Volunteer Role Description
Title:
Specific Location:
Imagination Playground Play Associate
Various locations in the City
Reporting to:
Jill Andrews, Recreation Planner (for training, rostering, support, day to day
supervision as required)
The Imagination Playground (IP) is a mobile, portable playground with lots of
loose parts (Blocks) for children to create their own play spaces.
Brief description/Purpose:
Play Associates are trained adults who oversee an open setting where
children can direct their own play. They maintain a safe, welcoming
environment and manage the collection of Blocks.
The following vocations would be suitable for this position:
-
University Students
Teachers
Aquatic Centre Lifeguards
Parents
See www.imaginationplayground.com for more information.
Play Associates are required to:
- Make daily safety checks of the entire site in accordance with the
Safety and Maintenance Check List
- Un pack and pack up the Imagination Playground parts
- Manage the space and the IP blocks
- Monitor Imagination Playground parts and their use
- Support and facilitate the play process
- Report any incidents to the Volunteer Supervisor
Primary responsibilities/Tasks:
Play Associates facilitate play by:
- Ensuring a safe and hygienic environment
- Setting the initial stage for children to play
- Observing children’s play and identifying needed resources or
problems by listening to the children themselves
- Promoting fair and caring behaviour by their own demonstration and
by intervening in conflicts when necessary
- Encouraging team work
Experience or qualifications in working with children is desirable, but not
essential.
A basic First Aid Certificate is essential
Mandatory Reporting certification is essential
Qualifications
• Experience
• Skills
• Qualities or attitudes
A Police Check will be required
Play Associates will be selected based on demonstration of the following
qualities:
-
Good verbal communication skills
Positive
Enthusiastic
Energetic
Interest in children’s play and children’s development
Self-motivated with initiative
Play Associates will be rostered for shifts at days of the week and times that
suit them
Time and monetary
commitment:
Shifts will be 3-4 hours in duration, 7 days a week
Some shifts will be required for specific city-based community family events
No out of pocket expenses will be incurred
Entitlements & Benefits:
As a volunteer for the Adelaide City Council, you will be eligible for the
following benefits:
 Reimbursement of work related telephone and travel costs where
appropriate;
 A multi-trip ticket for use on public transport whilst travelling to and from
place of volunteering;
 A UPark voucher which will entitle you to park your vehicle in a selected
Council UPark for the duration of your shift;
 Invitations to social functions;
 The provision of uniforms where appropriate;
 Staff discounts and benefits (‘WRAP’); and
 Membership with the Adelaide City Council Social Club (a fee applies)
Play Associates will receive a Splash or Imagination Playground T-Shirt which
is to be worn while they are working.
Orientation/Training:
All volunteers must participate in the Adelaide City Council’s:
- Corporate Induction
- Volunteer Services Induction
- Site Specific Induction
- Manual Handling Training
-
Attend training that develops or maintain the skills to undertake the
role.
Undertake training in Workplace Instructions and/or Standard
Operating Procedures in the use of relevant plant, equipment,
machinery substances or activities as required by WHS Regulations.
Receiving IP training prior to taking charge of the Imagination Playground site
is essential.
Manual handling of the Imagination Playground in a Box will be required.
Challenges of the role:
Performance Management:
Policies & Procedures:
Volunteers are expected to abide by the Adelaide City Council Code of
Conduct.
Volunteers will participate in 3 monthly and yearly reviews and keep open
communication with Volunteer Supervisor.
All Council policies apply to volunteers as they do to staff.
Some specific policies are:
 Volunteer Policy
 Corporate Work Health Safety (WHS) Policy – volunteers must take all
reasonable steps to ensure personal safety and that of others is not
put at risk through any neglect or omission in relation to the above.
 Workplace Bullying Policy
 Safe Environment (duty of care to children & vulnerable adults)
Operating Guidelines – where applicable to a role volunteers will
attend training on reporting neglect or abuse.
 Weather Policy
From 1 December 2012 – 31 March 2013, Imagination Playground will be
rolled out as part of Splash Adelaide, which is a series of projects that
showcase innovative and experimental projects in public spaces in the city. IP
will feature in various spaces and at City events as a Splash project.
Outcomes for Council:
From April 2013, Imagination Playground will be an Active City program and
will add value to children’s play experiences in the City and Park Lands. Active
City creates opportunities for the community to be physically active through
the provision of a diverse range of exciting and fun recreation initiatives.
Application process:
 Online Application/Application Form
 Interview
 Volunteer Program and Council Induction
 Medical Check (as required for roles where physical fitness is important)
 Police Check (required if working with children or vulnerable adults or at
the discretion of the Volunteer Supervisor e.g. for handling cash)
 Mandatory Notifier (volunteer must be provided with ‘Guidelines for
Mandated Notifiers’ if work involves delivering or the potential to deliver
services to children i.e. any person under age 18 years)
I agree to abide by the conditions as set out in this Volunteer Role Description.
Name (Volunteer):
Signed (Volunteer): ________________________________________Date: ____________________
Name (Volunteer Supervisor):
Signed (Volunteer Supervisor): ______________________________ Date: ____________________