The WA AIDS Council has a large number of volunteers who give their time in areas as diverse as Positive Services, Community and Peer Education, Events, Fundraising and Administration. All volunteers are provided with extensive training to ensure they are well equipped to complete their volunteer positions. Below are details of both mandatory training and ongoing training opportunities for those wishing to volunteer at WAAC. Many students find volunteering at WAAC an ideal way to harness information and skills in sexual health, alcohol and other drugs and other various areas.

+ Introductory Training to WAAC

Content: WAAC history and programs, HIV/AIDS history, current statistics and past trends, transmission and prevention, sexual diversity and gender, working with specific groups, communication, confidentiality and boundaries. The training also outlines a volunteer's responsibilities and roles within WAAC.

Length: 2 Days (usually runs 2-3 times a year). A 6 week evening course can be arranged at participants convenience.
Who: It is compulsory for all volunteers at WAAC to complete this course.
Group Size: Approx. 15-20 participants
Cost: $30

+ Public Speaking Program Training

WAAC trains volunteers to deliver presentations to a number of school, community and professional groups. Volunteers who wish to deliver these presentations must complete this training, and observe experienced presenters in the field. Volunteers living with HIV can participate in additional training to learn to present the Positively Speaking component of the Talking HIV program.

Content: HIV: The Facts session break down of components, effective teaching tools, communication, active listening, body language, appropriate language, boundaries and confidentiality, presentation etiquette and practical experience.
Length: 2 half days or equivalent
Who: Volunteers wanting to practise public speaking skills to a variety of audiences, this is popular with students looking to gain workshop/presentation experience
Group Size: small groups no more than 10
Cost: Free after completion of WAAC Intro training

+ Health Promotion Support Training

Health Promotion support volunteers usually work a regular 4 hour shift every week or fortnight, although more occasional volunteering is available. Specific project work and student placements are also available. Many Health Promotion Students who volunteer at the WA AIDS Council have gone on to work and other opportunities in the sector.

Content: HIV: The Facts session break down of components, effective teaching tools, communication, active listening, body language, appropriate language, boundaries and confidentiality, presentation etiquette and practical experience.
Length: one on one length as required per volunteer, plus additional in-services
Who: WAAC's Health Promotion programs are predominantly staffed by student volunteers from courses in related areas however this is open to anyone who is interested.
Group Size: one to one training as needed
Cost: Free after completion of WAAC Intro training

+ Alcohol and Other Drugs – Needle Syringe Exchange Program

WAAC trains volunteers to work on the mobile needle syringe exchange supply, exchange, disposal and education service that operates throughout the Perth Metro area on a weekly timetable. This training is ongoing for regular WAAC van volunteers.

Content: Harm reduction strategies, information on alcohol and other drugs, dealing with difficult clients and difficult situations, occupational health and safety on the van, keeping statistics, education and referral procedures, confidentiality and boundaries, and general outreach training .
Length: In house in-service time allocated by NSEP Coordinator
Who: Volunteers wanting to gain hands on experience in working in the alcohol and other drug portfolio, and practise harm reduction principles. This is popular with students looking to gain experience in this area
Group Size: small groups no more than 5 and/or one on one
Cost: Free after completion of WAAC Intro training

+ Support Services Training

Support service volunteers provide practical, emotional and social support to people living with HIV and their families.

Content: working in care teams, palliative care (bereavement, care of the care giver), maintaining boundaries, confidentiality, transport procedures, volunteer procedures, standard precautions, disability discrimination, treatments and opportunistic infections.

Length: In house in-service time allocated by Support Services Officer
Who: Volunteers wanting to gain hands on experience in working in the support services portfolio, and practice care giving principles.
Group Size: one on one or small groups
Cost: Free after completion of WAAC Intro training

+ Freedom Centre

The Freedom Centre is a peer support and information service for young people with diverse sexuality and gender. For more information on this service, please refer to the Freedom Centre website on www.freedomcentre.org.au

Content: Freedom Centre provides training for volunteer staff around a peer support for same sex attracted and gender diverse youth model.
Length: The initial Freedom Centre orientation program is 2 hours, though regular In house in-services are allocated by Freedom Centre Coordinator
Who: People 18-26 who are either same sex attracted, gender diverse or want to be a straight ally
Group Size: one on one
Cost: Free after completion of WAAC Intro training

+ Peer Education