Skip links and keyboard navigation

Volunteering

In 2010, almost 1.2 million Queenslanders made a difference in their local community by volunteering.

Reasons to volunteer

People volunteer for many different reasons, such as to:

  • meet new people
  • gain experience or learn new skills
  • build self confidence
  • stay active and involved
  • transition to employment
  • try something new
  • put back into the community
  • have fun
  • support a cause.

You can read stories and watch videos that explore volunteers' reasons for getting involved and their experiences.

How to find volunteering opportunities

If you are keen to volunteer, or even just give it a try, there are many opportunities to get involved and simple ways to find a role that suits you.

Volunteering Qld—links to portals with volunteering opportunities in a range of sectors within Queensland e.g. tourism, sport and recreation, government.

Volunteer Resource Centre:

GoVolunteer—search for volunteering opportunities by postcode or location, organisation, position type and whether you want to commit once or on an ongoing basis.

Queensland Government—a range of volunteering opportunities exist in state government.

Local council—contact your local council to find out what opportunities are available.

Local newspaper—may have articles or community service announcements about volunteering.

Volunteering from home

Some not-for-profit organisations have opportunities for volunteers that can be done online, so you don't have to leave home to get involved. Some online options include:

  • research, writing and editing
  • data entry
  • participating in online forums
  • raising awareness by blogging.

Visit GoVolunteer and enter a keyword, such as online or web, while leaving all the other fields blank to find potential online opportunities.

Checklist for volunteers

Volunteering Qld provides a checklist of things to consider with volunteering, such as location and training.

More information

Contact Volunteering Qld on 07 3002 7600 or your nearest Volunteer Resource Centre if you have any questions about volunteering.

If you are receiving a Centrelink benefit, you can get advice on support services that may assist you to volunteer.

Volunteer of the year

Scott Stidston was named Volunteer of the Year 2011

Scott Stidston has been named Volunteer of the Year, by the Fundraising Institute of Australia, for his outstanding contribution to the Spinal Injuries Association. Based in Ayr, Scott has spent many waking hours during the past 18 years fundraising, advocating and awareness raising on behalf of people with spinal injury and disability.

Scott became quadriplegic following a motorcycle accident and is passionate about sharing his story with children in North Queensland. As a member of the Spinal Education Awareness Team, Scott visits school children to promote safety and prevent injury. Find out more about Scott and his volunteering on the association's website.

Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia (CC BY-ND 3.0)
Last updated:
17 January 2013

Page feedback

Your privacy

Information collected through this form is used to improve this website.

Any information you submit that could identify you (e.g. name, email address) will be stored securely, and destroyed after we process your feedback.

  1. This page was

  2. We want this information to be the best it can be and we know we can’t do it without you. Let us know what you thought of this page and what other information you would like to see.

    We do not reply to feedback. Contact us if you need a response.

  4. Contact (optional)