Volunteering
Spare time?
Got some free time on your hands? Why not put it to good use by correcting electronically translated text? Leigh, an
AboutSeniors subscriber has came across a great way to keep idle hands busy.
When searching for information about family history, times gone past or researching a specific topic, old archives of records and newspapers are invaluable. However, as these can be stored on the other side of the world, accessing them may not be easy.
The National Library of Australia has undertaken a program to digitise out-of-copyright newspapers, allowing an easy-to-access online search facility to be created. Volunteers are required to correct the translated text, and you can do as little or as much as you desire. And just think of the fun you can have reading all the news of days gone by.
For more information, visit the
National Library of Australia.
Green gym
Many local community groups and organisations need volunteers to help them undertake new projects and the health benefits that a little manual labour can deliver are a positive side effect.
The Green Gym Program aims to link volunteers and community groups to benefit the local environment and the health of volunteers. Currently running in Victoria (Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo) and NSW (Inner West and Western Suburbs and Port Macquarie), Green Gym projects offer a means of exercise to those who may benefit in a controlled environment, cost free.
You can give up as much time as you want and can fit your participation around other commitments, with no previous experience necessary. All projects will take into consideration the fitness of the individuals concerned and will not over-exert those new to exercise. The focus of each day will be health, with warm-up exercises before work commences and healthy food for all participants. Self-monitoring health cards will be provided so participants can monitor the physical benefits, such as weight loss and personal well-being, derived from the program.
For more information on projects in your area, or to suggest a future program, contact Green Gym on 1800 032 501 or visit Conservation Volunteers.
Volunteers wanted
If you are passionate about books, writing and ideas and have some spare time this August, help get the show on the road by volunteering at The Melbourne Writers Festival.
Volunteers are crucial to the success of the festival, with people needed to man the box office, usher, run the schools program, event management and drive the authors to name but a few tasks on offer. This year, as the festival continues to grow, 200 volunteers are required. If you have a real interest in books and the people who write them, this is a great opportunity to get involved. To register an interest in becoming a volunteer, you can contact Jane Dickenson at or complete the application form on the website.
Program details for the festival will be posted on the website from 18 July 2008.
Volunteering
- Australian Business Volunteers Ltd (ABV). Australian Business Volunteers is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1981 by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and AusAID. ABV is interested in the transfer of business skills. The primary source of business skills is ABV’s skilled and experienced volunteers who may be retired, semi-retired or using their annual leave.
Go there - Australian Volunteer Search. AVS is a government site which lists volunteering opportunities and organisations by state/territory, region and sub-region. You can list your profile to allow registered organisations to search for a suitable volunteer. This is a free service available only to Australian organisations. The site also includes links to Australian volunteer sites.
Go there - Australian Volunteers International (AVI). AVI provides opportunities for Australians to volunteer in order to live, work and learn in partnership with people of other cultures. Volunteers contribute to developing communities and bring a reciprocal benefit to Australia.
Go there - FIDO - Friends In Deed Organisation Volunteer skills network. Facilitaties the matching of skills provided by registered volunteers with the needs and requirements indicated by registered non-profit organisations. You then play ‘matchmaker’ via specific software. What’s more, it is entirely free!
Go there - Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. RIDBC in Sydney provides a wide range of educational services to children who have significant hearing and/or vision loss, including children who have additional disabilities. Seniors are the biggest supporters of the Institute and it relies heavily on volunteers and fundraising to provide these services to over 600 children.
Go there
- Volunteering Australia. This is the national peak body working to advance volunteering in Australia. Here you can find the definition and principles of volunteering, a code of practice for organisations using volunteers, volunteers’ rights and contact details for all state/territory volunteering centres.
Go there - Also check their GoVolunteer site, designed to provide free advertising for not-for-profit community organisations looking for volunteers.
Go there - Volunteers for Isolated Students’ Education (VISE). For retired teachers to to spend six weeks with remote families to help with childrens’ education.
Go there
