Volunteering Work You Can Try
Australia is one of the most generous nations in the world, frequently engaging in volunteering work and other charity initiatives to benefit communities across the country.
In April 2023, 36% of people in Australia had volunteered formally in the previous 12 months, helping to improve the lives of vulnerable people while developing valuable skills to facilitate personal growth.
For those who wish to make a difference, accessing information about volunteering opportunities can often be the biggest challenge. So, in this article, we list 10 volunteer work examples, so you can feel inspired and start making a positive impact.
With GoFundMe, you can support those who have taken the step into volunteering, or you can start your own fundraiser to raise money and awareness.
1. Environmental projects
Environmental causes are important to Australians, who strongly believe in preserving the country’s incredible natural landscapes. Climate change is having a huge impact on Australia’s ecosystems, which is why the time for environmental action is now. You can volunteer for local initiatives, such as beach clean-ups or tree planting projects, which help to preserve and restore native habitats.
By offering a few hours of your time, you can help safeguard the nation’s ecosystems and ensure future generations can enjoy Australia’s natural beauty. Discover a volunteering opportunity near you or check out these environmental volunteer service examples:
2. Animal shelters and wildlife rescue
Australia’s wildlife is at massive risk, with 2,212 ecological communities, plants, and animal species threatened with extinction. Supporting animal shelters and wildlife rescue operations is a rewarding way of helping. This could involve feeding and caring for injured or displaced native animals, or providing temporary homes to domesticated animals awaiting adoption.
Wildlife carers and rescue volunteers will often require some form of training, but once you’re up and running you can make a significant difference in supporting vulnerable animals.
3. Homelessness services
Data from the 2021 Census showed that 122,000+ people in Australia experienced homelessness on Census night, so volunteering at shelters, food banks, or outreach programmes is a meaningful way of supporting those who are homeless.
Whether you prepare meals at a homeless shelter, offer companionship, or distribute essential supplies to those in need, you can make a valid contribution to the homeless community by volunteering your services.
4. Remote volunteering
Ideas for remote volunteer work are more relevant now than ever before, allowing you to make a lasting impact as a tutor or mentor online to help students and adults improve their skills. You can support an individual’s literacy, numeracy, or career skills through online platforms, or assist students with their studies or learning English.
This is a great option for volunteers who are short on time or live somewhere remotely, benefitting from flexible schedules and the ability to volunteer from anywhere.
5. Indigenous community support
If you want to help build a more inclusive and equitable future for all Australians, then supporting Indigenous communities is a great way to take action. Indigenous-led health, education, and cultural programmes help to empower communities and create opportunities – celebrating Australia’s rich Indigenous heritage.
You could volunteer your time and skills at a local organisation or support fundraising campaigns for initiatives such as health services and land preservation projects.
6. Health and care volunteering
Volunteering in hospitals, aged care facilities, or mental health programmes is a valuable way to support vulnerable people. Whether you help to run events and activities or simply provide companionship to patients or residents, you can help to brighten someone’s day and promote positive wellbeing.
Care and medical assistance don’t come cheap in Australia, so volunteering your time can make a world of difference to someone, whether they’re experiencing physical or mental health challenges.
7. Disaster relief volunteering
Another environmentally-focused idea for volunteer work is to assist with disaster relief efforts. As climate change continues to have a devastating impact on our planet, natural disasters are becoming more prevalent in Australia. During bushfire season or extreme floods, helping communities to recover and rebuild is invaluable.
Volunteer service examples could include delivering emergency supplies, restoring damaged buildings, or offering emotional support.
8. Youth mentorship
If you want to inspire the next generation, you can volunteer to coach youth sports teams or mentor young Australians. If sport is your passion, you could target sports clubs that are seeking coaches to teach skills and build confidence in young players. Alternatively, you could help young people in academics, careers, or personal development.
This is a great way of giving back to the community, helping the Australian youth to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.
9. Event volunteering
Why not volunteer at local events, festivals, or charity runs as a fun way to support fellow Aussies? As an active, outdoor nation, Australians love organising events such as community bake sales, local concerts, and fun runs, and event organisers are always looking for willing volunteers. You could be helping with crowd management, taking donations, or planning responsibilities for the big day.
Not only does volunteering at these events make a huge difference, but you can also start a fundraiser to help increase donations.
10. Fundraising for causes via GoFundMe
One way of maximising the impact you have as a volunteer is to combine your support with a GoFundMe fundraising campaign. GoFundMe is Australia’s leading crowdfunding platform, helping thousands of Aussies to raise funds for individuals or communities in need.
With no fee to start, you can begin your fundraising journey in a matter of minutes – giving the organisation you’re volunteering for a much-needed financial boost.Learn more about how GoFundMe works.
Overcoming volunteering barriers
The power of volunteering has huge potential. Not only is it an excellent method for contributing to a worthwhile cause, with small acts of kindness making a big difference, but it can also positively impact the volunteer. By getting started with one of the volunteer work examples in this article, you can benefit from:
- New skills and experiences
- An improvement in your personal wellbeing
- Growing confidence
- Strong relations with your local community
- Feeling happier due to giving back
We appreciate there are some barriers to volunteering, such as time constraints, skill requirements, or lack of experience, but this shouldn’t prevent you from getting involved. If you are struggling to volunteer, why not consider flexible, short-term volunteering options or opportunities that require minimal training?
For those who do take the leap, make sure you lean on the advice we’ve listed here, so you can ensure your idea for volunteer work is a success. In doing so, you’ll want to explore using GoFundMe to create a fundraiser and extend your reach.