL make sure it is unpaid, within

Australia and with a not-for-profit organisation. You can find out more about our volunteering

policy here: And if you’re still unsure, shoot us an email at soul.award@uts.edu.au

Q. Can I count internal UTS volunteering?

A. Internal volunteering only counts if the position is a leadership and/or mentoring position that

creates a positive social impact in the student community. You can log a maximum 20 hours of

internal volunteering for SOUL Badge and a further 20 hours of internal volunteering for the

SOUL Award. If you’re not sure if your internal volunteering will count for SOUL send us an email

at soul.award@uts.edu.au.

Q. Does my volunteering have to be related to my degree, or can I volunteer for whatever

looks the most fun?

17

A. It’s up to you! That’s the great thing about SOUL, you get to choose your own adventure!

Some students in their final year look for internships or volunteer positions related to their area of

study to help them gain professional experience. Other students are looking for opportunities to

improve their communication skills, experience a workplace or meet people and have fun.

Choose what works for you!

Q. I’ve volunteered in the past. Can I count these hours towards the UTS SOUL Award?

A. Unfortunately, not. You are only able to log volunteer hours completed from when you joined

the SOUL program

Q. I see lots of workshops and film screenings advertised in the Newsletter – can I count

these as volunteer hours?

A. We know lots of students like going to talks and workshops – and yes these are all useful

experiences. We encourage you to attend, but you cannot count these hours towards your

volunteering

Q. I’ve been on a BUiLD overseas volunteer trip. Can I count these hours?

A. Unfortunately no you can’t, SOUL only counts volunteering that takes place in Australia.

Q. I volunteered at an overnight camp? How many hours do I count for each day?

A. Count all the hours that you were actively volunteering, not socialising or sleeping!

WORKSHOPS

Q. I know the workshops are compulsory, but what if I’m busy or sick when they are

scheduled?

A. The four workshops will be offered multiple times each year, at least once during each

Semester and as an intensive during the Semester break. Remember, you have your whole

degree to complete the 2-4 workshops – so plenty of chances. Please only RSVP if you are

reasonably sure you can commit to attending – when you cancel at the last minute it means

others miss out on a chance who could have had your spot.

18

Q. How do I see the workshop dates and book?

A. You can check out when the workshops are running and book here.

New workshop dates are released before each Semester, we will include any new dates in the

Newsletter

LEAVING SOUL

Q. What if I get really busy with studying and working? Is there a time frame of when I

need to get my hours done? If need be, can I leave the program?

A. We understand that your studies come first and if you are involved in other programs or with

other activities, it’s ok if you decide that the UTS: SOUL Award is not a priority. There is no

defined time frame - you can get involved in the program when it suits you. You have your

whole degree in which to complete your hours and workshops, but you must have completed

your hours and workshops by the 30 May or 30 October deadline in your final semester.

Similarly, if you decide that the program is not for you, then you can leave the program.

Q. What do I receive at the end of the Badge/Award?

A. When you complete the first stage, the SOUL Badge, you will receive a certificate of

completion, a LinkedIn recommendation and volunteer experience you can include on your CV.

For the second stage, the SOUL Award you will receive a certificate of completion, a letter or

LinkedIn recommendation that details your volunteering and skills of achievement as well as

having the SOUL Award listed on your graduate statement

Q. I’ve completed over 90 hours of volunteering already but I am really enjoying it. Do I

have to stop?

A. Absolutely not! The Award requirements are just a minimum. It is fantastic that you are keen

to continue, keep it up and please keep logging your hours so we have an accurate picture of

how much amazing work you are doing. We’ll reflect your extra commitment and every single

hour you log – and who you volunteered with – on your recommendation letter or LinkedIn

recommendation when you graduate.

19

INSURANCE & COMPLIANCE

Q. I’ve signed up for an organisation, but they’ve asked if I have my own insurance. Do I?

A. Organisations should provide insurance for volunteers at their organisation.

You are covered by UTS insurance when you are on campus at UTS or off-campus with a UTS

staff member.

