St Andrews RDA Information for Volunteers
New volunteers are always welcome - call on the number below to find out more. We much appreciate volunteers' assistance with our STAR program (St Andrews Accessible Riding) and are keen to offer roles you enjoy.
Your attendance is vital for our riders, so please be aware of the commitment you are making.
Please talk with coaches about your time availability, skills and preferences.
Volunteer Position Description
Working at St Andrews RDA centre involves a range of tasks, including, but not limited to, participating in sessions with a three-person team assisting a rider and a horse on the arena.
Volunteers are required to undergo brief initial training before working with riders, and on-going training is an integral part of the position.
Horse handlers, side walkers and session leaders make up the teams, and while session leaders and horse handlers must have some knowledge of riding as well as expertise with horses, side walkers are not required to have any experience with horses.
Volunteers also help with fundraising, parent liaison, promotion and publicity and administrative duties. Website development, volunteer training and liaison with Riding for the Disabled Victoria Head Office may also be involved.
Experience with children and individuals with disability will be well regarded, but not essential as long as volunteers are prepared to be flexible, creative and positive in their attitude towards the work and their training. Empathy for others is required for this work.
Our year is broken into four terms – we ask for at least a term’s commitment at a time - preferably one year.
A Working With Children check is mandatory and free, and assistance with applications will be given to those who do not yet have one. Referees will be followed up by email or telephone.
Selection Criteria
Volunteers will be selected according to the following criteria:
Essential
• Ability to communicate effectively with adults
• Willingness to work as a team and maintain a supportive group environment
• A strong sense of both compassion and respect for riders, parents, other volunteers and horses
• A non-punitive approach to both children and horses
• Patience and continued enthusiasm even in the face of difficulties
• Creativity in generating and developing games and activities
• Commitment to regular, long-term attendance in all weather conditions
• Conscientious approach to timing and punctuality
• Initiative in taking on tasks, both regular and occasional
• Willingness to undergo on-going training
• Attention to centre safety and capable management of emergency situations.
Preferred but not essential
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and individuals with disability
• Physical fitness, resilience
• Some knowledge of horse behaviour
• Riding experience
• Previous work with children
• Previous work with individuals with disability
Students undertaking studies in the area of education or disability will be well regarded.
FAQs
What do volunteers do?
Our STAR riders work with a volunteer team, which includes the horse, a session leader, a horse handler and one or two side-walkers where required.
The team operates under the supervision of an RDA Level 1 coach.
We need at least 9 volunteers per session, possibly more if there are severe disabilities involved. Please let us know any time you cannot attend.
When are volunteers needed?
Monday sessions run from 2.30pm to 5pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 1pm.
STAR coincides with school terms.
Volunteers attend a training day on the last week of term break. Riders attend for sessions usually from the second Monday of term.
How do people become RDA St Andrews volunteers?
Volunteers fill out a Volunteer Application Form, which asks about experience, preferences and reasons for volunteering. It also asks for two personal referees and a Working With Children check, which is easy to obtain online and is free for volunteers.
Once initial orientation and training is completed, volunteers are given the opportunity to work on the arena with riders under the guidance of the Coach and Session Leaders.
New volunteers are always welcome - call on the number below to find out more. We much appreciate volunteers' assistance with our STAR program (St Andrews Accessible Riding) and are keen to offer roles you enjoy.
Your attendance is vital for our riders, so please be aware of the commitment you are making.
Please talk with coaches about your time availability, skills and preferences.
Volunteer Position Description
Working at St Andrews RDA centre involves a range of tasks, including, but not limited to, participating in sessions with a three-person team assisting a rider and a horse on the arena.
Volunteers are required to undergo brief initial training before working with riders, and on-going training is an integral part of the position.
Horse handlers, side walkers and session leaders make up the teams, and while session leaders and horse handlers must have some knowledge of riding as well as expertise with horses, side walkers are not required to have any experience with horses.
Volunteers also help with fundraising, parent liaison, promotion and publicity and administrative duties. Website development, volunteer training and liaison with Riding for the Disabled Victoria Head Office may also be involved.
Experience with children and individuals with disability will be well regarded, but not essential as long as volunteers are prepared to be flexible, creative and positive in their attitude towards the work and their training. Empathy for others is required for this work.
Our year is broken into four terms – we ask for at least a term’s commitment at a time - preferably one year.
