Teachers Frequently Asked Questions
How do teachers access ITF?
Sign up as a teacher and use Inspiring the Future to find volunteers for your next career event, workshop, expo or more. Create Projects and Events to invite Volunteers to through our Volunteer search interface, and send out email invites through the platform.
Is ITF only for High Schools?
Any students! While we’re currently focusing on Inspiring the Future in High Schools, Inspiring the Future also applies to Primary Schools through the Primary Futures campaign.
What if the volunteer says no?
Volunteers are busy, and they can’t always make the time you need. Don’t be disheartened, invite another volunteer, or try to negotiate a time that works for both you and the volunteer or volunteers you originally wanted.
Where do I see if volunteers have accepted?
Click on show invitees inside your Projects and Events and you’ll see who has accepted to come! You can also see this in My Messages and your email.
Do my students sign up?
No students do not sign up. Only teachers or staff from schools and colleges sign up.
When should I invite a volunteer to my event?
Volunteers need time to clear their schedule, best practice would be to invite them a month or more before the event. This also gives you time to negotiate the details.
Why use ITF when we already have local volunteers who come to our school?
ITF enables all schools access volunteers from different sectors and you can therefore expand your current pool of volunteers. Encourage the volunteers you’ve already connected with to sign up, so that when you want them to attend your event, you both benefit from our easy system.
How does the platform work?
Teachers and Volunteers both sign up, and send and receive messages through the platform in the form of emails. Sharing personal contact details is voluntary. Events are organised, students hear from volunteers, horizons are broadened and futures impacted!
How do I get a volunteer to come?
Make the details and expectations of your event clear and invite volunteers with plenty of time beforehand.
How is child protection managed?
To make Inspiring the Future free and easy, volunteers in most states and territories aren’t required to undergo checks or testing. ITF volunteers in schools should remain in the direct supervision of teachers at all times. If you have further concerns about child protection at your event, you can have that conversation with the volunteer. Volunteers also agree to legal terms and conditions upon signing up, and if they’re found to be in breach of that, we will remove them from the system.
Our generic guidance is:
1. Inspiring the Future guest speakers MUST remain under the direct supervision of teachers at all times.
2. ITF volunteers should allow an extra 15 – 20 minutes on arrival to sign-in and have their identity confirmed at the school’s office.
3. If the school has
further requirements this should be explained in the invitation.
NB. Working with children NSW Department of Education Schools.