Volunteering
Volunteering involves dedicating your time to support an individual or organisation in need without receiving any monetary compensation. You may volunteer through various avenues such as a charitable organization, a not-for-profit entity, a community group, or your educational institution. Volunteering not only provides an opportunity to enhance your skills and prepare for future employment but also enables you to make a positive impact on the community by helping those who require support.
What can volunteering help you with?
Volunteering is the act of contributing your time and effort to assist an organisation or individual in need without any financial compensation. This is an excellent way to gain work experience, expand your knowledge and skills in a particular field, improve your mental health, and build social connections and interpersonal skills.
When studying in Australia, volunteering can also provide you with the opportunity to connect with others and feel part of a community. Additionally, it can offer international students valuable work experience and professional opportunities, without the need for a full-time commitment. By volunteering, you can also find a sense of purpose and fulfillment as you explore your interests and passions. Volunteering can support a range of mental and physical wellbeing benefits, as it is often a social activity that promotes mood improvement and social enrichment. If you’re interested in volunteering, the Go
Volunteer websites can provide you with information on where to volunteer and how to find the right opportunity for you.
Volunteering opportunities
Volunteering and internships are great ways to gain hands-on work experience, meet new people, and make a positive contribution to your community. Many charities and non-government organisations offer volunteer opportunities for students. You can visit govolunteer.com.au or check with your education provider for more information about internships, work experience, and volunteer opportunities.
Additionally, many cities and states have internship programs or student entrepreneurship programs that can help you start your own business. Be sure to check out the relevant websites for your state or territory for more information.
- Australian Capital Territory (Canberra, ACT) – Volunteering and Contact ACT
- New South Wales (NSW) – The Centre for Volunteering NSW
- Northern Territory (NT) – Volunteering SA & NT
- Queensland (QLD) – Volunteering Queensland
- South Australia (SA) – Volunteering SA & NT
- Tasmania (TAS) – Volunteering Tasmania
- Victoria (VIC) – Volunteering Victoria
- Western Australia (WA) – Volunteering WA
Typically, your educational institution will provide various options for internships, work experience, and volunteering. Moreover, several cities and states create and administer programs for internships or student entrepreneurship, which can help you begin your own enterprise. The Innovation in Employability report by Austrade showcases some impressive success stories and outlines these programs.
Volunteering from home
International students often have ambitions beyond just academic success. While it’s important to learn and perform well in your courses, you may also be interested in helping others, gaining practical experience, making connections, and making a difference. Volunteering can be an excellent way to achieve all of these goals! Even if you’re studying remotely from overseas, there are many opportunities to volunteer and make a difference from the comfort of your own home. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to know about the importance of volunteering, its benefits, and how to get involved remotely.
Volunteering offers a multitude of benefits, including positive effects on mental health. Engaging in acts of kindness triggers the release of “feel-good” chemicals in our brains, such as oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, which can lead to a sense of fulfillment and happiness. Studies have shown that volunteers report higher levels of life satisfaction and better mental well-being. Volunteering has also been found to reduce anxiety and depression, as noted by Head to Health.
In addition to improving mental health, volunteering can expand your social network. Whether you are volunteering online or in-person, you will have the opportunity to meet new people, from fellow volunteers to supervisors. These connections can provide you with a sense of belonging and support, and may even lead to future friendships or business partnerships.
Volunteering is also an excellent way to develop new skills that can be useful in the workforce. Depending on your role, you may gain experience in customer service, communications, marketing, sales, adaptability, and much more. Volunteering can also help cultivate a positive attitude, which is a valuable asset in any industry.
Finally, volunteering allows you to give back to the community in a meaningful way. By dedicating your time and energy to helping others, you can make a positive impact on those in need and promote empathy and compassion.
How to volunteer online?
By now, you’ve probably realized the advantages of volunteering and are interested in learning where and how to volunteer in Australia, including remotely and from outside of Australia. Luckily, there are numerous online volunteer opportunities available that you can participate in from anywhere.
Don’t know where to begin? We’ve discovered some of the best websites featuring remote/online volunteer roles:
• SEEK Volunteer – This volunteer posting platform is an extension of the job marketplace site SEEK. You can search for volunteer positions using filters based on industry, type of work, and the required time commitment. You can also use a filter to only see online or remote positions, making it even simpler to find the right role for you.
• Volunteering Australia/GoVolunteer – GoVolunteer is a national database operated by Volunteering Australia, where people can find volunteering opportunities all over the country. It also allows you to use an online/remote filter, which makes your search even easier.
• Vollie – Vollie is a platform that specializes in virtual volunteering. They strive to advance volunteering online, from anywhere in the world. When you join this site, you’ll be linked to a network of over 900 not-for-profits, charities, and social organizations across 16 countries.
Each Australian state/territory has its own volunteering organization, offering both in-person and online volunteering opportunities. Check out the links below.
- NSW Volunteering
- Volunteering Queensland
- Volunteering South Australia & Northern Territory
- Volunteering Tasmania
- Volunteering Victoria
- Volunteering WA
- VolunteeringACT
With the aid of these resources, your generosity will surpass global borders in ways you may never have imagined.
Study, live, and make Australia your new home. We are here to help!
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