Finding and applying for a role independently:

• Visit Volunteering SA&NT website, GoVolunteer or SEEK Volunteer to view current volunteer positions OR if you have a particular organisation in mind contact them directly either in-person, by phone or online
• Submit an expression of interest/application
  • Expressions of interest may involve providing contact and personal details and describing your skills and experience.
  • Application forms may require emergency contact details, referees (personal or professional), describing your skills and experience, and your interest in volunteering.
• Follow up with the organisation if you don’t hear back within 2 weeks

Assistance finding a volunteer role:

Volunteers can access in-person, or over-the-phone volunteer assistance through various organisations in SA

• If based in Metro Adelaide Regional SA, or the NT, you can access Volunteering SA&NT ’s Volunteer Assist Program
• If you are based in the Northern Suburbs, you can access Northern Volunteering’s Volunteer Referral Service
• If you are based in the Southern Suburbs, you can access Southern Volunteering’s Volunteer Referral Service
• If you are a person with a disability, you can access Volunteerability

Volunteering typically takes place in not-for-profit organisations. A not-for-profit’s objectives focuses on community outcomes, rather than existing to earn and re-distribute taxable wealth to employees and economic and shareholders.

The time and commitment required to be a volunteer varies from agency to agency and will depend on the volunteer position you choose. The commitment may be as little as an hour a week or as much as two days a week depending on the needs of the agency and on the availability of the volunteer. We recommend around 15 hours a week.

Most volunteer involving organisations will require volunteers to obtain one or more screening checks before they commence. Which check will depend on the nature of the services provided by the organisation, the clients volunteers will be interacting with, and any potential risks associated with the role. If the volunteer will have access to money, personal data or equipment, it may be appropriate to conduct a police check. It may be that the only check required is a reference check.

Common checks include:

• National Police Certificate (Police Check)
• Working With Children Check
• NDIS worker checks
• Aged care sector employment
• Vulnerable person-related employment

Many checks are free for volunteers to obtain. Let volunteers know what screening checks they will be required to have during the application and onboarding stage. You may wish to help volunteers to obtain these checks, as the complicated application processes can sometimes act as a barrier to volunteering.

You may wish to sight or photocopy your volunteers completed screening checks. Organisations are never entitled to keep the original copies, records of screenings and checks belong to the applicant, regardless of who lodged or paid for it.

Training and skill requirements vary among organisations. Some positions require little formal training and specialist skills, whilst others have greater requirements. Training is generally provided for by the organisation, volunteers should not be required to incur any expense for the training they undertake.

Once you have selected and contacted the organisation of your choice, you will probably be invited to attend an interview. Interviews provide you with the opportunity to find out more about the volunteer role, and the organisation can find out more about you. In the interview you should be ready to answer questions about your previous experience, both paid and voluntary, discuss your skills and qualifications and provide the names of referees. 

Most Australian agencies which send people overseas to volunteer require applicants to have a high level of experience in their field both for short and long-term placements. Generally, you should also have a minimum of two years experience in your field of work. You may be required to supply copies of your qualifications when you apply. Some organisations require a financial contribution to help with costs such as airfares and accommodation.

As a rule, if you wish to volunteer, overseas organisations require that you are an Australian citizen or hold permanent residency status in Australia.

It is important to ask an organisation if they have insurance to cover you in the case of accident or injury as Volunteers are not paid employees and are therefore not covered by WorkCover. You should ask the organisation if they have both Public Liability (the policy must mention Volunteers) and voluntary workers personal accident insurance. Personal accident and Injury insurance cover should provide protection in the event of an accident whilst performing volunteer work.

Organisations are not legally required to reimburse volunteers for out of pocket expenses such as travel. While some organisations have a policy that provides this type of reimbursement, others are not in a financial position to do so. Please check with individual organisations.

Anyone can volunteer but there may be age requirements depending on the type of volunteer role. Some not-for profit organisations have a policy of not involving volunteers under (or over) a certain age.

Volunteer Rights

Volunteers are not covered by awards or work-place agreements, however volunteers do have rights, some of which are legislated, such as work, health and safety, and anti-discrimination laws, and others which are considered the moral obligations of organisations involving volunteers. We promote the basic rights of a volunteer as set out by Volunteering Australia.

Organisations involving volunteers provide different experiences for volunteers. Apart from legal obligations, it is up to each organisation how they will recruit, support and acknowledge their volunteers. While we believe every volunteer has rights and work to promote these with volunteer involving organisations, it is up to each individual when they begin their volunteering to ascertain the conditions in which they will be volunteering.

When you sign up as a volunteer, along with your rights, you also have responsibilities to your organisation.

As a volunteer you have the right to:

• work in a healthy and safe environment 
• be recruited in accordance with equal opportunity and anti-discrimination legislation
• be engaged in a meaningful role that adds value to the organisation’s purpose and goals
• receive relevant induction, training, supervision and feedback to fully understand and carry out your role safely and effectively
• be given accurate and truthful information about the organisation you work with
• be adequately covered by the organisation’s insurance
• have a role description, agreed working hours, reasonable workload and clear tasks
• be trusted with confidential information if necessary for your role
• have your confidential and personal information properly managed and privacy protected
• have choices and feel comfortable about saying no
• have access to volunteer and relevant organisational policies and procedures, including a grievance procedure
• be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses
• be supported in your role and consulted about matters that directly affect you and your work
• participate in organisational life through inclusion in meetings and social events
• not be exploited
• not fill a position previously held by a paid worker
• not do the work of paid staff during industrial disputes
• be acknowledged and appreciated for your contribution, value and impact in you volunteering position

By volunteering, you can get the edge over other applicants applying for the same position. If you already volunteer, add your skills and experience to your resume. Outline the positions held and use managers as referees. If you don’t volunteer, then why not consider volunteering as a pathway to employment.