As valued members and volunteers, your safety and wellbeing are paramount. We deeply appreciate your dedication and the contributions you make to our community. To ensure we can continue this important work effectively, we're reinforcing our commitment to your safety through some key updates and reminders. 

Injury Management

If you sustain an injury while volunteering with Vinnies in NSW, you’re covered by our Volunteer Accident Insurance policy. It’s important to note that this is not workers compensation. To seek reimbursement for eligible medical expenses, and potential loss of earnings from other employment, a claim must be lodged with our claims agent Corporate Services Network (CSN). You can find the full policy and information pack outlining the process, available support and how to lodge a claim on the MAVS website.  

Introducing Falcon Duress

We're excited to announce the introduction of Falcon Duress personal safety devices at some of our service locations. This initiative reflects our proactive approach to ensuring that practical, additional personal safety devices are available for you while working in our high-risk sites. These devices are a supplementary device to duress devices already available. 

Safe Home Visitation

Before undertaking any visitation, please assess the risks of attending people’s homes and check for any alerts associated with the People We Assist. If you deem there to be a risk to your safety, make alternative arrangements. You have the right to say no to going into someone’s house. Furthermore, we want to reiterate the importance of always working in pairs during visitations. This measure significantly minimises potential risks associated with visitation. 

Risk Assessments are Key

Whether we are hosting an event or co-hosting with another organisation, ensuring a safe environment for everyone is non-negotiable. All public-facing events must be supported by a thorough risk assessment. This proactive approach enables us to identify potential hazards and implement appropriate control measures, safeguarding both our people and the wider community. To assist you in this process, an event checklist is available for download here (MAVS website log in required). 

Safety Essentials

The MV Portal is your central hub for all essential safety learning. We strongly encourage you to visit the portal regularly for updates and resources. Please ensure you complete the mandatory safety induction if you haven’t done so already.  

All safety-related information can be found on the MAVS website. While some general information is publicly available, members and volunteers must log in to access the full range of safety resources.   

Keeping You Informed

To further enhance communication around safety matters, the quarterly MVEI safety report is now being supplied to Regional Directors and communicated through Conference Presidents. This process ensures that safety insights and updates are disseminated effectively across our network. 

Your safety is our top priority. By working together, adhering to these important guidelines, and actively utilising the resources available to you, we can continue the good works while ensuring everyone keeps safe.  

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and for prioritising safety in all that you do.