Volunteers can assist in many different areas, the following provides some information on the roles of volunteers within our community.
Administration is generally office work, including reception, filing, typing and paperwork.
Advocacy roles involve providing support to a person with a disability who may not be able to advocate for themselves. This may involve assisting them with tasks such as understanding bills or letters or perhaps representing them to another agency with which they are interacting.
Aged Care roles are normally based in nursing homes or day activity centres. They can involve spending time one-on-one with an elderly person to provide companionship. They are often based around the activities which are occurring in that setting.
Animal Welfare roles may be assisting at a facility such as a kennel or cattery or may involve walking a dog for someone who cannot manage it themselves.
Childcare roles are generally based in community centres or agencies which provide health or welfare services. The children may be in child care because their parents or siblings are receiving assistance from the agency or perhaps they are part of a regular playgroup.
Many not-for-profit groups have Committees or Boards of Management which are volunteer-based. They are often looking for people with relevant skills to sit on those groups and assist in the running of the agency.
Conservation organisations often need volunteers to help plan bushland regeneration and also do tree planting and weeding.
Counselling roles can include working with people to assist with basic life necessities such as housing and food. They can also include people dealing with particular health issues such as post-natal depression or arthritis.
Disability Programs can be based in day centres or residential facilities. They may involve being matched one-on-one with a person with a disability or joining in with general activity groups.
Other types of roles in this area include respite care and companionship.
Driving programs generally involve either transporting people to appointments and outings or delivery services such as Meals on Wheels or mobile libraries.
Emergency services work may include being trained to deal with natural disaster as they occur or first aid work at events.
Not for profit groups may need volunteers to help run their events, such as festivals, or to undertake fundraising such as selling chocolates or Christmas cakes.
Family Support can include new migrants into housing, young people who are homeless or families who need support.
Gardening roles may involve mowing, weeding or planting. There may be a planning aspect, e.g. planning gardens for a nursing home.
Historical groups may require volunteers to be guides or assist in maintaining historical or archival collections.
Kitchen/Catering roles are often based in hospitals, helping at the kiosk and delivering sandwiches to patients. They may also be in community centres or sporting groups or in primary school kitchen/garden programs.
Maintenance covers a large range of roles from building/grounds, train and rolling stock, men’s sheds and equipment for the elderly or people with disabilities.
Many not for profit groups operate Op Shops to raise funds. There is always a need for volunteers to assist in the shops, serving customers, arranging stock and maintaining the shop.
Tutoring may involve assisting students with their homework after school, teaching English to newly arrived migrants or computer skills to migrants or the elderly. It may also involve running sporting activities.
Visitation roles often involve being matched with an elderly person either in a nursing home or in their own home. The visitation is set up to provide the person with social interaction and companionship. It may also involve providing companionship to a person with a mental illness or an international student.
Youth Work includes guide leaders, mentors, homework assistance and lead tenancy.
Finding a Volunteer Opportunity
Please view our selection of current vacancies or contact Eastern Volunteers on 9870 7822 or info@easternvolunteers.org.au
To view other volunteering vacancies visit Go Volunteer or the Victorian Volunteer Portal.
If you are interested in volunteering in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, visit the Volunteer xChange web site.
If you are interested in volunteering overseas visit the Australian Volunteers International web site.
