Volunteering in Ballarat is as diverse as all the organisations, programs and projects in the region. You may be interested in helping out for a day at a major event or regularly with a particular project or agency.
What is volunteering?
A volunteer provides a service of their own free will for no expectation of monetary reward – except reimbursement of personal expenses. Many members of ex-service, sporting clubs and community organisations offer their services to fellow members or to the community by taking on responsibilities such as: welfare visits, serving meals, or organising events. These activities are considered volunteering.
Volunteering Ballarat facilitates the Volunteer Coordinators Network, providing advice, training and collaborative meetings to support organisations which rely upon volunteers to function. Members of the network is free and open to any organisation which manages volunteers.
Why volunteer?
Volunteering is crucial to a healthy and vibrant community. People volunteer for a variety of reasons, which may include to:
- Enjoy social interaction
- Get on the job training
- Increase confidence
- Meet new people
- Feel good about helping others
- Maintain and develop new skills
- Learn about a workplace
- Enjoy a new challenge
- Feel needed
How can I volunteer?
Volunteering comes in many forms and can be formal or informal, regular or irregular, on site or off site. Whether you have 1 hour or 10 hours spare a week to share your skills, knowledge and enthusiasm, there are a variety volunteer opportunities.
Volunteers should be provided with a volunteer position description when starting as a volunteer. This is a way of ensuring everyone understands the role being undertaken and the rights and responsibilities of the volunteer. Volunteers are generally required to undertake a National Police Check and a Working With Children Check prior to commencing their role.
Volunteer opportunities are advertised on GoVolunteer and volunteer.com.au. You can search opportunities by interest area and location and put in an expression of interest or you can register and create your own profile online.
Find volunteer opportunities in the Volunteer Ballarat Booklet 2023. Click the image below to download a copy of our booklet detailing the local organisations with volunteering opportunities.
What is Volunteering Ballarat?
Volunteering Ballarat is the peak body for volunteering for the City of Ballarat, Moorabool Shire, Golden Plains Shire, Pyrenees Shire and Hepburn Shire. We are here as a resource to help the community to find volunteering opportunities and to help those groups and organisations seeking volunteers.
Should you have any questions, feel free to email volunteer@ballaratfoundation.org.au.
Volunteering Ballarat is supported by funding from Volunteering Victoria, the Commonwealth Government Department of Health and the Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
