Resources & links
Leadership, Involvement & Volunteer Experience Unit (LIVE)
The LIVE Unit hosts a range of programs and resources to initiate and facilitate unique opportunities for students to get involved both on and off campus in leadership, community engagement and volunteering activities, locally and globally.
Coordinator, Student Volunteer Resource Service
Ali Kassem
T: +613 8344 9316
F: +613 9348 1039
E: akassem@unimelb.edu.au
The University of Melbourne
Level 2, Baldwin Spencer Building, Parkville Australia 3010
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is hosted by the LIVE Unit at The University of Melbourne. It is an International 'leadership in action' program for young people between 16-25 years. Challenge yourself - Get started now!
Student Ambassador Leadership Program (SALP)
SALP is an extra-curricular program which provides opportunities for students to create networks and develop their qualities and skills via active engagement within the University and volunteering within the wider community.
LIVE publications
Browse through a range of publications on volunteering, leadership and community engagement that are developed and produced by the LIVE Unit for students and staff of the University.
top of pageVolunteer Information Kit - a must have for all new volunteers!
The kit contains a variety of useful information to help you get started. Kits are available from the LIVE Unit, located at the The University of Melbourne, Level 2, Baldwin Spencer Building, Parkville campus.
Volunteering Information Sheets
Universal Declaration on Volunteering (397KB | PDF file)
Definition and Principles of Volunteering (393KB | PDF file)
Volunteer Rights & Responsibilities (384KB | PDF file)s
ABS stats on volunteering
Occupational Health & Safety laws and volunteers (159KB | PDF file)
Visas for volunteers from overseas (581KB | PDF file)
Volunteers Online
Hosted by the LIVE Unit, Volunteers Online is a web-based volunteer search facility, enabling University of Melbourne students to access local, national and international volunteer opportunities advertised by a range of community organisations and University departments requiring volunteers.
Volunteer on-campus
Volunteer in the community
Word Vision Australia
World Vision Australia encourages Australians to support programs in poorer countries.
People outdoors
People Outdoors is a community based non-profit organisation, providing 'Adventure for All' to all abilities and levels of disabilities.
Engineers without Borders Australia
EWB Australia works with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through education and the implementation of sustainable engineering projects.
Conservation Volunteers
Conservation Volunteers provides volunteers with opportunities in practical conservation projects for the betterment of the Australian environment.
Polyglot
Polyglot is a not for profit organisation committed to bridging the gap between local and international students in Melbourne.
SAIL – Sudanese Integrated Learning Program
SAIL is a non-profit, secular organisation that provides free English support & community services to the Sudanese refugee community in Melbourne & Sydney.
Edmund Rice Camps
ERD Victoria is a not-for-profit, volunteer organisation which hosts camps and holiday programs for disadvantaged children and families throughout Victoria.
Oaktree Foundation
The Oaktree Foundation is a youth run aid and development organisation, run entirely by young people under the age of 26.
Indigenous community volunteers
ICV is a not for profit organisation providing Indigenous Australians with new skills.
Scope Victoria
Scope is a not-for-profit organisation providing disability services throughout Victoria to thousands of children and adults with physical and multiple disabilities.
CERES
CERES is a place which exists to initiate and support environmental sustainability and social equity with an emphasis on cultural richness and community participation.
Australian Red Cross
The Red Cross is a global movement which aims to prevent or reduce human suffering, wherever it is found.
Oxfam
Oxfam Australia is part of a global movement of dedicated people working hard to fight poverty and injustice.
Environment Victoria
Environment Victoria is the peak non-government, not-for-profit environment organisation in Victoria aiming to provide a sustainable and healthy environment for all Victorians.
Indigenous community volunteers
ICV aims to provide Indigenous Australians with new skills by matching the volunteers with community organisations to address identified skills.
Australian Red Cross
Red Cross is always there for people in need, providing relief in times of crisis and care for the most vulnerable in Australia and around the world.
Australian Youth Climate Coalition
AYCC is a coalition of youth organisations united to solve the climate crisis, inspiring young Australians to take action on climate change through education, policy development, lobbying, media campaigns and more.
The Centre
The Centre is a neighbourhood house and community centre and runs a number of social action programs, including a volunteer produced newspaper and a homework program for refugee and migrant children
PILCH
PILCH is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which facilitates pro bono legal services to Victorian individuals and organisations in need, and by undertaking law reform, policy work and legal education.
Ardoch Youth Foundation
Ardoch Youth Foundation strives to make education a reality for young people, including those experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.
