Working with Centrelink Volunteers

The VWI program which was administered by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, through Volunteering Australia, is no longer in operation. However, Centrelink clients can still elect to volunteer as part of their activity requirements – if that is in their contract.

The implications of this for not-for profit organisations are as follows:

• Centrelink clients can choose to volunteer at a particular NFP organisation, as part of their activity requirement, as long as that organisation is on Centrelink's 'approved list'.
• Historically, there have been two ways an organisation could be on the approved list – either by being a member of The Centre for Volunteering, or by registering directly with Centrelink, and completing the appropriate paperwork.
• Now that the VWI program no longer exists, being a member of our Centre will no longer give an organisation 'approval' status, and therefore every organisation wishing to have Centrelink volunteers, must register with Centrelink.
• To find out if your organisation is already on Centrelink's approved list, you should call Centrelink on 132 850, and, once speaking to an operator, you should ask them to check the list on their Local Activities Database (LAD), which they can find by looking under 'L' on their Centrenet home page.
• If your organisation is not on that list, you can start the approval process by completing what is known as an SU461 form. You can also find this form by logging on to Centrelink's website, and typing 'SU461' in the search facility: www.centrelink.gov.au

For more information visit www.centrelink.gov.au or phone Centrelink on 132 850.