Volunteering Illawarra

Volunteering Illawarra is the regional volunteer centre which links prospective volunteers to voluntary work opportunities with local community organisations in the Wollongong Shellharbour and Kiama local government areas. 

Volunteering Illawarra offers volunteers:

• a 'one stop' service that provides information on volunteering and local voluntary opportunities
• a fast friendly and efficient matching of volunteers with current volunteering vacancies in a wide range of community organisations
• ongoing support, advice and referral
• access to subsidised training opportunities through the Community Development and Training Program training calendar
• voluntary management support
• community development and strategic planning assistance for not-for-profit management committee organisations
• volunteer management support and training, and 
• of the business community the opportunity to involve employees in voluntary work through the Corporate Returns program.

Volunteering Illawarra offers free volunteer recruitment and referral for local non profit community organisations.  There is an optional membership for non profit organisations which entitles members to discounted fees for training provided through the Community Development and Training Program. 

Who is a volunteer?
Anyone who chooses to work for no payment. Volunteer work is:

• freely chosen
• unpaid
• of benefit to others
• not-for-profit sector only
• supportive of non-violence.

Examples of volunteer work:

• aged care eg day care centres (craft, music, kitchen assistance)
• transport eg driving seniors to medical appointments or shopping
• assisting people with disabilities
• outdoor work eg gardening
• events like Viva la Gong and the annual Volunteering Expo 
• being a member of a committee or board
• environmental eg. Bushcare, Conservation Volunteers Australia

Benefits:

• meet new people
• help others
• improve the community
• give something back to the community
• gain work experience
• meet new challenges
• learn new skills
• practice a language
• put a hobby to good use
• use natural talents
• put faith into action
• build self-confidence
• be active and involved
• feel useful
• have fun!

Benefits volunteers bring to organisations:

• ability to provide more services
• ability to provide better services ie more individual attention
• diverse skills, knowledge and opinions
• enthusiasm, energy and a friendly workplace
• creative ideas
• keep organisation in touch with the local community
• help remind the organisation of its purpose

Volunteer rights:

• to work in a healthy and safe environment
• to have your opinions about your work listened to
• to be employed in accordance with equal opportunity and anti-discrimination legislation
• know what the job is before starting
• decide when and how long to be available
• negotiate job, times, days (where possible)
• a meaningful job or activity
• supervision, instruction and training
• have the right tools for the job
• not to fill a position previously held by a paid worker
• to have a procedure to make complaints

Volunteer responsibilities:

• do the best job you can
• be punctual
• undertake what you agree to do
• let the co-ordinator know if unable to work
• respect the privacy of people you work with
• support other volunteers
• be a team member
• know your own limitations (time, money, physical needs, family and friendships)

Join over five million other Australians who already take part in voluntary work and make a real difference to their communities.