In all other circumstances, you should be covered by the insurance of the organisation you are

volunteering with. Check with the volunteer coordinator or manager when you sign up to

volunteer to make sure they have volunteer insurance to cover you. If an organisation can’t

provide volunteer insurance, get in touch with SOUL at soul.award@uts.edu.au.

If you are injured during a volunteer activity you should report it to the volunteer coordinator or

manager as soon as possible. Please also report this to the SOUL Award team by emailing us at

soul.award@uts.edu.au.

Q. Do I need a Working With Children or Police Check? A. Your volunteer organisation will let you know if your role requires a Working with Children

and/or Police Check. They are needed for roles that have direct contact with children or deal

with cash/sensitive information. It confirms you have not been charged with any child/role-related

offence and provide it to your organisation.

Q. How do I get a Working with Children Check?

A.

1. Apply online here: https://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-

organisations/working-with-children-check

If you apply as a volunteer the check will be free

2. Go to a Roads and Maritime Services office to verify your identity and collect your

Working with Children Number.

Q. How do I get a Police Check?

A. If an organisation requires a Police Check to be carried out, they should cover the costs and

provide the paperwork to you. You will be required to produce 100 points of identification.

20

OTHER

Q. What is UTS Shopfront Community Program?

A. SOUL is one of the programs run by UTS Shopfront at the Centre for Social Justice and

Inclusion. Shopfront acts as a gateway for community organisations to access UTS. We work

with not-for-profits and community organisations, UTS students and UTS Staff to complete

skilled projects as part of students’ final year or postgraduate coursework. If you are interested in

undertaking a community project as part of your disciplinary coursework, you can check out our

available projects here: Or email shopfront@uts.edu.au to find out more.

Q. I’m doing a community project as part of my coursework through UTS Shopfront. Does

this count towards SOUL?

We know (because we have mapped and measured) that students who do Shopfront community

projects as part of their coursework commit many more hours to successfully complete those

projects than are required by your regular coursework subjects. For this reason, we allow UTS

student to count their projects as meeting the 35 hours volunteering requirement for the SOUL

Badge. So complete your community project, log your 35 hours on that project, and complete

your workshops and you will receive the SOUL badge.

21

6. VOLUNTEER RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND INSURANCE INFORMATION Your rights and responsibilities:

Volunteers

have a right to:

• To be given accurate and truthful information about the organisation you

are working for

• To be reimbursed for agreed out of pocket expenses

• To be given a copy of the organisations volunteer policy and any other

policy that affects your work

• Not to fill a position previously held by a paid worker

• To have a job description and agreed working hours for meaningful tasks,

for no more than 16 hours a week on a regular basis in one role

• To be provided with orientation to the organisation and sufficient training

to do your job

• Be asked for permission before any job-related background check or

reference

• Be provided with a suitable workplace and tools

• Be given a verbal reference or statement of service

• Personal accident insurance (in place of workers compensation

insurance)

Organisations

have a right to:

• Select the best volunteer by interviewing and screening, just like any

other job

• Expect volunteers to undertake training provided

• Expect volunteers to adhere to their job description and code of practice

and polices

• Receive the same effort and service from volunteers as paid workers

• Expect loyalty to the organisation

• Provide volunteers with feedback about their work

• Release volunteers using fair and appropriate procedures

22

Insurance:

You are covered by UTS insurance when you are on campus at UTS or off-campus with a UTS

staff member.

In all other circumstances, you should be covered by the insurance of the organisation you are

volunteering with. Check with the volunteer coordinator or manager when you sign up to

volunteer to make sure they have volunteer insurance to cover you. If an organisation can’t

provide volunteer insurance, get in touch with SOUL at soul.award@uts.edu.au.

If you are injured during a volunteer activity you should report it to the volunteer coordinator or

manager as soon as possible. Please also report this to the SOUL Award team by emailing us at

soul.award@uts.edu.au.

Workplace Health and Safety:

Under Federal Workplace Health and Safety, organisations must ensure the health and safety of

all workers, including volunteers. Organisations should provide Workplace Health and Safety

training as part of the induction for new volunteers. This could include training on safe workplace

practices, using protective equipment, first aid, and information on emergency procedures and

how to report hazards and incidents.