Volunteering

Volunteers play an important role in creating an inclusive, safe and vibrant community. We recognise all individual volunteering efforts and organisations that support our community.

Volunteering is a rewarding way to get involved in your community and provides an opportunity to:

contribute to your community
make friends
learn new skills
help gain experience for future employment
have fun.

Volunteering for Council

The City of Port Phillip manages a range of programs where volunteers can help deliver services to the community. If you are interested in helping with any of the programs below, we would love to hear from you!

Volunteering opportunities in Council programs

Home Library Service is an outreach program that offers library collections to about 120 people in the community who are currently unable to attend our physical library locations (eligibility check required).
Volunteers collect books and deliver to people in their homes and return any borrowed items on behalf of the participant.
There are currently limited vacancies available.
Learn more and register your interest via the Library's Work placement and volunteering webpage.
Homies Homework Club is a special Homework Club program run by the Library. It offers one-on-one tutoring and mentoring for Primary School aged children.
Homies Homework Club runs every Thursday at the Emerald Hill Library from 6 to 7.30 pm.
Volunteers tutor and support student with their homework so that they feel confident and on track with school tasks.
There are currently limited vacancies available.
Learn more and register your interest via the Library's Work placement and volunteering webpage.

Full programs

The following volunteer programs at Council are currently full, but if you would like to express interest for when a role becomes available please contact us:

Special events and programs

Annually there are special events and programs by Council that require volunteers. These volunteer roles will be promoted through the event and program site.

Find out more

To find out more information about volunteering for Council, please email volunteer@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Volunteering for community organisations

There are many local community groups and organisations that you can volunteer for:

Port Phillip Community Group (PPCG)

Provides a range of centre-based and outreach programs and services to address complex issues. Services and programs includes information, referral and support; emergency relief, material aid and financial counselling; skill development and pathways to education and employment; social inclusion events and more.

Anyone interested in applying can fill in an expression of interest by contacting PPCG:

Online: PPCG - volunteer
Email: info-support@ppcg.org.au
Phone: 03 8598 6600

South Port Day Links (SPDL)

SPDL is a local not for profit, volunteer-based organisation that has been delivering services to older people, people with a disability and those who care for them in Port Phillip for over 30 years. The services provided by SPDL enable residents to remain socially connected, independent and able to continue to live in their homes.

We are experiencing a high demand for the Daylinks (transport service) and GardenMates (gardening service). SPDL are looking for people who would like to commit a few hours of their time each week and assist people in our community which is highly rewarding experience. You can join the fantastic and friendly team of volunteers if you can:

be a driver as part of our DayLinks program that provides transport between the hours of 8:30 am to 4pm Monday to Friday. (Presently our highest demand is for drivers on Monday or Friday.]
support older people with their light gardening requirements as part of our Garden Mates program. The timing for gardening is flexible depending on availability of the volunteer.

To register or get more information about starting as a volunteer with SPDL you can contact our Volunteer Program Coordinator on 9646 6362 and ask for Ivano (Mon to Wed) or Maria (Thurs & Fri). Alternatively, you may email info@spdl.org.au or visit our website www.spdl.org.au to get more information about our volunteer roles and register your interest to volunteer at SPDL.

SPDL office is based in the community centre at 154 Liardet St, Port Melbourne.

Port Phillip EcoCentre

The Port Phillip EcoCentre is a not-for-profit community and education environment group based in St Kilda. The centre aims to engage and educate the community to protect Port Phillip Bay and improve the local urban ecology of the area.

So far 3,000 volunteers have joined the EcoCentre in a range of activities including shoreline research, beach and street cleans, nature planting and much more.

To find out more visit the Port Phillip EcoCentre or call 9534 0670.

Volunteering opportunity listings

There are many ways to help you find the right volunteer opportunity:

Seek Volunteering lists volunteering opportunities including in an emergency.

Go Volunteer allows you to search online for volunteering opportunities.

We Volunteer is a Community Recovery Volunteering initiative designed to support communities in times of need.

BeCollective provides free volunteer management software, and lets you volunteer for the causes you care about.

Vollie is an online marketplace that connects talented people to non-profits, charities and social enterprises for skills-based online volunteering.

Communiteer connects, engages and mobilises volunteers to tackle the world's greatest challenges through virtual volunteering.

Volunteer Match helps people from across Australia match their skills from industries such as IT, hospitality, design, accounting, law and sales to a relevant and rewarding volunteer role.

Goodcompany fosters corporate and skilled volunteering.