Assisting Women

Women from all walks of life participate in a wide range of voluntary activities through the  general volunteering opportunities found in many communities. There are a number of women’s organisations which specialise in providing programs, services and activities of special interest to women and girls in business, professional and community settings.

Some of these organisations, like the Country Women’s Association (CWA), Zonta, Business and Professional Women (BPW) have been around for a long time and their role and activities are generally well understood.

In addition to the options below, your  local council should list volunteering opportunities for women in your local area. The NSW Government’s  Local Council Search will be able to identify all the local councils in NSW.

The Country Women’s Association of NSW (CWA) is a non-profit organisation and part of the largest voluntary women's organisation in Australia. Members work for the welfare of all women and their families (in both country and city areas) through activities such as fundraising events and the teaching of life skills. For membership details or to find a club near you go to the Branches and Groups area of their website.

Zonta is a global organisation working to advance the status of women through service and advocacy.  For more information, go to their Zonta Clubs page and browse areas 1, 2 and 8 to locate NSW groups. Alternatively, membership enquires can be made by email to: membershipenquiry@zontadistrict24.org.

Business and Professional Women (BPW) works to raise the status of women and encourages women to become well informed and active at local, national and international levels. Membership in BPW provides opportunities for business and professional women to network, access mentors, develop their skills and participate in forums to discuss issues of concern with other women.

The NSW Office for Women's Policy lists many resources for women across NSW. While it doesn’t have a specific volunteering section it is a good resource for finding out about  women’s non-profit organisations and other groups.  

The Commonwealth Government Office for Women  is another good general resource because it lists non-profit organisations for women across Australia.

The NSW Womens Refuge Movement Resource Centre lists womens refuges across NSW. Refuges welcome volunteer staff to help with their operations. Contact the refuge you are interested in directly if you would like to volunteer your services

The Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association of NSW  is a non-profit organisation which assists migrant and refugee women. Call the contact number on the website if you would like to work as a volunteer with this group.