Are volunteers covered under the work health & safety legislation?

You are a worker under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act if you carry out work for a person conducting a business or undertaking. Whether you carry out work will depend on the type of activities you perform. You are not a worker if you carry out volunteer work for a ‘volunteer association’ as the WHS Act does not apply to these organisations.

For example, you volunteer to coach under 8's in the local soccer club.  Now if that soccer club has any paid workers such as coaches, referees, players or administrative workers, then the soccer club is a PCBU and you as the volunteer coach are a "worker".