Volunteer with Uniting - make a real difference in your community.
If you’ve been looking for a way to give back that is genuinely meaningful, volunteering with Uniting is a special place to start. From metro Melbourne to regional towns across Victoria and Tasmania, Uniting volunteers show up every day to support people through tough seasons and build stronger, kinder communities.
Get involved
Find volunteer opportunities across 100 + programs in Victoria and Tasmania.
Uniting Vic.Tas is a whole network of community support across 100+ programs throughout Victoria and Tasmania. That means you can choose volunteer work in Melbourne, Australia, as well as regional Victoria and Tasmania, that match your interests, skills, and availability.
Maybe you’re a people person who loves a chat. Maybe you’d rather help behind the scenes with admin. Maybe you’re studying, returning to work, newly arrived in Australia, or simply looking for a new sense of purpose. While you grow your community, we’ll be helping you grow your skills, knowledge and network.
The support available to me as a Uniting volunteer far exceeds my expectations, and everyone in the workplace is ready to offer their help when needed. I never feel lost at all.
Why volunteer with Uniting Vic.Tas?
Volunteering is always about helping others, but where you volunteer matters, too. Uniting Vic.Tas has been supporting communities for more than 100 years, grounded in values of compassion, inclusion, and social justice. We help people get through hard moments, access essentials, connect with others, and feel seen and valued.
Volunteering in Victoria or Tasmania with Uniting means you’re a part of an organisation with deep local knowledge and long-term commitment across Victoria and Tasmania.
You won’t be left to figure things out on your own. Uniting is big on making sure volunteers feel confident and supported from the start. In practice, that usually looks like a friendly orientation to help you understand the organisation, your program, and what to expect, plus role-specific training so you know exactly what you’re doing and why it matters.
You’ll also have access to a supervisor or program contact who can answer questions, give guidance, and help you settle in. And if you’re stepping into something new (or you haven’t volunteered before), that mentoring element is huge. It means you can grow into the role with real support behind you.
Uniting is committed to creating a volunteering environment where people are treated with respect. That includes a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, including support for First Nations communities, LGBTIQA+ inclusion, and cultural safety across programs and workplaces.
You should be able to volunteer as yourself and feel safe, welcomed, and valued while you do it.
Uniting volunteers can access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). That means you have access to confidential support if life feels heavy, whether it’s something related to your volunteering experience or just what’s happening outside of it.
It’s one of the ways Uniting looks after its people, because caring for the community includes caring for the volunteers who make our work possible.
Volunteering areas you can get involved in
Here’s a snapshot of the kinds of program areas you can volunteer in, each one making a real difference in its own way.
Applying to volunteer at Uniting is easy
Search for a role
Start by browsing available volunteer opportunities and choosing the roles that match what you’re interested in. Creating an account is helpful because it lets you track your application, update your details anytime, and apply for other roles later without starting from scratch.
Apply for a role
Once you apply, Uniting will guide you through any required checks (like a police check or Working with Children Check, depending on the role). The key thing to know: Uniting covers the cost of all role-specific national background checks, so you won’t be out of pocket. If you’ve never done checks like this before, you’ll be supported through the process.
Notification
After you apply, you’ll usually hear back within 2–3 weeks. If you’re keen, don’t overthink it. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can join the thousands of people already volunteering with Uniting across Victoria and Tasmania.
Start making a difference
Once you’re accepted, you’ll complete an induction. Expect a warm welcome, clear guidance, and practical next steps. Uniting wants you to feel confident from day one and supported well beyond it.
Volunteering opportunities for students and groups
Uniting welcomes volunteers at all stages of life, including students building experience and groups who want to do something meaningful together.
Volunteer opportunities in Melbourne and across Victoria
Uniting operates right across metro Melbourne and regional Victoria. Volunteers are needed in communities across inner city Melbourne, western suburbs, and major regional centres like Geelong and Ballarat, plus many other local areas where support services are active.
Community volunteering roles in metropolitan Melbourne
Volunteering in Melbourne often includes things like community meals, op shop support, mental health programs, and asylum seeker programs. There are also behind-the-scenes roles (like admin and coordination) if you prefer supporting the work without being front and centre.
Volunteer roles in regional Victoria and Tasmania
As well as our volunteering opportunities in Melbourne, Uniting also has a strong presence in regional Victoria and Tasmania, where volunteers play a huge role in helping services feel local, connected, and community-driven. Outside metro areas, you might find opportunities in food programs, social support groups, op shops, community events, and local outreach.
Hear from our volunteers
Volunteering can be hard to describe until you’ve done it. One shift can turn into familiar faces, real connections, and a sense of purpose you didn’t know you were missing.
Hear the real story
Amber’s story.
Hear the real story
Op Shops, part of the community.
Hear the real story
45 years of volunteering.
Hear the real story
Carol finds new purpose.
Hear the real story
A drive for difference: Jasdeep’s happiness stems from helping others.
Even if you can only volunteer for a few hours, it will still impact your whole life and perspective.
Hear the real story
The heart of business: U Ethical’s community commitment pays dividends.
Volunteering is often seen as part of the soft stuff in business. But it has tangible business benefits in improving team engagement and cohesion.
Hear the real story
From grief to giving back: Camaro’s compassionate calling.
Volunteering is a great way to teach ourselves respect for others. To learn to be a part of the community, not just coasting by as another soul in society.
Hear the real story
From volunteer to valued employee: A second-hand success story.
I was able to turn something that I loved into a job and in an organisation that supports good work.
Hear the real story
Game, set, print: How one match led to a lifelong career.
When the employees with disabilities see that someone like me, in a wheelchair, can do this job and hold a management role it gives them hope.
Hear the real story
Share the warmth this winter.
How you can support us
“We’re seeing a lot of new faces come into Hartley’s. Last year we had over 2,000 different people come through the doors to have a meal with us.”
Frequently asked questions about volunteering with Uniting
Not for most roles, no. Uniting provides training, orientation, and mentoring, so you can contribute confidently even if you’ve never volunteered before.
It depends on the role. Some opportunities suit a few hours here and there, while others are more regular. Uniting works with you to find a schedule that fits your availability.
Yes, Uniting covers all required role-specific, national background check costs (police check, Working with Children Check).
Uniting welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds, and international students and new Australians are encouraged to apply.
Student placements are structured around academic requirements and may involve formal learning goals, supervision standards, and assessment. General volunteering is open to anyone (regardless of study) and is usually more flexible.