Volunteering
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- Volunteer work can be very fulfilling, both on a personal and a professional level. Indeed, while concentrating on the first, it can sometimes help with the second.
- Opportunities and styles of volunteering are almost limitless. They can be full time, part time or for a nominated period. They can be fully self-funded [money and/or time], partially funded or with support from a volunteering body.
- They can be done locally, within Australia, or in any number of places overseas. They can be done on your own, as part of a group, or for a group.
- The one, constant factor is your willingness and capacity to take on the selected task.
- In considering voluntary work, you should always look carefully at the reasons which motivate you and ensure these apply to the volunteering, not something else.
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Why Volunteer ?
- Why Volunteer ?
- Doing volunteer work should always be because you want to do it for the volunteering itself, and no other reason.
- It should never be done so that you you can boast about it, or add it to your résumé, or …
- Remember, adding the fact that you help others to your résumé may be useful, but :
- only if you can justify why you did it, obviously, not just because you wanted it on your CV !
- if you have been willing to undertake any training required;
- if you have put into practice any training you have received;
- it has been ongoing, not a one week wonder;
- you must be able to show that it has some relevance, much less important than the previous points. However, perseverance, commitment and personal skills used can be of value.
- what it comes down to, is that you should only consider doing voluntary work when you have the right reasons. That is, you are volunteering for the sake of volunteering and if you happen to gain some benefit in your chosen profession, that is a bonus.
- You should consider each situation carefully, so you know exactly what is involved, whether it be fully paid periods up to 2 years in length, or self-funded involvement for as little as a few weeks or a month. Be sure you :
- can commit the time and effort on an ongoing basis where this is required;
- can afford any costs involved;
- are able to handle the conditions where you will be - accommodation, food, transport, isolation, … ;
- feel safe and secure in any situation in which you will find yourself;
- are willing to undertake any relevant training. Many voluntary activities such as SES, counselling [e.g. Lifeline, Youth Centres], Bush Fire Brigades, as well as ‘interpersonal’ activities, require you to undertake quite extensive training;
- are suited to the particular activity e.g. if you cannot handle stress, do not get involved in activities which create stress;
- are also able to take rejection. Interestingly enough, not everyone who volunteers is accepted, especially in those areas which require particular skills and/or commitment. Sometimes less than two thirds are accepted and there can be a drop out rate during training. If you are genuinely committed and willing to do what is asked then obviously, this is less likely to occur.
- Note, these points do not really refer to one off voluntary processes, even though these may also be of value, e.g. Clean Up Australia Day, badge selling, … . If you want to be involved in these, then go for it.
- To Recap :
- if the reasons are right - go for it !
- if you are willing to commit the time, effort and learning required - go for it !
- if you are willing to make an ongoing commitment - go for it !
- if you are only doing it for a perceived benefit in your career and are not genuinely committed - forget it !
- Remember :
- Employers are not generally stupid - they will know whether you are serious or whether you are trying to earn brownie points;
- More importantly - you will be wasting your own time and the time, effort and goodwill of others and this must not happen.
Links to Volunteering options & opportunities in Australia
- Review the points listed in the Why Volunteer ? section above.
- Australian Volunteer Search
- Conservation Volunteers
- Cross-Cultural Solutions
‘Volunteer Abroad — work side-by-side with local people and experience another culture like never before.’ - FIDO
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Getting Involved in Your Community
‘Register your skills and preferences on these volunteer databases.’ - Global Vision International - Volunteer Abroad
- Global Volunteer Network
- Go Volunteer
- Green Corps
‘Green Corps provides young people with the opportunity to volunteer their time and effort to conserve, preserve and restore Australia’s natural environment and cultural heritage.’ - Holidays With Purpose
- Landcare Australia
‘More than 4 000 volunteer community landcare groups - including bushcare and urban landcare, rivercare, coastcare and sustainable agriculture groups - are tackling land degradation in every corner of Australia.’ - ProBono Volunteer Match
Matching volunteers and non-profit organisations. - Seek Volunteer
- Volunteering NSW
- Volunteer Search
Within Australia. Additional related links.
Links to Volunteering options & opportunities Internationally
- Review the points listed in the Why Volunteer ? section above.
- Agriventure
Mid-length stays on farms in America and Europe. Some farming experience suggested. - Antipodeans
Short term placement for the young [17-24], teaching English to primary aged children in developing countries. - Australian Volunteers International
Longer placements, shorter youth placements. - Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development
‘The AYAD program places skilled young Australian volunteers, aged 18-30, on short-term assignments in developing countries throughout Asia and the Pacific.’ Further information can be gained from Ausaid. - Conservation Volunteers
Volunteering in the conservation area both in Australia and overseas. - Earthwatch
Work on 150+ projects around the world. - EcoVolunteers
Working with the ecology at various sites. You pay, with the money going to the project. - GAP Activity Projects
‘GAP’S mission is to provide a distinctive year out experience for any young person through a journey of discovery that fosters independence, helps others and promotes global understanding.’ - Global Vision International [GVI]
‘Make a difference to some of the world’s most critical conservation and community projects with Global Vision International. Join challenging expeditions as diverse as marine conservation in Mexico and the Seychelles, community development in Mexico, high altitude exploration in Patagonia, and wildlife conservation in the Amazon, Costa Rica, South Africa and Kenya. Or volunteer with GVI’s partner organisations in over 15 countries.’ - Global Volunteer Network
Volunteering in specific countries. New Zealand based. - goodcompany
‘Goodcompany connects skilled professionals with charitable organisations in need of pro bono assistance.’ - Go Volunteer
Mostly in Australia. Some overseas options. - i-to-i [Escape to the Real World]
‘Imagine a travel experience that connects you with a world you didn’t even know existed and sends you home a happier and better person. Imagine a company that brings together rich and poor, black and white, east and west, youth and experience … . Each year we enable 5 000 people to make a real difference to other people’s lives by working with vitally important projects around the world.’ - Kibbutz
Stay and work in kibbutzes in Israel. - Red Cross
Skills in medical, engineering and logistics areas preferred. - SPW Australia
‘Volunteer with SPW and work alongside locally recruited volunteers on Health Education and Community Resource Programs in rural India, Nepal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.’ - Volunteer Abroad
US site with a range of options. - Volunteersabroad.com
Includes working abroad in paid positions as well as volunteering. - Volunteers for Peace
Short term, here and overseas. Fee-based. - World Youth International
Also for seniors, nine countries.
