Avoiding Tsunamis in Community Transport: Ensuring that the policy framework supports the health and safety of volunteer drivers

Rural Community Transport services are non-government organisations that operate in highly legislative and regulatory environments. This contextualizes the volunteer driver's experience in this industry. Flexibility in the management of volunteers is necessary, both volunteers and managers need to be fluid in performing their respective roles. Volunteer drivers are the energy transport phenomenon which causes the movement of people from one place to another place. Volunteers are like waves, experiencing short or long journeys as they move from one location to the next. Volunteers need to be cognisant of the way they interact with their physical environment and learn how to recognise different warning signs. Accidents cannot be predicted but they can be minimised by observing good volunteer management practices. This puts managers on notice, to ensure that they 'wax' properly, whilst volunteers need to learn how to use equipment and to keep themselves safe. Given the unknown level of risk volunteers and their passengers may be subject to; this paper looks at how a policy framework can foster sustainable and safe work practices for volunteer drivers.