Young volunteers in Victoria

Young people in Victoria volunteer in lots of different ways. Some volunteer regularly, while others volunteer at one off events. They are volunteering as:

• coaches for local sporting groups;
• event organisers, e.g. for FReeZA committees;
• leaders in their schools, and
• activists for charities, campaign and social action groups.

Learn why these young women decided to volunteer:

Things to think about

Before you start looking for a volunteer opportunity, ask yourself a few questions. 

What do you want to do? Think about:

• the things you are good at and enjoy doing
• the skills you would like to learn or develop
• the areas you would like get work experience,
• the causes you are passionate about. 

How much time do you have? Think about:

• when are you free to volunteer?
• do you have other commitments, such as school, sport and family that you need to work around?
• do you have a preferred day?
• are you looking for something regular? 

Where do you want to volunteer? Think about:

• Do you want to volunteer somewhere near where you live or where you go to school?
• How will you get to the place where you might volunteer? 

Finding an Opportunity

There are lots of different ways to find a volunteer opportunity. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Do some online research – check out Victoria's Volunteering Portal and GoVolunteer.com.au.
• Research your local area –use Service Seekerto find out which community organisations are near you.
• Talk to people – tell people you want to volunteer and ask them to look out for possible opportunities.
• Create your own – finding difficult to find a volunteer opportunity you’re really interested in? Then start your own project or campaign!

What happens next?

Found a volunteer opportunity and wondering what happens next? Well, there are no hard and fast rules, but here are some of the things you might be asked to do:

• complete an application form
• provide the contact details of a referee
• attend an interview
• provide a resume.

To make sure the volunteering opportunity is right for you - you might want to ask:

• How does the role fit into the bigger picture?

What exactly will you be doing? How will it fit into the wider aims of the organisation?

• How much time is expected?

How often and for how long would the organisation like you to volunteer?

• Will you need to spend your own money?

Or will you be reimbursed for any money you spend on travel or food?

• Who will your key contact person will be?

Who will be supervising and supporting you as a volunteer? It could be good to meet them before you officially start volunteering.

• Do they have insurance for volunteers?

Not all organisations have insurance for volunteers. This means that if you have an accident while you are volunteering, you (or your parents/guardians) will have to pay for any expenses. This is important to find out before you start, and to talk about with your parents/guardians.

Jarrod volunteered for YDAS (Youth Disability Advocacy Service) – learn what skills and experience he gained: