Thinking about volunteering, but don't know where to start?
Listed here are a small selection of organisations who promote volunteering or who love to have volunteers on board.Please note that this is just a small sample of some of the organisations that I've personally been involved with. If you can't find what you are looking for here, I suggest you contact an organisation directly to see if they have a volunteer program or Volunteering Tasmania, who can help you find the best place for your skills and interests.
You could also check out Do Something Near You - a comprehensive searchable database of volunteer and community opportunities which provides ideas and contact details on volunteering opportunities according to your location search.
Remember: Don't think you always have to make a huge commitment. While many organisations appreciate regular volunteers to take on specific roles, quite a few would be more than interested in volunteers for one off events such as working bees, public events, website or Facebook page design or short, specific projects. Work out what it is you love to do and then find an organisation who would really appreciate your passion.
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Volunteering Tasmania
Volunteering Tasmania are the peak body representing volunteers and volunteer organisations here in Tasmania. They provide a Volunteer Connect service in venues around the state which you can access online which helps to connect people to volunteer vacancies advertised by organisations. They also provide training opportunities for volunteers.
57D Brisbane Street, Hobart TAS 7000
PH: (03) 6231 5550
Freecall 1800 677 895Email: Click this link for email address
Web: www.volunteeringtas.org.au
72 Tamar St, Launceston TAS 7250
P (03) 6331 1567
F (03) 6331 1539
Email: Click this link for email address
Volunteer Connect Service
Web: www.volunteeringtas.org.au/for-volunteers/volunteer-connect/
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Community and Neighbourhood Houses and Centres
There are 34 Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres around Tasmania from Nubeena to Zeehan to Devonport and St Helens.
Neighbourhood Houses exist to respond to the needs of their communities and offer varied services and programs depending on those needs. This could be anything from training courses, community gardens, community sheds, playgroups and child care, social activities, breakfast clubs, community lunches, volunteer gardening or home maintenance programs - the list of projects are endless.
Houses are managed and mainly run by volunteers, and the volunteer opportunities they offer are wide from office work, working with young or older people, fundraising, cooking, gardening, organisation management, playgroups etc.. They are always on the lookout for new people to join their teams and will welcome your existing skills or will help you to gain new skills or experiences.
For more information, contact the Tasmanian Association of Community Houses (TACH) - peak body for Houses in Tasmania, who can assist with information about your nearest House and some of the programs on offer.
Shop 14 (Ground Floor)
Moonah Centre
113 Main Road (Cnr Hopkins Street)
Moonah Tas 7009
PH: 03 6228 6515
Web: www.tach.asn.au
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Community Gardens
Community gardens are places where people come together to grow fresh food, to learn, relax and make new friends.
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| Photo courtesy Taroona Community Garden Tasmania - Flickr Creative Commons |
They take many forms, but generally volunteers donate their time tending to the gardens and crops and the produce is then shared or used in community kitchens or for helping out people in need. A number of schools have now come on board where students grow their own vegies and fruit and use it to cook recipes made from their own produce.
There are many ways you can help out in a community garden, from the actual gardening, administration, planning, harvesting and cooking.
In Tasmania, the community garden network is supported by Eat Well Tasmania, who can assist with further information and let you know where your nearest garden is.
Find them on the web at http://www.eatwelltas.org.au/gardening.php or contact Nenita at Eat Well on 6223 1266 or click here for email address
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Community and Men's Sheds
"The modern Men’s Shed is an updated version of the shed in the backyard that has long been a part of Australian culture.
