Volunteer

Original Editor - Rachael Lowe

Top Contributors - Admin, Kim Jackson, Rachael Lowe, Wendy Walker and Tony Lowe

Why Volunteer?

Volunteering for Physiopedia is an amazing opportunity for any rehabilitation professional. It is a great complement to your daily work, improves employability and will contribute to your continuing education and professional development.

We are building the largest rehabilitation resource available, and we need your help! There is always so much to do at Physiopedia and we always welcome offers to contribute. Help us to build what we hope will become an amazing resource for our profession.  

How Will You Benefit?

Joining us on the team at Physiopedia is a great addition to your CV! From the experience, you are likely to gain new profession-related knowledge and also to advance your technical skills. Volunteering will contribute to your continuing education and professional development and you can know, and feel good about the fact, that you have contributed to our global profession by playing an important role in building this professional resource.

With successful voluntary contributions, we are happy to provide you with certification for your continuing education and professional development, plus references for your current and potential employers.

It's fun as well!

Physiopedia Hackathon 2016	Physiopedia team at CSP conference 2015
Physiopedia blogging team at IFOMPT 2015	Physiopedia team at CPA conference 2015

What Do I Do as a Volunteer?

We are spread out all over the world, and everyone works from the location they choose at a time that suits them. We use Asana for project management, Google Meet for online meetings, and everything else on Slack. We care about the work you produce, not just the hours you put in.  Everyone has a specific goal to achieve every month. For example, on the content team, this might include updating 4 existing pages or creating 2 new pages, or if you are given a specific role that suits your individual qualifications, experience, and interests, you will have certain mutually agreed-upon deliverables each month.

As part of the Physiopedia Team, you will:

• Have another rehabilitation related job!  All our positions are part-time enabling the team to continue in their chosen profession.
• Know that you are making a difference by making best clinical practice available to thousands of rehabilitation professionals and their millions of patients worldwide.
• Have full access to Plus  for all your continuing education and professional development needs.
• Join us at conferences and team gatherings.
• Have fun and make a difference with us!

How Do I Become a Volunteer?

All our volunteers complete the Volunteer Orientation Course. Following successful completion of this course, all our volunteers complete six months on the content development team. This consolidates all that you have learned on the course and gives you an opportunity to demonstrate where your unique skills and interests lie. After your six-month review, you may continue on the content team (this is where most of our volunteers contribute) or, if you have demonstrated specific skills and interests, you may be provided with a role that suits you.  

As a volunteer, you will require:

• Great communication skills. We’re a distributed team, so frequent and clear written communication is vital.
• Self-driven work ethic. You should be able to work independently, enjoy taking initiative and seeing things through to completion.
• Curiosity and the desire to learn. Physiopedia is a unique project that is constantly changing with the times, there is always a lot of learning to do!
• Respect for others. We’re a global team of contributors and users where there are language barriers, differing levels of education and cultural differences.

  If you would like to become a volunteer, sign up for the next Volunteer Orientation Course here.

Volunteer Program

1. Recruitment

• Volunteers will be recruited from the global rehabilitation community, including but not limited to physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and other rehabilitation professionals who work in this field. We welcome applications from students, graduates, clinicians, educators, or researchers.
• On acceptance to the volunteer program, you will become a White Belt Volunteer.

2. Orientation

• All volunteers must progress through the volunteer orientation course.
• During this orientation period you will familiarise yourself with our communication channels, reviewing and editing Physiopedia content, and supporting your peers in our communication channels. These tasks will help to familiarise you with navigating and editing the site, and you will gain valuable technical skills that will enable you to progress on through the volunteer program.
• On successful graduation from this orientation course, you will be provided with a course completion certificate to evidence your learning for employers and continuing education or professional development purposes. You will become a Yellow Belt Volunteer.

3. Assigned Role

• Once you have graduated from the orientation course you will complete 6 months on the content development team.  This will consolidate your editing skills and understanding of the Physiopedia project.
• After your six month review may continue on the content team (this is where most of our volunteers contribute) or, if you have demonstrated specific skills and interests, you may be provided with a role that suits you.  
• You will be expected to meet the specific requirements of your volunteer role and submit an activity report every month.

4. Training and Development

• Volunteers will be provided with all the training that they need for their specific role.
• After being on the the team for 6 months volunteers will also benefit from free access to Physiopedia Plus to contribute to their CPD/CE.

5. Performance Review

• Each volunteer will have a review at the end of every year on the team.
• Volunteers have the opportunity to earn a new volunteer badge and progress through the volunteer ranks annually, following a satisfactory performance appraisal.

6. Recognition and Awards

• Certification will be provided to prove your volunteer role to employers and for continuing education and professional development purposes.
• Volunteers who display exceptional skills in contributing to Physiopedia may be promoted into a managerial role.  
• After completing your 6 month volunteer internship, we will be happy to write you a recommendation and act as a reference to support your career and professional development.

7. Retention or Replacement

• Volunteers may choose to leave the program at any time.
• Underperforming volunteers will be replaced.

Volunteer Rights

Volunteers have the right to . . .

• An adequate orientation to the organisation
• A clearly written job description
• Be assigned to a job that suits their personal preferences, skills, experience and qualifications
• Be trained to do their job
• A satisfying job
• Know their supervisor and how to contact them
• Be provided with adequate guidance and supervision
• Have their personal information held confidentially
• Be involved in decisions that affect their areas of responsibility
• Have their concerns and complaints heard
• Be respected by co-workers
• Feedback about their performance
• Be recognised for contributing their time, experience, ideas and skills
• Say ‘no’; volunteers should not be coerced into doing tasks against their wishes or that they do not feel qualified to do
• To take time off for a holiday or for personal reasons
• To resign from their position

Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers have the responsibility to . . .

• Ensure they have the time necessary to take on a volunteer position
• Work within the policies and rules of the organisation
• Respect the privacy of staff and other volunteers
• Be reliable and dependable
• Complete agreed hours and tasks
• Inform the organisation when they will not be available to volunteer
• Be loyal to the organisation
• Speak up about important issues or concerns
• Attend meetings and training sessions
• Follow directions given by supervisors
• Be a team player and to support staff and other volunteers
• Be considerate about the views of staff and other volunteers
• Identify their limitations and expectations
• Be accountable and to accept constructive criticism

Useful Links

• Volunteer Orientation Course
• Ask a question