Ever thought about volunteering?

lady in red scarf, navy top and hat holding a orange and black chicken

For National Volunteer Week, here are four interesting ways to get involved with your local community.

There are many words that can be used to describe a volunteer: caregivers, guardians, inquirers, communicators, energisers… the list goes on. Some volunteers dedicate their time to support and empower others, some channel their energy into being caretakers of the natural world, and others use their voice to advocate for social change.

Two words that describe them all, though, is change makers. That’s because they are all making a tangible difference to the people, environment, animals and communities they support.

The Change Makers is the theme for this year’s National Volunteer Week, running from 15 to 21 May. You can be a change maker too by tapping into your unique interests and finding a cause that resonates with you.

Here are four ways to volunteer in North Sydney that you might not know about:

  1. Feed the chickens at The Coal Loader. By joining the volunteer roster, you’ll play a role in caring for the animals, including feeding them and collecting the freshly laid eggs.
  2. If you enjoy walking through the parklands and get excited when you spy a creature high up in the trees or peeking behind the bushes, Wildlife Watch could be for you. You’ll take a note of all the animals you see on your outings and then enter that data online.
  3. Speak up about what’s important to you and your neighbours by becoming a member of a Precinct Committee. It’s a great way to have your say – your ideas and views will let Council know what the community thinks about current projects, plans and proposals.
  4. Turn your passion for history into a volunteer role by becoming a museum attendant at the Heritage Centre in Stanton Library. You’ll be the first to see what’s on exhibition and get to chat all things local history with visitors to the Centre.

More volunteering opportunities

For extra resources on volunteer opportunities near you, visit Volunteering Australia.

Published: 16 May 2023