Men’s Sheds are springing up all around Australia. If you looked inside one you might see a number of men restoring furniture, perhaps restoring bicycles for a local school, maybe making Mynah bird traps or fixing lawn mowers or making a kids cubby house for Camp Quality to raffle. You might also see a few young men working with the older men learning new skills and maybe also learning something about life from the men they work with. You will see tea-bags, coffee cups and a comfortable area where men can sit and talk. You will probably also see an area where men can learn to cook for themselves or they can learn how to contact their families by computer." Source: http://www.mensshed.org/what-is-a-men's-shed/.aspx
If working with your hands and creating is your thing, contact a Men's Shed in your area and see what's on offer. You can access a list of local sheds at http://www.mensshed.org/view-all-amsa-sheds/.aspx
For more information, contact the Tasmania Men's Shed Association:
35 Allambie Rd
Orielton, Tasmania 7172
PH: 0409 136 268
Email: Click this link for email address
Web: www.tasmensshed.org/page12000/Home.aspx
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Eating With Friends
Eating With Friends is a fabulous volunteer program which brings older community members together regularly for shared meals. It is about reducing loneliness amongst older people, good nutrition and bringing communities together.
The groups are all run in different ways working under one of three models - an eat in model where volunteers cook and serve the meals - an eat out model, where volunteers transport and escort a group to a meal catered at a cafe or venue - or the school model, where students cook for older community members and serve them.
There are many ways to become involved in EWF. You can volunteer to assist with the catering or serving of guests, transport participants either by car or community bus, help to organise the events, shopping or gaining donations or help out on outings escorting the group.
There are EWF groups popping up all over the state and the existing groups would love to hear from you - or if there isn't a group in your area, consider being the person to have a look at getting a group started.
Karen from Eating With Friends can provide you with lots of information about this great program.
PH: 6228 1220
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LINC Tasmania
LINCs offer many opportunities for volunteering. You can choose to volunteer as a general volunteer where you'll be able to be involved in children's activities, administration, library activities, computer training and assistance etc.
LINCS also support volunteering within specific projects such as Adult and Family Literacy and the home courier service for housebound clients.
For more information, visit the LINC Tasmania website www.linc.tas.gov.au/volunteer or drop into your local LINC.
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As I mentioned, these are just a small sample of volunteer organisations and there are many thousands of others out there to choose from. Here are a few more ideas:
- Schools are always grateful for people to help out in their classrooms and libraries, helping students with reading, maths, art and craft or for sporting events and sports teams. Many are also getting involved in the Kitchen Garden scheme and would love people who can help children learn about growing and cooking their own fresh vegies. Contact your local school for more details.
- Service Clubs such as Lions, Apex, Rotary, Zonta and Soroptomists are groups set up to raise money and provide support for various causes. They are an ideal way to become involved in your community.
- Charities like Red Cross, St Vincent De Paul, Lifeline and the Salvation Army need volunteers and helpers for their programs and op shops.
- Second Bite and Foodbank distribute donated food to community groups for people in need and welcome people to support this service by doing deliveries or packing food boxes along with general volunteers.
- Sporting groups are always on the lookout for people who can become coaches, managers or provide support in various ways.
- Organisations such as Tasmanian Regional Arts can provide you with information about Arts based volunteering or get in touch with your local theatre groups and find out how to become involved.
References:
- Dosomethingnearyou.com.au (2011) Do Something Near You! – Australia's largest community directory. [online] Available at: http://www.dosomethingnearyou.com.au/ [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].
- Eatwelltas.org.au (2010) Eat Well - Community Gardening. [online] Available at: http://www.eatwelltas.org.au/gardening.php [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].
- Linc.tas.gov.au (2012) LINC Tasmania Online - Volunteer. [online] Available at: http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/volunteer [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].
- Mensshed.org (2007) AMSA - What is a Men's Shed?. [online] Available at: http://www.mensshed.org/what-is-a-men's-shed/.aspx [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].
- Tach.asn.au (2011) Eating With Friends « Tasmanian Association of Community Houses. [online] Available at: http://www.tach.asn.au/projects/eatingwithfriends [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].
- Tach.asn.au (2011) Tasmanian Association of Community Houses. [online] Available at: http://www.tach.asn.au [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].
- Tasmensshed.org (2009) Men's Shed - Tasmania | Tasmania Men's Shed Association | Mens Shed TAS. [online] Available at: http://www.tasmensshed.org/page12000/Home.aspx [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].
- Volunteeringtas.org.au (2012) Volunteering Tasmania. [online] Available at: http://www.volunteeringtas.org.au/ [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].
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