RSPCA
The RSPCA is a non-government community based animal welfare charity providing care, maintenance and protection for thousands of animals.
Museum Victoria
Museum Victoria is the largest public museums organisation in Australia, responsible for the state's scientific and cultural collections.
Volunteer search sites
Go Volunteer
Australia's first volunteer recruitment website. Search for volunteer roles by location, organisation, the type of work you would like and the time commitment.
Good Company
Good Company helps put young professionals in contact with community organisations seeking assistance with specific one-off needs and projects.
Volunteer Match
Volunteer Match is a specialised service matching skilled professional volunteers and not-for-profit organisations.
Australian Volunteer Search
Search for thousands of volunteer opportunities. Register to receive automatic email notification of volunteer opportunities that match your registered profile.
Infoxchange Volunteer Seeker
Infoxchange is a non-profit organisation providing hundreds of volunteer opportunities for you to choose from.
SEEK Volunteer
SEEK Volunteer is a non-profit initiative designed to bring volunteers and the organisations seeking them together. Volunteer opportunities are updated daily.
Ampersand
An umbrella organisation, Ampersand provides links to agencies that can place young volunteers in countries all over the world.
Fido skilled volunteer search
Fido skilled volunteer Search connects skilled, experienced volunteers with non-profit organisations looking to recruit volunteers for short-term or long-term positions.
Career one volunteer
Search or browse for volunteering opportunities, or go to the News & Advice section for guidance to help further your volunteering career.
LIVE Community Volunteer Fair
The purple rinse brigade! Back row from left: Prof. Sue Elliott, Emma Boyar (McAuley Foundation), Assoc. Prof. Philip Batterham, Anna McMahon (4th year Arts / Law).
Front row: Thomas Apoyan (2nd year Engineering / Commerce) & Farah Masood (4th year Commerce / Science)
Check out more photos of the 2008 Community Volunteer Fair.
LIVE's annual Volunteer Fair gives students a rich opportunity to learn about volunteering and not-for-profit organisations, to explore opportunities for working in community settings and to develop community leadership skills.
The 2008 Community Volunteer Fair was held on Thursday 8 May, and showcased a variety of voluntary opportunities from a range of not-for-profit organisations. Some of the participating organisations included: Australian Red Cross; Fitzroy Learning Network; Carlton Parkville Youth Services; People Outdoors; Conservation Volunteers Australia and Kids Under Kanvas.
Click here for a full list of the organisations that attended the 2008 Fair. (83KB | PDF file)
Volunteer overseas
Overseas Volunteer Centres
Volunteer centres around the world are engaged in promoting and facilitating volunteering. They provide information, publications, training and research to support volunteer organisations within their own countries.
International Online Volunteer Opportunities
A selection of online sites providing information on volunteering and links to overseas opportunities.
International Volunteering Site Links
Links to a range of organisations offering opportunities for volunteering abroad.
Australian Volunteers International
AVI manage people-centred development projects & programs in a wide range of countries. Our work focuses on reducing poverty, providing health & education services, promoting human rights & gender equality, and protecting the environment.
Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development
AYAD places skilled young Australian (18-30) on short-term assignments in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.
GAPS – Global Aid Partnerships
GAPS seeks to assist those people and communities who have been ‘forgotten’ by governments/other aid organisations. Most projects are based in remote & rural areas.
Students Partnerships Worldwide
SPW is an international development charity working in eight countries across sub-Saharan Africa and South. SPW mobilises young people by recruiting and training 18-28 year olds to serve as Volunteer Peer Educators.
Global Vision International
GVI provides support and services to international charities, non-profits and governmental agencies, through volunteering opportunities and direct funding.
Projects Abroad
Volunteering on one of our projects gives you the opportunity to become more than a tourist; to become part of a community in one of 23 developing countries.
Global Crossroad
GC offer a variety of volunteer and travel programs in 34 different countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
i-to-i
Immerse yourself in new cultures and make a difference abroad. Whether you fancy volunteering around the globe or want to get TEFL qualified, we'll get you there!
Youth Challenge Australia
YCA actively engages Australian volunteers in grass roots development work in Central Australia, Vanuatu, India, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and Guyana.
Involvement Volunteers
If you're looking to make a difference in the lives of others, and want a challenging, rewarding and life changing experience, IVI is ready to make it happen for you.
Cross Cultural Solutions
CCS offer volunteer programs that are unique in every way. Our global infrastructure supports over 4,000 international volunteers.
