We encourage all volunteers to stay COVID-19 safe in light of the new medical advice. The Chief Medical Officer is encouraging everyone to wear masks when outside the home in crowded, indoor environments (including on public transport), maintain physical distancing and good hygiene practices, take a test if you have any symptoms, and stay at home if you have COVID-19.
If you are a current volunteer seeking advice or would like to volunteer please contact your State or Territory volunteering peak body.
Resources
For a list of resources related to COVID-19 and volunteering visit our COVID-19 Resources page. This page includes Responding to a Pandemic: A Practical Guide for Volunteers.
I would like to volunteer to help
There are a number of ways you can help to support others at this time, including:
- Contact the volunteering peak body in your State or Territory for information about volunteering opportunities including up to date information about registering for emergency volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Visit Go Volunteer for volunteer opportunities that are currently available, both related to COVID-19 and for organisations who may have a shortage of volunteers due to COVID-19. Please note that many organisations have reduced capacity due to COVID-19. If you apply for a volunteer role we encourage you to be patient about response times.
- Check in on your neighbours and people in your local community, taking into account the guidelines around mask wearing, social distancing, isolating if you are unwell and practicing good hygiene.
- Look after yourself during this time and reach out for help if you need it. Visit the Department of Health’s Head to Health website for advice and information on services available at this time.
Volunteering Australia recommends that individuals consider issues of privacy and self-care and avoid putting themselves and others in the community at risk. This means adhering to rules concerning lockdowns, isolating, mask wearing, social distancing and other official guidance
I am a volunteer, am I obliged to continue volunteering?
Volunteering Australia defines volunteering as time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain. Volunteers are under no obligation to continue to volunteer if they do not feel comfortable doing so. If you do attend your volunteering role then your Volunteer Involving Organisation has an obligation under Work Health and Safety Laws to provide protections around health and safety. See above for more information. You may wish to have a conversation with your Volunteer Involving Organisation about different ways of volunteering, for example continuing to volunteer remotely. For further advice please contact the Volunteering Peak Body in your State or Territory.
Mutual obligation and volunteering
Our current advice to individuals unable to meet their mutual obligation requirements because of the COVID-19 situation and their volunteering role being suspended is to contact Centrelink to discuss.
Current mutual obligation requirements vary by State or Territory, more information is available from Workforce Australia.
Informal self-organising volunteers
Volunteering Australia is urging people to exert caution in embarking on informal volunteering (for example, individuals or self-organising groups who are providing support to people affected by COVID-19). Individuals need to consider issues of privacy and self-care and avoid putting themselves and others in the community at risk. This means adhering to rules concerning lockdowns, isolating, mask wearing, social distancing and other official guidance.
We are asking people to consider volunteering for existing Volunteer Involving Organisations in their local community.
Spontaneous volunteers supporting the emergency response
The State and Territory volunteering peak bodies register offers of assistance from spontaneous volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, we encourage you to contact your State and Territory peak volunteering bodies and register your interest.
