Volunteer Referral

VOLUNTEER REFERRAL

helping hands of volunteering

Volunteering is for Everyone

Volunteers give their skills, life experience, time and expertise to the community which increase the capacity of community organisations to deliver their services. You don't need special skills – all you need is a willingness to give your time and effort for the benefit of your community.
Some of the reasons people volunteer are:
  • supporting a cause they believe in or are passionate about
  • learning new skills and trying something different
  • staying active, meeting people and having fun
  • giving back to the community and feeling good
  • using their professional skills and knowledge to benefit others
Volunteering also offers opportunities for people who are unemployed to maintain existing skills and to develop new ones. The benefits can include:
  • developing new contacts and relationships 
  • exposure to job opportunities as they arise 
  • obtaining references to help with finding a job 
  • enhancing a resume 
  • the opportunity to gain valuable experience
Volunteering is for everyone. In 2021 over 4.9 million people in NSW volunteered, and 46,000 of these were on the Central Coast. People of all nationalities and all walks of life volunteer. They can be young or old, male or female, working or not, retired, studying or anything in between.

You can volunteer for as little as 10 minutes a day, 1 hour per fortnight, up to a recommended maximum of 15 hours per week in any one volunteer role. 

The Process

Getting started is easy! All potential volunteers are invited to attend a general information session called Bridge to Volunteering (or B2V). These sessions are designed for people who are either starting out as a volunteer or for those who would like to know more about working as a volunteer in the community sector and what roles might be available.
Bridge to Volunteering information sessions are free and run for approximately an hour at various locations across the Central Coast. Topics include:
  •  What is volunteering 
  • The benefits of volunteering 
  • Volunteer rights and responsibilities 
  • Preparing to volunteer 
  • Types of roles that may be available
Watch our 'Bridge to Volunteering' video below:
You can phone our office on 02 4329 7122 and we can book you into an information session or you can book online.
BOOK ONLINE

Individual Consultations

Once you have been to an information session, or if you have volunteered before, you can book in for a consultation with one of our experienced recruitment staff. Our consultants are trained to assist potential volunteers to choose a suitable role, from one of the many volunteer positions we have registered with us. We interview at several locations across the Central Coast including The Entrance, Gosford, and Ettalong. You can also choose to have a phone consultation if that is more convenient.
It is helpful to ask yourself a few questions before undertaking volunteer work:
  • Why do I want to volunteer at this time?
  • How far am I willing to travel?
  • How much time – realistically – can I commit to a volunteering role?
  • What kind of volunteer activity do I want to do?
  • What sort of organisation do I want to volunteer for?
  • What type of volunteer activity doesn’t interest me? 
  • What do I want to get out of my volunteering activity?
By answering these questions, you and your interviewer will be able to target the right organisations to approach.

Phone our office on 02 4329 7122 and we can book you into an individual interview at a time and location that suits you.

Volunteering Definition

Volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.

For the common good means that volunteering should directly or indirectly benefit people outside the family or household or else benefit a cause, even though the person volunteering normally benefits as well. Volunteering is often considered as contributing to community wellbeing.

Without financial gain means that volunteers are not paid but they can receive a reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses depending on the organisation for whom they volunteer. Volunteers are rewarded and recognised as part of good practice.

Volunteering is a two-way relationship that provides an opportunity for organisations to achieve their goals by involving volunteers in their activities, and for volunteers to make meaningful use of their time and skills, contributing to social and community outcomes.

Volunteer roles typically fall into three main categories: 

Ongoing:           a few hours a week on a medium to long-term basis 
Short-term:      project work with a start and finish date 
Special event: often taking place at weekends – usually a single day at an event 

Training

VCC has its own online training and information for new and existing volunteers – contact us to find out more or CLICK HERE  

Police and Working with Children Checks

Depending on the type of volunteering role, the not-for-profit organisation may ask you to undergo a national police check, NDIS workers screening check and/or a working with children check. These are generally required if you will be working with people who are vulnerable, such as the frail aged, people living with disability and children. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify you from volunteering.

Our Services

Volunteer Referral Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme Youth Support Program Volunteering Central Skills Volunteering Central Management Industry Expert Volunteers SEARCH FOR VOLUNTEER ROLES EVENTS
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