Global Humanitarian Expeditions
GHE provide volunteers to work on-site to preserve and facilitate autonomy and improved quality of life for indigenous peoples around the globe.
International Volunteers for Peace
IVP is a worldwide non-government organisation promoting peace and justice through voluntary work.
World Youth International
WYI offers people over the age of 18 the opportunity to volunteer overseas in a range of programs and placements, in Kenya, Uganda, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and Peru.
UNICEF
UNICEF is non-political and works in over 150 countries to make a lasting difference to the lives of women and children around the world.
Care Australia
CARE Australia is unique. We are the largest non-political, non-religious overseas aid organisation in the country, providing humanitarian assistance across the globe.
VIDA (Volunteering for International Development)
VIDA places skilled Australian volunteers in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Lawyers Beyond Borders
Work with overseas partners to identify international legal volunteer assignments.
Grants
grantsearch
grantsearch is Australia's most comprehensive funding database, detailing $8billion distributed to 18,000 recipients every year. grantsearch actively seeks funding sources that are offered by; all levels of government, universities, foundations, private sector and overseas sources specifying Australian applicants. Grantsearch identifies sources of financial support for study, travel, research, business and professional development, the arts, sport & community projects.
Grants @ DPCD (Dept. of Planning & Community Development
Search for grants, apply for grants online, download guidelines & applications forms, read about successful grant applications and get hints/tips on how to apply for a grant.
Grants Link
Find funding available under a variety of grant programs to help you to develop solutions to local and national problems, fund ideas and initiatives.
FundBase
Australia's most comprehensive and user-friendly database of Government, Philanthropic and Private grants, awards and funding programs.
How to win money - presentation on effective funding strategies (3.94 MB | PDF file)
Fundraising
Raising Funds
Australia's best value and most practical fundraising newsletter for community and not-for-profit groups, schools and clubs. For a copy of the latest edition contact live-info@unimelb.edu.au
Guide for non-profit organisation (343 KB | PDF file)
A guide that explains the tax treatment of various fundraising activities and the concessions available.
Fundraising – Help Sheet
Find information on fundraising in Victoria including; whether you need an authority to fundraise, applying for an authority and other relevant fundraising information.
Fundraising Directory
Fundraising Directory is your A-Z guide to fundraising products and services in Australia. Our online directory contains a state-by-state fete and festivals guide.
Fundraising Resources
Fundraising Resources is full of fundraising ideas; ideas for sporting clubs and community groups, and rules and regulations for those involved with fundraising.
Fundraising Institute Australia
FIA provides career development opportunities for professional fundraisers and advocates on behalf of the fundraising industry.
Fact Sheets
Volunteer work (402KB | PDF file)
Volunteer work - overseas (408KB | PDF file)
Things to consider before volunteering (382KB | PDF file)
The application process (384KB | PDF file)
Frequently asked questions (398KB | PDF file)
Checks
Police checks
Working with Children Check
Learning guides
Be an effective volunteer (1.60 MB | PDF file)
A guide to help you understand what it means to be a volunteer including; knowledge of the volunteering sector and applying basic work practices to your volunteer role.
Participate in networks (2.07 MB | PDF file)
A guide to support you to develop networks and to contribute to the effectiveness of networks in an organisation.
Guides for board members
Guides for board members and committees to help improve organisational management and strategic decision making to opened up possibilities.
Publications
Australian Journal on Volunteering
The Australian Journal on Volunteering is the only Australian academic journal that publishes articles exclusively on volunteering.
National Survey on volunteering (665 KB | PDF file)
The National Survey of Volunteering Issues offers a rich snapshot of data which paints a picture of continuing strong commitment to volunteering across Australia.
National Agenda on Volunteering (562 KB | PDF file)
This document was initially produced in 2001 and remains relevant today as an important framework for volunteering in Australia.
Volunteering research
Links to organisations involved in volunteer research
Take a closer look at the increasing number of organisations around the world involved in research in the field of volunteering.
Government volunteering sites
State
Victoria - Go for your life
New South Wales - Community Builders
South Australia - Office for Volunteers
Western Australia - Volunteers Resources Online
Queensland - Community Door
Tasmania - Council of Social Services
ACT – Volunteering ACT
Federal
Department of Family and Community Services
Community.gov.au
Other useful links
Our Community
Conscious Governance
Pro Bono Australia
Pathways Australia
Philanthropy Australia
Nonprofit Australia