Volunteer Options
Take a look at our 15 different volunteer options. Once you've chosen your top five, register now and fill out our simple registration form. It's important that you have your top five preferences because certain organisations can only accept a maximum number of volunteers.
1) Corrimal Apex
Apex Australia is an organisation primarily for people aged 18-45 and, under the auspices of the organisation, each individual club may undertake its own service and charity work within its local community.
Become a member and volunteer for a few hours by running a BBQ at a community event, raise money for local charity projects and build community connections. Corrimal Apex has recently committed to an ongoing service project with Guide Dogs Australia, maintaining and emptying their collection boxes within the Northern Illawarra region.
Criteria: be able to commit to weekly/fortnightly team meetings when possible.
To find out more click here
2) Barnardos – Kids Friends Mentoring Program
Unfortunately at times local children don’t have access to any positive male role models. In a fun and interactive way, you could provide a child with a long-term adult role model, teach living skills, develop their self esteem and confidence, assist in the social support of the child’s family. You’d be matched with a child and spend a few hours a week or fortnight spending time together – it could be kicking a footy, grabbing a bite to eat or supporting them at their sporting games.
This volunteer role is best suited to those who enjoy spending time with children, can commit to the hours per week or fortnight and can be a great role model.
Criteria: ability to undergo a two day training and induction program. Must be on your green p’s drivers license.
If you’re unsure, grab a mate and you can both be mentors to the one child. To find out more click here
3) Marine Rescue NSW (formally known as Coast Guard)
Another adventurous opportunity, Marine Rescue NSW protects our coastline through search and rescue operations as well as educating the public with safe boating advice.
Some activities you can do once you have joined up include become a crewman, a radio operator, a skipper of a rescue vessel, help to fundraise, and enjoy the social life amongst a friendly team of community service orientated people.
Marine Rescue can teach you everything from the ground up including getting your NSW Maritime Boating Licence, First Aid and your Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency.
Criteria: willingness to commit to the training program and attend any required meetings.
To find out more click here
4) my|place youth refuge – Community Care Program
This is your opportunity to inspire and mentor young people who currently experience homelessness and other life obstacles. The my|place community care program, based in Wollongong, houses young people while building their confidence, life skills and assist them to map out the next stage of their lives.
This volunteering is suited best to those who aren’t shy of getting to know and chat to a young person and who feel they have a few hours every fortnight or so to volunteer.
Criteria: ability to pass working with children’s check.
5) Aerial Patrol - Search and Rescue
If you aren’t scared of heights – this one may be for you. The Australian Aerial Patrol is probably most widely known for its regular shark spotting and beach safety patrols along the coastline between Broken Bay and Batemans Bay. Aerial Patrol is available to respond to an emergency 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Your role would be to undertake Flight Training (potentially at a cost) and once qualified assist with search and rescue operations.
Criteria: must pass a medical examination, must be able to demonstrate certain abilities including coping in confined spaces. Must be willing to commit to the required training.
Please note, Aerial Patrol can only take a maximum of four volunteers. A BBQ/information night will be held for all interested top blokes – where you can meet at the site and find out if this volunteering is right for you. To visit their website click here
6) Cancer Council
Want to use your time and talent to fight cancer in our community? You can join the Cancer Council NSW team and gain valuable work experience and develop skills. You can volunteer short or long term as Cancer Council has a whole range of volunteer roles from part-time to one off events your role could include assisting with the popular Relay for Life, Daffodil Day and Call to Arms or help with their health strategies team in delivering support and prevent information through the community safety program.
Criteria: willingness to undertake short induction program.
If you’re not sure, Cancer Council will hold a trial period where you can test and get a feel for what volunteering there will be like. To find out click here
7) State Emergency Service
If you like adventure and a real challenge the State Emergency Service is your chance to help your community respond better to floods, storms and other emergencies.
With SES you join a team who share a commitment to helping the community while learning new skills and developing lifelong friendships and support networks. You'll find a variety of roles to choose from including administration, planning, training, field, communications, logistics, media, community education and more.
Criteria: Must be able to commit to a year long training program with weekly/fortnightly meetings. Must be able to consent to a criminal history check, and provide 100 points of identification.
To find out more click here
8) St John Ambulance
If you’re ready to be faced with challenging circumstances, St John Ambulance could be the place for you. Your role would be to provide emergency pre-hospital care and allied services to the public. There is extensive training that you must undertake including advanced clinical training, leading to the issue of a Certificate II in Emergency Medical Service First Response. This certification includes Advanced First Aid, Analgesic Gas and Oxygen Administration and Automatic External Defibrillation qualifications.
