Information for volunteers
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Volunteering is a fantastic way to contribute your time and skills to make a real difference in your community. Whether you're passionate about a specific cause or just looking to give back, volunteering allows you to support those in need while also gaining new experiences and meeting like-minded people. It’s a chance to build connections, learn more about the issues you care about, and even develop new skills that can benefit you now and into the future.
Volunteering can be informal or formal. Informal volunteering includes activities that are not coordinated through an organisation, while formal volunteering is coordinated through clubs, organisations or institutions. This website helps connect volunteers to formal volunteering opportunities with organisations in the community across Australia. Whether you are interested in sport, animal welfare or the environment, we can help you find the right volunteering opportunity for you.
Why volunteer?
- Volunteering is a great way to learn new things and develop useful skills and experience to add to your personal and professional skillset.
- It can be enjoyable, giving you a sense of achievement and purpose.
- Volunteering is a great way to get out and connect with like-minded people while engaging in meaningful activities.
- It plays a vital role in improving mental health and wellbeing.
- Volunteering rates have been declining in Australia, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for more volunteers to put their hand up and make a positive impact on the community.
Who can volunteer?
Anyone can volunteer. People of all ages, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds can play an important role in volunteering. There are lots of different ways to volunteer, and many opportunities that suit different interests, preferences, skills and time commitments. Additionally, volunteering is something you can do with family or friends, making it even more enjoyable when shared with someone close to you.
Do I have time to volunteer?
The average volunteer generally gives one hour of their time per week. Some volunteers give less, others give much more. Some opportunities are once-off events, others require a regular commitment each week. This usually depends on the type of role and skill required to complete particular tasks. Highly skilled tasks may take longer to learn and require a more consistent engagement and training, while other skills can be acquired easily on the job. If you can’t make a regular commitment, then consider a ‘one-off’ opportunity like volunteering for an event or festival.
Whichever you choose, your volunteering experience can be exciting, rewarding and fulfilling – you are a member of a team, you are building skills and growing your networks, and you can see the results of your efforts.
Ambassador videos
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Jacob Dommersen
Jacob: I got to go into a reptile enclosure and give a training session with a snake around my neck.
Steph: What are some cool things that you've learnt volunteering?
Jacob: We get to learn all sorts of cool First Aid skills, like how to do CPR and use a defibrillator. We also learn how to deal with fractures and breaks so we can put on slings, we can put on bandages.
Steph: If you could sum up your volunteering experience in one hashtag, what would it be?
Jacob: Hashtag self-improvement, really. Once you join volunteering, you're just going to improve in every way. You never don't gain something out of volunteering.
Steph: Have you made some great relationships volunteering?
Jacob: I definitely have. Everyone I meet in the volunteer space is like me. They have a passion to help people because we're all such likeminded people. I find you just meet friends that just get you. Anytime I finish a volunteering shift, you feel really, really amazing and it just makes your whole life feel more positive. Being able to do that and giving up your time to make other people feel better, it's such an amazing feeling.
Jacob: To discover a volunteering opportunity near you, visit volunteering.gov.au.
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Rebecca: Ju
Rebecca:: I think I used to have quite a narrow view of the world, but I think through volunteering you really get to learn about everything.
Steph: So what does a typical day in the life of a volunteer look like for you?
Rebecca:: I get to facilitate workshops and coordinating a lot of youth groups and youth movements here in NSW.
Steph: What made you want to be a volunteer here?
Rebecca:: It was specifically the fact that I could be a part of something bigger than myself.
You get to meet a lot of youth activists. Everyone's really passionate and nice. You learn a lot more about politics, you learn a lot more about the injustices in the world, but that really gives you the drive and the passion. I just love that.
Steph: If you could give your volunteering experience 3 emojis, what would they be?
Rebecca:: You know, the one with like the party hat, the person putting their hand up and probably like the muscle one. Yeah.
Steph: If anybody was on the fence about wanting to volunteer, what advice would you give them?
Rebecca:: Just go for it. There really is no locked in contract. Whether you want to do a public speaking role or you want to do more of a background role, there's roles for everyone.
Rebecca:: To discover a volunteering opportunity near you, visit volunteering.gov.au.
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Noah Teitler
Noah: Right then I had tunnel vision, and I had to run down with a tube, jump in the water and then save the kid.
Steph: Wow!
Steph: So what does a day in the life look like as a volunteer?
Noah: I could be up in the surveillance tower having a bird's eye view of the beach, or I could be on a roving patrol with my friends, or I could be just sitting in the patrol tent.
Steph: Has volunteering with Surf Lifesaving enriched any other parts of your life?
Noah: One hundred percent. I think if I hadn't been a part of this organisation, I wouldn't have met all my friends.
