Eligibility

Only those organisations meeting ALL of the following criteria are eligible to obtain a Volunteer Organisation Authorisation Number (VOAN):

1. The services provided by the organisation involves volunteers working with vulnerable people or groups that requires or involves

a) Regular contact or working in close proximity

b) Access to personal records relating to vulnerable groups.

2. Services provided by the organisation provides a charity or community service good.

3. The organisation is NOT part of or is a government agency.

4. The organisation is not a member or affiliated club or association of a larger organisation. **

5. The organisation has incorporated status.

**When an organisation is a member or affiliated club or association of a larger organisation, a VOAN will be provided to the central body only when state-wide or centralised representation is available (eg. Netball SA or Scouts Australia - SA Branch).

The VOAN will then be available for use by all individual clubs or subsidiary organisations (e.g. The VOAN issued to Netball SA would be used by the Wudinna United Netball Club, and the VOAN issued to Scouts Australia SA Branch would be used by the Kilkenny Scout Group).

Fees

VOAN Applications
There is no fee associated with the application for a Volunteer Organisation Authorisation Number.

Volunteers
As the cost of police checks conducted on volunteers working with vulnerable groups is met by the Government, only authorised fee concessions can be claimed.

Paid employees
Checks undertaken on paid employees will be charged at the full rate. The same process can be followed, however, the VOAN and declaration are not required on the NPC application form (PD267), and a fee must accompany the application.

Definitions

Vulnerable groups are defined as children, the elderly or frail and people with a disability.

A volunteer is a person who performs an activity which is of benefit to the community, is done of their own free will and is undertaken without monetary reward.