Volunteer Code of Practice
Last updated: 11 May 2026
Who We Are
Core Australia (“CORE”, “we”, “our”, “us”) is a not-for-profit, community-operated platform providing WordPress, CiviCRM, and other software tools to community groups, causes, and campaigns.
We are mostly volunteers — not employees. All our volunteers agree to this Code of Practice. This document may also be freely copied and adapted for use by your own community organisation.
What This Policy Covers
This policy explains how we expect volunteers and contractors to treat confidential information. Volunteers and contractors may have access to personal information about other volunteers and confidential organisational information. This policy outlines our expectations for how that information is handled.
Scope
This policy applies to all volunteers, contractors, and others who may have access to confidential information. Confidential information may include, but is not limited to:
- Unpublished financial information
- Volunteer data including personal information
- Voter intent and other research data
- Data entrusted to our campaign by external parties
- Policy information and other undisclosed strategic information
- Election plans and calendars
- Documents and processes explicitly marked as confidential
- Unpublished objectives and strategies
Contractors and volunteers may have various levels of authorised access to confidential information depending on their role.
Expected Behaviour
What volunteers and contractors should do
- Lock or secure confidential information at all times
- Shred confidential documents when they are no longer needed
- Only view confidential information on secure devices
- Only disclose information to other contractors and volunteers when it is necessary and authorised
- Keep confidential documents inside the campaign office unless it is absolutely necessary to move them
What volunteers and contractors should not do
- Use confidential information for any personal benefit or profit
- Disclose confidential information to anyone outside of the campaign team
- Replicate confidential documents or files and store them on insecure devices
If volunteers or contractors leave the campaign, they are obliged to return any confidential files and delete them from their personal devices.
Confidentiality Measures
We take measures to ensure that confidential information is well protected. We will:
- Store and lock paper documents appropriately
- Encrypt electronic information and safeguard databases
- Require authorisation from senior campaign members to allow access to certain confidential information
Exceptions
Confidential information may occasionally need to be disclosed for legitimate reasons — for example, if a regulatory body requests it as part of an investigation or audit, or as otherwise required by law. In such cases, those involved should document their disclosure procedure and collect all necessary authorisations. We are bound to avoid disclosing more information than is strictly required.
Disciplinary Consequences
We will investigate every breach of this policy. Volunteers or contractors who breach this Code of Practice may face disciplinary action and, in certain circumstances, termination. Breaches may also result in legal action.
Policy Updates
This policy may change from time to time and the current version is always available on our website.
Contact Us
If you have any concerns or complaints about this policy, please get in touch.