Steph: What skill have you found most valuable?
Noah: Besides all the lifesaving techniques I've learned, I've met so many more people. It's really helped me be a good communicator.
Steph: Why do you think young people should volunteer?
Noah: I found it myself. I've got a busy week at school, but as soon as I come here, everything goes away and it's just a nice calm from the storm. I think I found my calling here at the beach and helping people, and other people can find the same in whatever they do. Just having that opportunity to say you're a volunteer, it really brings a sense of meaning and purpose.
Noah: To discover a volunteering opportunity near you, visit volunteering.gov.au.
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Eddie Sanad
Eddie: My view on life has really changed. I appreciate people more.
Steph: What does a day in the life look like for you as a volunteer?
Eddie: I'll have these care packages and I'll pack them up so then I can go the city and give them out to the homeless so that they have the basic necessities that they need.
Steph: What's one unexpected perk that you've gained from volunteer work?
Eddie: I think it's my communication skills. I met a lot of new people, people with different ages, different races, and it really developed my ability to talk to new people, and also my confidence. Volunteering is very rewarding, so even though there's so many emotions going through it, in the end, I always come out feeling really happy with myself and what I've done. If you're on the fence about volunteering, I strongly suggest just trying it out. It just has to be one day. That's all it takes is one day, and then after that, I'm sure you'll be hooked.
Eddie: To discover a volunteering opportunity near you, visit volunteering.gov.au.
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Gia
Gia: I love talking with people and like, see their smile, and that makes me really happy.
Steph: What does a typical day in the life look like as a volunteer at The Couch?
Gia: I serve food and drinks and like hang out with people, like international students, playing games with them. Sometimes we're going to have workshops, so we will actually participate in that.
Steph: And what made you get into your volunteer role?
Gia: It comes from the passion of being able to help. I want to give back to the community as well.
Steph: When you leave and go home, what interactions that day have kind of filled your cup?
Gia: Every time I go to Couch, what I'm thinking in my head it’s just to connect with other people. Being able to help someone, it really makes my day. I used to be really shy. I'm a bit more extrovert after I volunteer. It feels great.
Gia: To discover a volunteering opportunity near you, visit volunteering.gov.au.
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Sam Stubbs
Come with me to volunteer at Morapoi Station. It's an 8h hour drive from Perth all the way past Kalgoorlie. Out here is where I grew up my parents have been running camps here for Aboriginal people for a long time, since before even I was born. The camps have motorbikes, bikes, horses, kayaks and biggest mob more. Volunteering here means I can help my parents while I work on my leadership teamwork and cultural skills. I can give back to my home and make sure these kids and families have a deadly time. Volunteering is fun rewarding and a way to make a difference. Ready to join in? Search volunteering.gov.au.
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Blackfit Fitness Interview – Josh and Winda
Josh: Yaama everyone. How you going? My name is Josh and I am a Gomeroi Wailwan and Yuwalaraay man from Western NSW. I currently run a company called Blackfit Fitness that do a large range of our work with youth, youth work across the state in communities all over.
And this video here today is just to give you a little bit of insight around volunteering, youth work and just touch on some points on how important and essential it is. So, I'm going to interview one of my workers who started off as a volunteer with Blackfit Fitness and then worked his way into full-time employment. So if you enjoy, I hope you can take something away from this because volunteering is a key aspect before you take the next step within your job, but also too it does come with a lot of other positive attachments that we’ll dive into in this interview, so come and join us.
Josh: We're here with Winda who currently is a full-time employee at Blackfit Fitness, started off as a volunteer in youth work with Blackfit. So before we begin and we start firing away with the questions, Winda, do you want to just introduce yourself, tell us where you're from, who's your mob?
Winda: Certainly, well hello everyone, my name is Winda. I'm originally from Armidale. I'm a Gumbayngirr Bundjalung Biripi and Wiradjuri man.
Josh: Nice, awesome. OK, so let's start off bruz. You're full-time working with Blackfit now, but you volunteered with Blackfit for a couple of weeks before that, though you've done some volunteering previously. Do you want to start at that previous volunteering and roll into your experience with Blackfit as a volunteer, and where you're at now?
Winda: So, when I first started volunteering, I was about 18, 19 and I started volunteering at a preschool in Adamstown. I was working with young kids then where I really got to grow my passion of working with the kids, and then basically when I got the opportunity to start volunteering a Blackfit, it really got that spark in me to go out there and work with kids again.
Josh: For mob out there that are thinking about doing some volunteering, what are some positive things about starting off as a volunteer?
Winda: So, positive thing that I took out from volunteering would possibly be confidence.
I got to learn so many new skills within that period of volunteering that really gave me the confidence to go in and do my job to the best of my ability when I actually got the role.
