Children and Young People Volunteering

Volunteering in a particular sector or industry can help young people gain skills, pursue their interests and decide whether they want to make a longer term commitment to a field either through further volunteering or perhaps by seeking paid employment in the area. Having volunteer experience often helps young people starting out to be more competitive in the job market.

To find volunteer opportunities check your local council’s site or try contacting some of the organisations listed below. To find out who your local council is, go to the NSW Government’s Local Council Search.

Youth NSW is the NSW Government’s website for young people and youth workers. It has comprehensive coverage of young people’s issues and information on how to get involved.

• Volunteering – provides a link to GoVolunteer and Australian Volunteers International.
• Boards and Committees – this page contains information and forms for young people who wish to apply for a position on Government boards and committees.

ActNow is a website that gives young people the opportunity to learn more about their world and take action on the social issues they care about. ActNow is a site run by The Inspire Foundation, an Australian non-profit organisation that creates opportunities for young people to change their world. ActNow is also a volunteering hub. The website has links to over 200 organisations that are keen to work with young people.

YAPA stands for the Youth Action & Policy Association of NSW. YAPA is the peak community group working in the interests of young people and youth services in NSW. This website has information on how young people can apply for small government grants to develop and implement community activities in their local area.

The Australia Council for the Arts site has resources for young people planning to organise a local community project. The information focuses on creative projects but it is relevant for all kinds of projects.

Student Volunteering Program

The NSW Government commitment, Community Service Begins at School (referred to as the Student Volunteering program), includes a program rolled out from 2009, to encourage students in Years 9 and 10 to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours as a community service while they are at school, to foster civic pride and build on the Respect and Responsibility program.

This new government initiative has the following components:

• a target group comprising all students in Years 9 and 10, commencing in 2010 and 2011
• a minimum of 10 hours per student each year
• a Premier’s Community Service Award in Year 10 to be presented to each student who completes a minimum of 20 hours service over Years 9 and 10
• 10 annual education scholarships of $2000 to be awarded for most outstanding young volunteers and one annual school grant of $5000 to the school with the best volunteering record
• a pilot program involving two schools from each region to begin in 2009.

NSW Laws for volunteering with children

Organisations employing people or using volunteers to work with children are required to protect children from harm.

Under NSW law, both prospective employees and volunteers for child-related work must complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration form. Employers are accountable for ensuring this happens. The NSW Commission for Children and Young People has more information on this and related issues. The Prohibited Employment Declaration form can also be downloaded from this site. Information can also be found on the NSW Guid to Volunteering site - go to the chapter on compliance.