You ready for the challenge?
Criteria: Have a current Senior First Aid Certificate or equivalent (or be willing to obtain beforehand), aged over 18 years, be medically fit to carry out your duties, includes undertaking 5 minutes of CPR, consent to a Criminal Record Check by the NSW Police Service and complete a basic fitness assessment.
To find out more click here
9) University of Wollongong Unicrew
If you’re a Wollongong Universitystudent and want to volunteer on the days your already at uni, UOW Unicrew is the perfect opportunity to get involved in student life. Your role can vary and include event management with Centre for Student Engagement and Unibar. You’ll build your skills in team work, developing effective relationships and creating networks. Great things to add to the resume.
Criteria: must be a UOW student
This volunteering suits those with hectic study schedules as you can choose your hours. To find out more click here
10) “The Church on the Mall” Food Program - Wollongong Mission Community Care Centre
With many people still facing hunger and social isolation within our own community, the church on the mall food program provides fresh and nutritious meals to locals experiencing hardship within their lives. Your role could include the tasks of preparing and serving the food, chatting and socialising with the clients or if your confident – provide entertainment to the room.
This role is hands on but you’ll be supported by experienced staff and volunteers. You can choose to volunteer for a few hours on the weekend providing support to those in need.
Criteria: pass a police check and undertake an induction program.
11) Leukaemia Foundation – Friends of the Foundation Program
Be part of the Friends of the Foundation program by assisting with events to raise money and awareness to combat leukaemia in our community. If your keen to develop your own initiative to raise money or to support existing ones like ‘Greatest Shave’ and ‘U.G.L.Y Bartender of the Year’ this is the perfect opportunity for you. You can volunteer for as long or as little as you can, this is a very flexible role.
Criteria: willingness to undertake short induction program
To find out more click here
12) Landcare
If you are concerned about the quality of land and water in your area, you could join a local Landcare group who share the same concern.
You could undertake a wide range of activities, including on-ground projects, research and community awareness raising. You could be part of a group committed to the more sustainable management and use of our natural resources.
The hours that you volunteer are flexible, including committing on a regular basis or one off projects. To find out more click here
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Want to be a Top Bloke and give but strapped for time?
Consider buying a gift for someone in need, your contribution is tax deductible and will help those across Australia and international improve their lives. These are legitimate and reputable organisations who achieve significant change among disadvantaged communities.
Choose how you would like to help someone else today. Add it as your preference and we’ll assist you to do the rest.
13) Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation is inspired by the great work of the lateProfessor Fred Hollows (1929-1993). Since 1993, the Foundation has gone on to work with countries throughout Africa, Asia (South and South East) and Australian focusing on blindness prevention and Australian Indigenous health.
Your donation of:
- $50 today could help restore sight for up to 2 people
- $100 today could help restore sight for up to 4 people
- $600 today could buy 75 sight restoring intraocular lenses (IOLs)
- $2,000 today could help restore sight for up to 80 people
To read more click here
14) Oxfam Australia
Oxfam Australia is helping communities to overcome poverty and injustice in a number of countries. Working together, people are growing more food, educating their children, and leading healthy, productive lives. Consider spending:
- $15 for cow manure. Surprisingly, this package of poo can help families in Sri Lanka get more from their crops. Not only is cattle manure organic, it’s cheaper than chemical fertilizers and increases crop yields.
- $39 buys you a goat. Goats can be sold to raise funds for school fees or tools and when the goats have kids of their own, they are given to another family and the process starts all over again.
- $100 supports Aussie rules footy. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mortality is three times the rates of non-Indigenous Australians, with men in general less likely to visit a doctor. This gift supports the Fitzroy Stars Football Club that not only promotes a fun activity; it provides a safe environment that is culturally appropriate to educate Aboriginal men on the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
To find out more click here
15) WaterAid Australia
When you buy a gift from WaterAid, you’ll be helping some of the world’s poorest people gain access to safe, clean water – while also helping them build sanitary toilets and learn about basic hygiene.
- $25 for two taps for a village water point which gives communities access to the precious gift of safe, clean water.
- $69 for A puppet show for hygiene promotion which teaches good hygiene practices – and can reach 300 parents and children.
- $105 for a bicycle to allow a trained community health worker to spread the message about good hygiene, where cleanliness can stop people getting sick.
To read more click here
Gee wizz!
If you've reached this part, congratulations for getting through all that. Now if you have selected your top 5 preferences and your ready to be a top bloke click here to Register Now
