HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

You have several options as a Member, depending on how involved you wish to be.

You can become a Financial Member and take no active role, or you may opt to take an active role and become a volunteer: In the Op Shop, as an Events Volunteer, as a Community Assist Team Volunteer, or you may be interested in hearing more about the Committee of Management roles.

Applications for membership are presented at monthly Committee Meetings, after which the Secretary contacts Applicants, and names are added to the Membership Register.

All Members receive:

• a copy of the monthly Committee Meeting Minutes (in the month after they have been ratified.?)
• invitations to any RCL events being held, with emphasis on our Strategic Planning Days, where all Members are warmly welcomed, and actively encouraged to bring their thoughts and visions for forward planning.
• your Renewal Notice to ensure your financial status remains, along with an invitation to our AGM. Should you wish to become a volunteer, please contact the Office for our full Volunteer Information document.

Members Only:

Welcome to Rural Care Link Inc, a wonderful organisation that cares very much about the community we live in. Members can happily join up and not be under any obligation to take an active role, if this is your preference. We want you to feel very included and welcome to offer any thoughts, make suggestions and give feedback on how and what the organisation is doing.

Op Shop Volunteer:

You can take a more active role and join our dedicated band of Op Shop Volunteers, when we will ensure that you have received all the relevant information, orientation and induction, to ensure a smooth introduction. *Click here for more information.

Once you have indicated your interest, you will be contacted by the Op Shop Coordinator who will organise to meet with you and provide you with an Op Shop Orientation and Induction.

This will include:

• Arranging a time of mutual agreement, to go through that Induction process and sign off on its completion.
• Discussing your availability to volunteer for certain shifts to be added to the roster.
• Assistance to complete the following legal requirements – a Volunteer Working With Children Check (WWCC) and a National Police Check, both of which are required in most organisations. The process is not onerous and is done online, simply following the links that will be sent to you by our Office Administration Assistant, who can help you if needed. This will not incur any cost to you, with the Volunteer WWCC being free of charge, and RCL will cover the cost for the Police Check. These background checks are an integral part of our governance and ensure your protection and RCL’s, and that of the people we support.

Event or Casual Volunteer:

You can become a member and choose to give much needed and welcome assistance to volunteer for one-off events or projects. We will ensure your orientation and induction is completed with the Coordinator of that event, making it easy to be part of our team. *Click here for more information.

There are some legal requirements that we will assist you to get: a Volunteer Working With Children Check (WWCC) and a National Police Check, both of which are required in most organisations. The process is not onerous and is done online, simply following the links that will be sent to you by our Office Administration Assistant, who can help you if needed. This will not incur any cost to you, with the Volunteer WWCC being free of charge, and RCL will cover the cost for the Police Check. These background checks are an integral part of our governance and ensure your protection and RCL’s, and that of the people we support.

When an event is to be held, you will be contacted by the Event Coordinator, who will take you through an orientation process, after which you will be required to fill in the specific Event Volunteer Form for that event or activity and sign off on your completed induction. Your help will be much appreciated.

Community Assist Volunteer:

You can become part of a Community Assist Volunteer Team, where you can nominate the areas of support that might interest you to assist with, on either a regular, or very casual basis. *Click here for more information.

We ask you to complete the Community Assist Volunteer Application Form, available either through the Op Shop or the RCL Office, where you let us know your interests, skills, days and times of availability. There are also some legal requirements that we will assist you to get: a Volunteer Working With Children Check (WWCC) and a National Police Check, both of which are required in most organisations. The process is not onerous and is done online, simply following the links that will be sent to you by our Office Administration Assistant, who can help you if needed. This will not incur any cost to you, with the Volunteer WWCC being free of charge, and RCL will cover the cost for the Police Check. These background checks are an integral part of our governance and ensure your protection and RCL’s, and that of the people we support.

Your name will be added to the Community Assist Volunteer Team Register, overseen by the Volunteer Team Manager, who will contact you to outline the role you will play and the responsibilities that correspond. You will have any training that may be needed as appropriate before commencing in this role, and on an ongoing basis, also encouraging your suggestions for further training options. Your willingness to be part of our team is highly valued and we appreciate all that you contribute.

Committee of Management

Positions are also volunteer roles, but carry greater responsibilities, being willing and able to give a greater commitment of time and preparedness to conduct the governance and compliance that all not-For-Profit Charities must adhere to. *Click here for more information. (*If you are interested in learning more information about the Management Committee, its role and the responsibilities involved, we will arrange for the President or another Committee Member to contact you and discuss.

There is significantly more responsibility under this banner. Expectations are high that you can give of your time to help oversee the entirety of the organisation’s Core Business and Community Initiatives, adhering to our Association’s governance as set out by the Constitution and abiding by guidelines and compliance, as set by Fair Trading and the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (ACNC).

Our Recruitment Policy guides our decisions to attract a blend of complementary skills, for the mix of those who manage the organisation. A comprehensive Committee of Management Information document outlines the detail for those upon acceptance to a position.

No matter which option you may choose, we will be delighted to have you join us and welcome you wholeheartedly to Rural Care Link, a tiny organisation doing a MIGHTY job.

Membership Application Form

Membership-Application-Form-2025.pdf