More than six million Australians make a difference to the community by volunteering each year, doing a variety of tasks for a range of organisations.
Some people use volunteering as a way to gain new skills or to build their resume. Others use it as a way to give back to the community, meet new people and try new things.
How to use volunteering to improve your competitiveness for jobs
Volunteering can help you develop the skills and abilities that employers look for. This includes being organised, honest, showing initiative and self-management.
Remember to include any relevant work experience (including volunteering and other unpaid work) in your resume. This is especially useful if you don't have previous paid experience.
By including your unpaid work experience in your application you can demonstrate you have the skills employers need.
You may even meet people who will be happy to act as referees or character references through volunteering.
How to choose the right placement for you
Think about why you want to volunteer, how much time you have and what you hope to get out of it. This will help you choose a role that is a good match for you.
Make sure you understand your rights and responsibilities when it comes to unpaid work and volunteering. For more information, check out our article Unpaid work experience, when is it okay? or visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Where to find volunteering opportunities?
There are a range of websites (such as volunteeringaustralia.org) that list volunteering opportunities in your area.
