This book was a 'best seller' during Linda Graff's 2004 training tour of Australia.

"Life is full of risks." This is how Linda Graff opens this exceptional new book in which she urges us to become conscious about risk management in our organisational lives. For over a decade, Linda has led workshops and written countless articles about risk management. Finally she has produced an essential source book for managers of volunteer and community service programs everywhere.

Better Safe first gives a broad overview of all the components of good risk management, including information on negligence, the elusive "standard of care," vicarious liability, and statutory obligations. Then Linda provides all the tools required to systematically examine and plan improvement of current practices -- tips, chequelists, sample forms, and hundreds of time-saving, common sense, affordable strategies.

The book shares real-life case study examples and covers many of the special situations unique to volunteer involvement. There are diagnostic worksheets (in plain language), including a risk identification and impact matrix, a likelihood of occurrence rating scale, a magnitude of harm matrix, and a risk control planning worksheet.

Risk management is often scary but always critical. Trust Linda to guide you step-by-step to a safe, aware volunteer program.

"Better Safe... takes risk management from the bottom of the too-hard-basket and instead offers readers a 'tool box' full of great ideas, easy to understand principles, chequelists and clear illustrations. I strongly recommend this book as a standard addition to the bookshelf of all volunteer program managers"

- Andy Fryar, Founder & Director, OzVPM

" Linda Graff takes the fear out of the words... Her worksheets and notes will help agencies of every size develop a plan... With this guide you will learn how to appraise, acknowledge, address and avert risky situations."
- Eileen Cackowski, Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service

"Many of my colleagues know my long-standing aversion to developing policy, but Linda has certainly won me over with her writing. Better Safe... makes the philosophical and practical case for risk management. I highly recommend it to all organizations that involve volunteers in meaningful ways."
- Colleen Kelly, Executive Director, Volunteer Vancouver

"Better Safe… is an outstanding book that is coming at the right time! Linda has done another superb job of supporting the necessity for a strong risk management plan... This book has some of the most useful tools, resources and suggestions that will certainly be of great value for all involved in volunteer management and the implementation of community service programs, regardless of the structure of the organisation or clientele being served."
- Ryan J. Schmiesing, PhD, Extension Specialist, Program & Volunteer Risk Management, Ohio State University Extension, 4-H Youth Development

(When you've completed the book, e-mail us at bookstore@ozvpm.com and share your review!)

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