Volunteering is a great way of getting experience in your field or in a field in which you are interested. Through volunteering you will meet and network with a wide range of people who may be able to offer advice and assistance in your job search. It is also a way for you to develop skills that may help you get a job. Volunteer experience shows an employer that you have initiative and motivation and a community spirit.

If you have not had much work experience, volunteering can also be useful when you are writing your cover letter and resume. In addressing skills such as communication, client service and teamwork you will then be able to give examples from your study and also from your volunteer work. Employers are very interested in students who are well rounded and have interests outside their studies. Volunteering can earn you valuable points when you are competing for a job.

Before you volunteer it is a good idea to decide on the skills you want to develop. The skills most valued by employers include:

• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Problem solving and analysis
• Enthusiasm, motivation and commitment
• Organisation
• Initiative
• Technological skills

On Campus Volunteering
If you are interested in volunteering at UNSW why not approach a unit/department and offer your skills and experience? There is a Volunteer UNSW program where units can offer a project of approximately 40 hours commitment to a student. At the completion of the project the student is given a certificate outlining the project and the skills demonstrated. Contact careers@unsw.edu.au if you have a project that could be suitable.

Arc also offers the following Volunteering programs with details available at http://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/studev/volunteers.aspx  :
Artsweek, Hypesmiths, Learn the Lingo, Mosaic Fusion Forums, O-Week Yellow Shirts, Oral Blitz, Shack Tutoring, Unsweetened Literary Journal.

AIDS Council of NSW (ACON): www.acon.org.au
Provides home and palliative care to people with HIV.

The Ampersand Network: www.ampersand.org.au
Assists students to find volunteer positions in Australia and Overseas.

Apex Clubs: www.apex.org.au
Apex raises money for worthwhile community projects.

Art Gallery of NSW: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
The gallery offers a full volunteer program, including training.

Australian Council for International Development: www.acfid.asn.au/
Offer volunteering opportunities in local/NGO aid and development agencies.

Australia Volunteers International: www.australianvolunteers.com
Provides opportunities for Australians to volunteer to live, work, and learn in partnership with people of other cultures. Volunteers contribute to developing communities and bring a reciprocal benefit to Australia.

Clean-up Australia: www.cleanup.com.au
Organises an annual clean-up day in Australia and other countries.

Father Chris Riley's Youth Off the Streets: www.youthoffthestreets.com.au
Supports chronically homeless and drug addicted young Australians as they work to turn their lives around.

IAESTE (Australia): www.swin.edu.au/chem/iaeste
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience provides students with course-related practical experience overseas.

Idealist.org: www.idealist.org
Action without borders. International directory of non-profit web resources: 16000 organizations in 130 countries

Mission Australia
Charity that offers a large number of volunteer opportunities
Volunteering Opportunities

NSW State Emergency Service: www.ses.nsw.gov.au
Assists people in case of emergencies, eg storms, floods, etc.

Seek Campus: www.volunteer.com.au
A directory of useful volunteering sites and information.

The Smith Family: www.smithfamily.com.au
An Australian charity which assists people living in poverty.

Tsunami Volunteer Centre: www.tsunamivolunteer.net
The Tsunami Volunteer Centre, based in Khao Lak, Thailand, was founded in January 2005 in response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

VentureCo: www.ventureco-worldwide.com
VentureCo’s multi-phase travel programmes incorporate development projects, expeditions and adventure travel in Asia, Africa, South America and Central America.

Volunteer Search: www.volunteersearch.gov.au
Excellent information on volunteer work and allows you to register for opportunities.

Wesley Mission: www.wesleymission.org.au
An Australian charity providing a wide range of services.

Youth Challenge Australia: www.uts.edu.au/oth/yca
Recruits Australians aged 18-30 for projects year round. The projects are in Costa Rica, Guyana and Vanuatu.

Volunteering NSW
Ph: (02) 9261 3600
Fax: (02) 9261 4033
Level 2, 228 Pitt St, Sydney, NSW 2000
www.volunteering.com.au
Email: info@volunteering.com.au

The Big Issue
Send articles and stories to:
The Editor, The Big Issue Magazine
Fax: (03) 9663 4252
Email: www.bigissue.org.au

Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc
Offers an 8 week training program for psychology and social work students able to give some time to the Fellowship for a year.
Ph: (02) 9878 2053
Address: 47-49 Wicks Rd
North Ryde 2113
Email: www.sfnsw.org.au

Powerhouse Museum
Contact Volunteer Program Officer
www.phm.gov.au

VAST (Volunteer and Service Training)
Recruits, trains and supports volunteers in Home and Community Care Agencies across Eastern Sydney.
Shop 2,
669-673 Anzac Parade,
Maroubra 2035
Ph: (02) 9349 8200
Email: vast@jnc.org.au

Conservation Volunteers: www.conservationvolunteers.com.au
Formerly Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Project work in various states including habitat improvement, erosion control and endangered species monitoring.

Earthwatch: www.earthwatch.org/australia
Volunteers pay to be sent around the world to help with research programs.

Global Vision International: www.gviaustralia.com
Make a difference to some of the world's most critical conservation and community projects.

International Volunteers for Peace (IVP): www.ivp.org.au
IVP is a volunteer run organisation which seeks to promote peace, justice and sustainability throughout the world by organising short term volunteer projects with local community groups. We organise volunteering projects in Australia and also provide a gateway for Australians to volunteer overseas - with 500 short-term projects in over 60 countries.

Involvement Volunteers: www.volunteering.org.au
Australians are sent overseas to work in environmental, conservation and restoration jobs.

i-to-i: australia.i-to-i.com
i-to-i provides opportunities to volunteer and work abroad, and training for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

Peacework: www.peacework.org
Sends volunteers to crisis points around the world and frequently to Asia.

Projects Abroad: www.projects-abroad.com.au
Arranges volunteer projects in developing countries around the world. Projects include teaching, conservation, care and community work in countries across Asia, Africa and South America.

SMILE Society [Situational Management & Inter-Learning Establishment Society]
Organises welfare activities for under privileged children in India.

Travellers Worldwide: www.travellersworldwide.com
Arrange conservation, work experience and teaching projects in 16 countries.

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