Volunteer
Help us make a difference
Get involved today
Our Volunteers are so important to what we do
We have many opportunities to give back and get involved throughout the year and across Melbourne. This includes:
-
Term long weekly volunteering at a student support program
-
Excursions and school holiday programs
-
Sports programs
-
Playgroups
Our individual programs are interconnected through one of our Support Hubs and our volunteers primarily support the programs of a single hub. Read more about each of our Support Hubs here:
-
Tarneit Support Hub
Requirements
To volunteer with us, you must:
-
Have a valid Working with Children check
-
Attend training and complete our Safeguarding Assessment
Make a difference in yourself
Our Volunteers tell us that their experiences on our programs help develop skills in the following areas:
-
Behavioural Support
-
Communication
-
Mentorship
-
Teamwork
-
Empathy and caring for others
-
Interpersonal skills and relationship building
-
Problem solving and decision making
"It definitely is rewarding seeing the children learn something from your interactions"
- A ERCRS Volunteer
"...it most definitely has made an difference to me. I have become more patient as well as learnt how to develop relationships with younger people."
- A ERCRS Volunteer
"I absolutely loved this opportunity and look forward to attending each week in the hope of making a difference."
- A ERCRS Volunteer
School Volunteering
We also provide volunteer opportunities for school groups to get involved in a variety of ways This included regular volunteering, support of a specific initiative, or as part of a service learning component. Our partner schools tell us that their students gain:
-
An awareness of community needs
-
An increased capacity for leadership and mentorship
-
An interest in social justice
-
Social and interpersonal development
They also tell us that:
"I have seen students gain confidence socially and mature through their tutoring experience. Especially as they see the direct impact they are having on the children."
"The program gives our students the opportunity to give back o the community in a meaningful and practical way."
" I think it makes the Year 11s more mindful of their capacity for change and how to listen with the ears of the heart as opposed to just listening to respond. I believe the program best enables our Year 11s because they have the time and motivation to help but once they are in the program, the ones that stay for their five sessions get the most out of the experience. It also helps the get into early access university schemes for community service."