Volunteering is a hugely rewarding experience. When you give your time and effort to help others, you’re making a difference to your community. One little thing can make a big change.

Volunteering can also help with your career or future study.

How to start

Talk to your teacher or your family. They can help you plan and think about what you can do.

Ask your teacher to see if there’s a student volunteer program at your school.

What to think about

Before you approach a volunteer organisation, ask yourself:

• What sorts of things do they do?
• Is it something you’re passionate about?
• Will they need your help?
• Is there a reason they might not be able to use a student volunteer?

Types of volunteering

When you look for a volunteer organisation, think about the change you want to see in the world. For example, you might want to help:

• end homelessness
• protect the environment
• with a sports or fundraising event
• at a museum or art gallery
• with an emergency response.

If you’re under 18

Plenty of young people volunteer, but not every organisation can take on a younger person. The best way to find a role is to search for youth-friendly opportunities in South Australia.

Kids can volunteer too

You could volunteer with your class or your family and friends.

If you love animals you could help care for dogs, cats, bunnies and other animals at your local animal shelter.

If you like being with people you could help at a local nursing home.

If you like nature you could count wildlife or plants to help the planet.

What you get out of it

When you volunteer, you can:

• learn new skills, gain experience and sometimes even qualifications
• have a real and valuable positive effect on people
• meet different kinds of people and make new friends
• feel part of something outside your friends and family
• try something new, see it completed and feel a real sense of achievement
• find out what career you want to do.

Other perks include:

• it's good for your wellbeing
• free training
• possible credits towards your South Australian Certification of Education (SACE) or Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) – talk to your teacher or principal.

Check out Volunteering SA and NT's video (YouTube 4.28 minutes) to hear from students and teachers about the benefits of being a student volunteer.