Welcome
Your decision to volunteer with us makes a meaningful contribution to the services we provide and plays a key role in fostering a thriving, vibrant community. Volunteers are at the heart of our success, supporting programs, events, and services in various roles that make a lasting impact.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life, representing a wide range of backgrounds, and share a passion for positively shaping the community. We celebrate and recognise their dedication, skills, and diversity, knowing that everyone brings something valuable to the team.
Volunteering with us is simple, and our Frequently Asked Questions section is here to answer any queries you may have. No matter who you are or where you come from, we believe that everyone can make a difference through volunteering. We look forward to having you join our team!
Why Volunteer?
The list of reasons to volunteer is long! Through volunteering, you can:
- Connect with your community and meet new people.
- Have fun while making a positive impact.
- Contribute to social change and raise awareness about issues that matter.
- Be a valuable part of a team and feel important to others.
- Interact with diverse groups of people from all walks of life.
- Learn new skills and gain confidence by facing new challenges.
- Build your professional network and gain experience that can advance your career.
- Boost your health, reduce depression, and increase your overall life satisfaction.
What are you waiting for? Start your volunteering journey today!
Volunteer Roles You Can Get Involved In:
- Bus Driving & Transport Assistance
- Special Events & Open Days
- Community & Library Programs
- Youth Services
- Graffiti Removal
- Animal Management
Make a difference, gain new skills, and build connections within your community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Volunteering can be an enjoyable and fulfilling way to support your local community. Other benefits include:
Personal Benefits
Develop a sense or purpose and fulfilment - you’ll feel good about the people you are helping and it may even improve self esteem.
Happiness – increase your overall happiness and life satisfaction by giving back to others
Improved self-esteem – gives you a sense of accomplishment
Social Benefits
- More confidence – Enhance your social skills as you become more comfortable in social settings or groups
- Sense of community – learn about and feel more connected to your community.
- New friendships – good way to meet new people with similar interests
Career Benefits
- Develop new skills –gain skills and experience to benefit your career
- Enhance job prospects – it can build on your resume and volunteering for your local council shows a commitment to your community
Health Benefits
- Improve your mental and physical health through a sense of purpose, reducing stress, depression and loneliness. And as some roles are physical it may help you to keep active.
A police check is required for most volunteer roles. This will apply if you are volunteering with vulnerable groups, handling money or going on private property or is a requirement of the the funding agreement. The Volunteer Development Officer will assist you with your police check and these are free of charge.
Yes, if you receive an allowance from Centrelink that asks you to do volunteer work (eg 15 hours per week) to qualify for your payments we can generally help you to meet all or part of that commitment. This will depend on the vacancies that exist.
You will receive induction and training, insurance cover while volunteering, support from Council and recognition for your valuable support.
Read more about the Volunteer Personal Accident Insurance.
Volunteering FAQs
Whilst the City of Charles Sturt is interested in harnessing your life/work experience and utilising your skills there are many opportunities to try something new. However, we make every effort to match you to a role that will suit you and be successful.
This depends on the role and your availability. Some positions require you to complete a 4 hour 'shift' per week or fortnight, while others are more flexible and may only require a couple hours per fortnight or month.
A police check is required for most volunteer roles. If you are going to be volunteering with vulnerable groups, handling money or going on private property this will apply. Other programs may require a police check when the funding agreement requests this. The Volunteer Services Development Officer will assist you to get a police check, these are free of charge to you.
All out of pocket expenses approved by your program coordinator will be reimbursed.
Yes, if you receive an allowance eg Newstart, from Centrelink that asks you to do volunteer work (eg 15 hours per week) to qualify for your payments we can generally help you meet all or part of that commitment. This of course depends on the vacancies that exist.
It is NOT our policy to give written references to prospective employees. However, your program coordinator is free to give a verbal reference over the phone and of course can only comment on the volunteer role in which you have been involved.
Absolutely! In fact we encourage all volunteers to take a break at some stage throughout the year. However, we do ask that you give your program coordinator some notice so they can plan for your absence.
Where applicable and specific to your role training is provided. There are also other opportunities offered throughout the year to all volunteers of which to take advantage.
For further information
For further information, contact:
Jayne Hutchison, City of Charles Sturt Volunteer Development Officer
T: (08) 8408 1828
M: 0456 985 178