Find the Perfect Volunteering Role for Your Passion

Are you looking for a way to give back to your community, your city, your country or the world? Or maybe you’re looking for a great way to make friends, build out your resumé, or just switch things up? Any way you shake it, volunteering is an amazing thing to do with your time – and the best part is that there’s a volunteer opportunity out there for just about any passion you can imagine. Don’t believe us? Here’s a few just to give you an idea of what you could do: 
 

If you love the environment

If you want to volunteer for an environmental cause, you’re in luck – there’s plenty to do, and lots of environment to do it in. The environment’s basically everywhere if you think about it! Just to put a few ideas out there, most local bush areas have volunteer organisations where you can clean up litter, get rid of weeds or even plant new trees and vegetation to help your local bushwalk look even better. If you’re not really a wilderness kind of person, another thing to keep a look out for are community gardens. As well as making nice produce or selling plants, a lot of these groups also run composts or worm farms, which transform everyday household waste into plant-enriching soil and fertilizer. Plus, the people who run these things are usually absolute gardening geniuses, and you can learn a lot from them. 

If you love to yap

A simple conversation can change someone’s life, and if you’ve got the gift of the gab, you have plenty to offer the world. Social interaction is one of our fundamental needs and can actually have some really powerful mental and physical health outcomes – so if you’ve got some time to put your hand up at your local hospital, aged-care home or big-sibling program, you’re not just helping pass the time – you’re helping others too. For those roles you don’t need to be an expert at anything, except being a fun and nice person to be around while people talk about their lives. 

If you’re an anti-fast-fashion fashionista

Ever thought about taking your thrifting obsession to the next level? You probably know about all the textile waste that happens all over the world thanks to fast fashion and single-use clothing – but having someone behind the counter who really loves fashion could mean that a great garment finds a second home for a real bargain. There are thrift shops and op-shops all over the place that can help you get some retail experience, while being a force for good. Some organisations even specialise in work-ready clothing for people experiencing unemployment, homelessness or domestic violence situations so that they can find work more easily and get back on their feet. So, it’s not just fashion – it's an important way to help people too! 

If you’re passionate about your communities and cultures

Communities and cultures stay alive because of people who care – and volunteering can be a great way to see the cultures you care about grow and thrive. If you’re someone who is a part of a community or an ally, you could have a great part to play in spreading awareness of important issues, or helping fundraise for your cause through events, sausage sizzles, and more. There are even community-based museums which often rely on volunteers to run tours or educate the public about under-heard stories or keep a history or language alive. If that sounds like something you’re keen on, there’s bound to be a volunteering role out there for you! 

Music lovers or future media moguls

Media and music are two industries which can be pretty tough to break into without some experience – but a great way to build your portfolio and profile is by volunteering. Most of your favourite radio presenters probably made their start volunteering – for example, Triple J Mornings presenter Lucy Smith was a presenter at a local Sydney independent radio station before getting her shot at the big time! Or, if you’re thinking about pursuing journalism, you could start at your uni’s local paper to start collecting those by-lines. Volunteering is a great way to get access to opportunities that you might not find out in the professional world, because these organisations are always looking for people with the time and energy to chip in. 

We’ve only really scratched the surface here, but as you can see, there’s a volunteering opportunity out there for just about any passion or interest if you know where to look. They’re all there looking for young superstars with time and energy to give – so if that sounds like you, consider this your call to adventure. 

Wanna learn more about volunteering, or find a volunteering opportunity near you? Check out volunteering.gov.au