A Working With Children check is mandatory and free, and assistance with applications will be given to those who do not yet have one. Referees will be followed up by email or telephone.
Selection Criteria
Volunteers will be selected according to the following criteria:
Essential
• Ability to communicate effectively with adults
• Willingness to work as a team and maintain a supportive group environment
• A strong sense of both compassion and respect for riders, parents, other volunteers and horses
• A non-punitive approach to both children and horses
• Patience and continued enthusiasm even in the face of difficulties
• Creativity in generating and developing games and activities
• Commitment to regular, long-term attendance in all weather conditions
• Conscientious approach to timing and punctuality
• Initiative in taking on tasks, both regular and occasional
• Willingness to undergo on-going training
• Attention to centre safety and capable management of emergency situations.
Preferred but not essential
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and individuals with disability
• Physical fitness, resilience
• Some knowledge of horse behaviour
• Riding experience
• Previous work with children
• Previous work with individuals with disability
Students undertaking studies in the area of education or disability will be well regarded.
FAQs
What do volunteers do?
Our STAR riders work with a volunteer team, which includes the horse, a session leader, a horse handler and one or two side-walkers where required.
The team operates under the supervision of an RDA Level 1 coach.
We need at least 9 volunteers per session, possibly more if there are severe disabilities involved. Please let us know any time you cannot attend.
When are volunteers needed?
Monday sessions run from 2.30pm to 5pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 1pm.
STAR coincides with school terms.
Volunteers attend a training day on the last week of term break. Riders attend for sessions usually from the second Monday of term.
How do people become RDA St Andrews volunteers?
Volunteers fill out a Volunteer Application Form, which asks about experience, preferences and reasons for volunteering. It also asks for two personal referees and a Working With Children check, which is easy to obtain online and is free for volunteers.
Once initial orientation and training is completed, volunteers are given the opportunity to work on the arena with riders under the guidance of the Coach and Session Leaders.
2018_volunteer_application_form.pdf | |
File Size: | 342 kb |
File Type: |
What training is necessary and how is it offered?
Volunteers must complete both the Induction (Stage 1) and the Basic Training (Stage 2) before they assist on the arena (RDAV
requirement). You will be guided through the training modules by either a coach or another volunteer. Each module takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Volunteers must complete the ‘Mounting Training’ module before they put riders up on a horse. A trained volunteer or a coach must attend mounting both at the ramp and the mounting block (RDAV requirement). All training is provided.
If unsure about anything, feel free to ask a coach or another volunteer for help. We work on a ‘Know One, Teach One’ principle – we ask that all volunteers share their learning and expertise freely.
Do volunteers need to know about horses?
Volunteers do not have to know about horses, as there are many roles you can fulfill, such as sidewalker, parent liaison, training assistance, equipment maintenance, fundraising and community relations. Those who are comfortable around horses are welcome as horse handlers and session leaders.
There are specific requirements for the roles of session leader, horse handler and sidewalker. Please ask about what the roles involve and how to be an effective team member.
Other roles include administrative responsibilities and maintenance of communications.
Information about our horses
Horses Zac, Buzz, Spud and Jerry are currently available for Monday sessions. Zac and Buzz attend on Tuesdays. Tiny, Rascal, Zac and Buzz attend on Thursdays. No horses do more than 3 sessions per day so they stay willing helpers.
We encourage riders and parents to greet the horses by letting the horse sniff the back of the hand only.
We discourage touching the horse’s muzzle or mouth for safety reasons. We do not feed treats from the hand and ask that no food is brought on to the arena at any time.
We encourage rubbing and scratching of the horse’s neck, shoulder or forehead, but we discourage patting.
On the ground, the rider is directed to stand at the horse’s shoulder (‘the safe spot’), not in front of the horse.
We offer therapeutic activities on horseback, which includes riding and learning to ride with balance and coordination. We don’t offer trotting as a reward, as it can lead to a sore back for the horse. Riders whose muscle development, balance and coordination allow them to stand up and sit down at a controlled walk may progress to learning a rising trot.
How do people become RDA St Andrews riders?
When registering with RDA Victoria, riders pay an initial fee of $145 (2018 fee). They must have a signed medical release from their GP if they have a diagnosed physical condition. You can see copies of rider application forms under 'For Parents' on this website.