Josh: So, it's kind of like prior experience or sort of learning on the go or in the same space, but not being on the front line.
Winda: Absolutely. The confidence that I grew within that period of volunteering, amazing.
Josh: Yeah, wonderful, cool. That is a cool aspect too, because that's something that I've sort of taken away from volunteering as well. Being able to learn with different people or in different spaces, seeing what works, what doesn't work. And also too, a lot of people when you are volunteering, use different strategies or engagement techniques and all that sort of stuff too. So you sort of get a look at that as well as a volunteer and you can upskill yourself before diving into deep waters without not knowing anything, I guess especially within youth work because it can be very diverse and dynamic. So volunteering was a good stepping stone beforehand.
Winda: Yep.
Josh: Yeah, nice, awesome work. OK, next question. Why do you think it's important for mob to jump into or experience volunteering before going straight into some youth work?
Winda: I believe it's good because I said the confidence that it did give me, the skills that I really did develop while volunteering really, really gave me the confidence to go out there and do it. So I think it's good for mob to get out there and volunteer because I believe great opportunities might come from it and the skills that you develop in that period of time could really be beneficial for something later on.
Josh: Yeah, very good. Yeah. So, people might look at it like, oh, it's not paid work or anything like that, but it could lead on to something like that in the process of upskilling and learning and taking in as much as you can about that industry, I guess as well.
Winda: Absolutely.
Josh: Awesome. If someone out there watching is going to think about getting into volunteering or interested in volunteering, what's an advice you could give as a previous volunteer, but now full-time work off that volunteer role?
Winda: First thing that comes of mind is, be receptive. The people that I got to learn off, yourself, other people that I've met along the way have been absolutely amazing for me. They've really helped me develop the skills that I've taken into my role, and I've got to learn many different skills, many different ways on how people do things so I can fit that into how I do things best suitable for me.
Josh: Yeah, beautiful. OK. It is a great stepping stone. It is a good pathway for people that are wanting to get into youth work as you learn on the go and possibly to pick up some work from that volunteer role as well.
Winda: Absolutely.
Josh: So if you might be interested in volunteering, follow the links at the end of this video I will list a bunch of links organisations where you can jump on and find out some more and possibly even become a volunteer and upskill yourself and learn a little bit more about the space because it is a quite diverse but also too very fun and enjoyable space as well. So, check out the links and thanks very much Winda for jumping on sharing your experience from volunteer into full-time employment. Thank you.
Josh: Thanks for joining us for that very quick but very insightful interview there with Winda.
Some great knowledge there, some great insight around volunteering. And if you are looking for more volunteering opportunities, please visit volunteering.gov.au. Thank you.
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Allira Potter
Hi you mob, my name is Allira and I'm here to talk to you about the benefits of volunteering and how it can have a positive impact on your mental health and your overall wellbeing. If you aren't familiar with volunteering it is an act by a group or an individual where they offer their free time often in a community run space. Which leads me into talking about the three wellness and mental health benefits of volunteering and why I think you should give it a crack. Not only will you be helping your community, but you'll be giving yourself this feeling of a purpose and achievement and also giving you this sense of happiness. Number 2, volunteering reduces stress and eases your mind because you become focused on the task that you're currently doing so you get to come in do your thing and just switch off from the outside world. Number 3, volunteering is a huge mood booster which will give you such a positive outlook on live which will lead to endless possibilities when it comes to volunteering or also a potential career choice. So, this is your reminder to get out there and volunteer because the positive benefits are endless.
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Kyah Simon
Hey guys I'm down here at the Most Important Meal headquarters. It's an initiative that I volunteer for where we provide meals for kids all across New South Wales. Let me show you how volunteering has helped shape me throughout my career and how it could do the same for you. When I first started volunteering, I didn't realise how many transferable skills there were and it's not just about what I do on the field but giving back to the community too. It's taught me the value of teamwork leadership and resilience, qualities that I bring with me every time I step onto the field, important values that can help you in all walks of life no matter the career path you choose. Volunteering has shown me the true power of community, you gain perspective, new connections, a sense of fulfillment and invaluable experiences that has contributed to my successes on and off the pitch. Volunteering can be the first step to building the skills that you need for your future career. Are you ready to get started? Search volunteer opportunities at volunteering.gov.au.
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Samuel Stubbs
Volunteering. Let me show you how my experiences helped me grow in ways I never expected. How volunteering showed me the power of teamwork, it helped me become a better communicator and I even stepped into leadership roles. Each experience taught me something new, how to engage with all kinds of people and tackle challenges head on. As I gained more experience my confidence grew and I started to trust myself more. Volunteering can do the same for you. Helping you grow your skills and build confidence. Are you ready to start your own journey? Search volunteering.gov.au.
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