Want to Volunteer?
Te hua o te mahi tahi
The benefit of working together
What is volunteering?
Volunteering means people choose to give their time to help others without getting paid. This could be helping a person, a group or an organisation.
Volunteering is good for everyone involved. It helps the people receiving support, and it also benefits the volunteers themselves.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, volunteers make a big difference. They help improve society, boost the economy, and protect the environment.
Benefits of volunteering
Volunteering is enjoyable! It provides purpose and belonging within the community, and a feeling of connection. People volunteer for many reasons – to connect with the community while looking for work, or to use their skills and spare time to help others. Volunteering is great for career progress and may lead to paid work.
What can you do as a volunteer?
Anything! From administration, accounting and research to gardening, retail, teaching and sport. Volunteering can be:
- Informal (e.g. helping a neighbour with their grocery shopping), and micro volunteering (short bursts of one-off volunteering).
- Formal, through an organisation. From one-off experiences to longer-term roles
- Team or group volunteering and employee volunteering
To find a volunteer role that’s right for you, ask yourself what sort of person you are and what sort of experience you want.
What to consider
Before getting started, think about:
✔️ Your Interests: What causes or activities excite you?
✔️ Your Skills: Do you want to use existing skills or learn something new?
✔️ Your Availability: Are you looking for a one-off opportunity or a regular commitment?
Finding volunteer opportunities
- Contact your local Volunteer Centre to help you find suitable volunteer opportunities. They will help you find a suitable organisation and match you with a role.
- Contact organisations which interest you directly. There are many organisations which want volunteers.
- Via online volunteer recruitment services, like SEEK Volunteer.
What to expect
It can take time to secure some volunteer roles.
You may need to:
- Fill out an application form and/or provide some personal information.
- Be interviewed to find out what skills you have and what you want from the volunteering experience.
- Supply the names of people who know you well and can vouch for your good character, reliability and trustworthiness – a reference check.
- Have a Police or Ministry of Justice check, especially if you are going to be working with young children, vulnerable people, or handling money.
The organisation may provide volunteer training and/or offer an induction. Find out what the organisation expects from you and tell them what you expect from them. A clear understanding from day one makes the volunteering experience more enjoyable and beneficial for everyone.
Your rights as a volunteer
Remember that you are giving your time, energy and skills to an organisation for free. So, the organisation should treat you well in return.
As a volunteer in New Zealand, you have certain rights:
- You should not be used to fill a position that previously belonged to a paid worker
- You should be reimbursed (paid back) for any out-of-pocket expenses you have incurred on behalf of the organisation
- You must be given enough training to do your job
- Your work environment must be healthy and safe
- Your confidential private information must be protected
- You must not be subjected to unlawful discrimination or sexual and racial harassment.
Good luck on your journey into volunteering!