Cost per STAR session is $20 for up to 30 minutes with/on the horse, payable termly in advance (Eg $180 for 9 sessions in term 4 2015). Riders are invoiced by the Centre at the end of each school holiday period.
Riders are asked to book the next term's sessions in advance. If demand exceeds number of places, payment will secure a place, after which a waiting list will operate.
Information about RDAV
St Andrews Accessible Riding is one of 39 centres operating under our parent body, Riding for the Disabled Victoria.
STAR started in February 2015 and we are currently providing sessions for sixteen riders. We are hoping to increase our numbers in 2018. In order to do this we need qualified RDAV coaches. If you are interested in training to be a Level 1 RDA coach, please see the following websites …
http://www.rdav.asn.au
http://www.rda.org.au
… and then talk to our coaches about training possibilities. Aspiring coaches need to work through the Orientation to Coaching program, followed by the Level 1 Coaching program.
We love to work with trainee coaches – come and join us!
Please see our information sheet for parents and carers for more details.
Volunteers must complete both the Induction (Stage 1) and the Basic Training (Stage 2) before they assist on the arena (RDAV
requirement). You will be guided through the training modules by either a coach or another volunteer. Each module takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Volunteers must complete the ‘Mounting Training’ module before they put riders up on a horse. A trained volunteer or a coach must attend mounting both at the ramp and the mounting block (RDAV requirement). All training is provided.
If unsure about anything, feel free to ask a coach or another volunteer for help. We work on a ‘Know One, Teach One’ principle – we ask that all volunteers share their learning and expertise freely.
Do volunteers need to know about horses?
Volunteers do not have to know about horses, as there are many roles you can fulfill, such as sidewalker, parent liaison, training assistance, equipment maintenance, fundraising and community relations. Those who are comfortable around horses are welcome as horse handlers and session leaders.
There are specific requirements for the roles of session leader, horse handler and sidewalker. Please ask about what the roles involve and how to be an effective team member.
Other roles include administrative responsibilities and maintenance of communications.
Information about our horses
Horses Zac, Buzz, Spud and Jerry are currently available for Monday sessions. Zac and Buzz attend on Tuesdays. Tiny, Rascal, Zac and Buzz attend on Thursdays. No horses do more than 3 sessions per day so they stay willing helpers.
We encourage riders and parents to greet the horses by letting the horse sniff the back of the hand only.
We discourage touching the horse’s muzzle or mouth for safety reasons. We do not feed treats from the hand and ask that no food is brought on to the arena at any time.
We encourage rubbing and scratching of the horse’s neck, shoulder or forehead, but we discourage patting.
On the ground, the rider is directed to stand at the horse’s shoulder (‘the safe spot’), not in front of the horse.
We offer therapeutic activities on horseback, which includes riding and learning to ride with balance and coordination. We don’t offer trotting as a reward, as it can lead to a sore back for the horse. Riders whose muscle development, balance and coordination allow them to stand up and sit down at a controlled walk may progress to learning a rising trot.
How do people become RDA St Andrews riders?
When registering with RDA Victoria, riders pay an initial fee of $145 (2018 fee). They must have a signed medical release from their GP if they have a diagnosed physical condition. You can see copies of rider application forms under 'For Parents' on this website.
Cost per STAR session is $20 for up to 30 minutes with/on the horse, payable termly in advance (Eg $180 for 9 sessions in term 4 2015). Riders are invoiced by the Centre at the end of each school holiday period.
Riders are asked to book the next term's sessions in advance. If demand exceeds number of places, payment will secure a place, after which a waiting list will operate.
Information about RDAV
St Andrews Accessible Riding is one of 39 centres operating under our parent body, Riding for the Disabled Victoria.
STAR started in February 2015 and we are currently providing sessions for sixteen riders. We are hoping to increase our numbers in 2018. In order to do this we need qualified RDAV coaches. If you are interested in training to be a Level 1 RDA coach, please see the following websites …
http://www.rdav.asn.au
http://www.rda.org.au
… and then talk to our coaches about training possibilities. Aspiring coaches need to work through the Orientation to Coaching program, followed by the Level 1 Coaching program.
We love to work with trainee coaches – come and join us!
Please see our information sheet for parents and carers for more details.
Our riders work on the ground with the horse as well as riding on top.
We like to encourage a respectful and friendly connection between horse and rider.
Our horses are trained and dependable. They often develop significant relationships with the riders.