Volunteer, Victoria, Australia

Overview

Get more out of your travels in Melbourne and Victoria with a volunteer placement. It's a great way to contribute to the community as you visit. You'll have the chance to interact with locals and visit places that tourists don't normally get to experience.

Volunteering can be very rewarding and may help you achieve career or personal goals. Volunteer workers in Melbourne and regional Victoria aim to develop skills, gain insights and make friends.

Finding volunteer work

Victoria has volunteer information resources to help volunteers. Visit Volunteer.vic to look for volunteer opportunities in Melbourne and Victoria, and check our list of useful contacts.

Volunteer work is available in a wide range of sectors. Farm and conservation work is popular with travellers and can be found through organisations such as World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), which offers work on organic farms, and Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), which can arrange opportunities with conservation projects.

Visas

The visa type you need for volunteer work depends on the organisation you choose to work with. Be sure to check the visa requirements with your volunteer organisation or with the Department of Home Affairs.

Qualifications and training

Formal qualifications are generally not needed for volunteering; however, organisations may require certain skills, previous experience and a reasonable level of fitness. Training is usually provided on the job.

Costs

Volunteer organisations offer different arrangements for paying for your food and accommodation. For example, WWOOF volunteers work in exchange for meals and board. When you volunteer your time at CVA, you pay for the cost of your meals and accommodation, just like any other holiday.