Community Volunteer Program: opportunities

All community volunteer opportunities are very hands-on and will deliver a unique edge to the Australian Education Abroad experience.

Environmental groups

Indigenous Australians

Melbourne sports and events

Housing and homeless services

Environmental groups

Conservation Volunteers

Placement details:Conservation Volunteers Australia involves the community in conservation projects in urban, regional and remote Australia ranging from tree planting; seed collection; endangered species protection; weed control; flora and fauna surveys; walking trail construction; fencing and environmental monitoring.

Earthcare St Kilda Inc

Placement details: Earthcare is a local environmental group that works with council and specialists to improve City of Port Phillip Bay. Number of different events are organised within the organisation and volunteers are always needed with the revegetation of bay areas, which help the penguins with nesting material.

Friends of the Bluff

Placement details: The Friends of the Bluff are a group of volunteers who have a common interest in caring for the welfare of the complete ecosystem of the Barwon Heads Bluff area (30minutes from the city of Geelong along the coastline). Volunteers hold regular working bees on site with participants involved in weed eradication, propagation and planting of indigenous species, litter control, observation of bird and animal life.

Indigenous Australians

YMCA Indigenous & Youth Services Program

Placement details: YMCA Youth Services focus on the provision of programs (for example homework groups) and services to young people living in high-rise commission flats. This worldwide organisation also runs a number of different projects that you can assist and volunteer with such as school holiday camps and Indigenous youth day programs.

Aboriginal Tourism Australia

Placement details: Aboriginal Tourism Australia (ATA) has a range of interesting activities around promoting Aboriginal Tourism. Students will assist in gathering information from Indigenous people and producing promotional and other materials.

Melbourne sports and events

Bicycle Victoria Events

Placement details: Volunteers can find themselves doing a wide range of different activities including gaining extensive experience in an event management environment. Bicycle Victoria holds many events during the year such as Round the Bay in a Day and the Great Victorian Bike Ride. Most events allow participants to work and visit many parts of Victoria and greater Melbourne.

Australian Football League: The Melbourne Football Club

Placement details: Tasks you will be undertaking in the Melbourne Football Club Match Day program include fundraising, promotion & sales assistance. The Club also runs full day sports events at which your assistance could be utilized. Contributing to Melbourne Football Club will give you experience in the day-to-day activities of a professional Australian sporting organisation but most importantly you will gain a broad understanding of the culture that is Aussie Rules.

Housing and homeless services

Ozanam House

Placement details: Ozanam Community provides services to people who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or have been forced to the margins of society. They provide services that work 'with' people in need, empowering them to take control of their lives and achieve a non-dependent position within the community. You will be placed at Ozanam House, which is a centre for homeless people seeking emergency accommodation.

Habitat for Humanity

Placement details: Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing organisation, which build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter. Since 1991 HFHA has built 35 homes in Australia including one designed by RMIT Architecture students. Volunteers help with the construction and the installation phase.