Volunteering

As a small not-for-profit organisation with only a handful of paid staff members, RCOA relies on the support of volunteers and interns to maintain our vital work. We offer unpaid internships and work experience to tertiary students and welcome volunteer support from members of the public who wish to assist us in our work.

Positions are periodically available at RCOA in the areas of research, policy analysis, media and public relations, event coordination, fundraising and administration. Opportunities are primarily available at our Sydney office (located in Surry Hills) and occasionally in our Melbourne office (located in the Melbourne CBD).

As we are a small organisation with limited office space and few staff available for volunteer supervision, we have a limited number of volunteering and internship positions available at any one time. Vacancies will be advertised on this site.

Please note that the RCOA does not deliver services or work directly with refugee or asylum seeker clients. If you are interested in a volunteer position which will allow you to work directly with refugees or asylum seekers, please refer to the list of volunteering opportunities with other organisations below.

Volunteering and internship opportunities with RCOA

There are currently no volunteering or internship opportunities at RCOA.

Volunteering opportunities with other organisations

There are many organisations working with and for refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, some of which may have volunteering opportunities available. If you would like to volunteer your time or resources, please contact these organisations directly for more information.

Australia-wide | Australian Capital Territory | New South Wales | Northern Territory | Queensland | South Australia | Tasmania | Victoria | Western Australia

Australia-wide

Amnesty International Australia: www.amnesty.org.au
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people campaigning to protect human rights. Internship and volunteering opportunities are available in Amnesty’s Action Centres around Australia.
Volunteering info: www.amnesty.org.au/get-involved/comments/24378

Australian Council for International Development www.acfid.asn.au
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) is the peak Council for Australian not-for-profit aid and development organisations working to attain a world where gross inequality and extreme poverty is eradicated. ACFID lists volunteering opportunities with its member agencies at the link below.
Volunteering info: www.acfid.asn.au/what-we-do/humanitarian-emergencies/how-can-i-help/volunteering

Australian Red Cross: www.redcross.org.au
Australian Red Cross is part of the world's largest humanitarian organisation, with more than 100 million volunteers. Its mission is to prevent or reduce human suffering, wherever it is found. Volunteering opportunities are available across Australia and overseas.
Volunteering info: www.redcross.org.au/howyoucanhelp_becomeavolunteer_default.htm

Friends of the Earth Australia: www.foe.org.au
Friends of the Earth (FoE) works to achieve a situation where all people live in a healthy environment and where the benefits and costs of economic activity are shared equally, including between nations and generations. Although FoE has a small number of staff, it is essentially a volunteer organisation, with a huge number of opportunities for getting involved in all aspects its work.
Volunteering info: www.foe.org.au/getting-involved

Mercy Works Inc www.mercy.org.au
The Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia is a group of Catholic women religious, about 1500 in number, dedicated to serving people who suffer from injustices related to poverty, sickness or lack of education. Volunteering opportunities are available in congregations around Australia.
Volunteering info: www.mercy.org.au/becomeinvolved/default.cfm?loadref=33

Mission Australia: www.missionaustralia.com.au
Mission Australia is a Christian community service organisation. It offers a wide range of opportunities, including welfare or maintenance tasks, administration duties and tutoring. Volunteering info: www.missionaustralia.com.au/volunteer-at-mission-australia

Oxfam Australia: www.oxfam.org.au
Oxfam Australia is part of a global movement of dedicated people working hard to fight poverty and injustice. Opportunities are available in areas ranging from customer service, research, editing, translations and administration.
Volunteering info: www.oxfam.org.au/act/volunteer-with-us

Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning Program www.sailprogram.org.au
The Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning (SAIL) Program provides ESL tutoring and support to newly arrived Sudanese refugees. SAIL is an entirely volunteer-run organisation. No qualifications are necessary, just enthusiasm and commitment.
Volunteering info: www.sailprogram.org.au/site/category/join

Together For Humanity Foundation: www.togetherforhumanity.org.au
Together for Humanity teaches children and adults to replace prejudice, largely religious and cultural, with mutual respect and cooperation. Its goal is to ensure that young Australians learn to think for themselves, replacing fear and discrimination with respect and a genuine curiosity about people different to themselves. Volunteers are sought to conduct workshops and presentations for school students.
Volunteering info: www.togetherforhumanity.org.au/facilitator.php

Young Christian Workers www.ycw.org.au
Young Christian Workers (YCW) seeks to organise, educate and empower young people to be a positive change within their own lives and the community. Young people aged between 16 and 30 years are eligible to become YCW members and get involved in a variety of voluntary activities.
Volunteering info: www.ycw.org.au/members.html

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra Refugee Support www.actrefugee.org.au
Canberra Refugee Support (CRS) provides support to refugees including settlement assistance, advocacy and policy advice. CRS welcomes volunteers wishing to be financial members, involved in any of its activities ranging from general support to day-to-day support for refugees.
Volunteering info: www.actrefugee.org.au/volunteer.html

New South Wales

ActionAid Australia www.actionaid.org.au
ActionAid aims to fight poverty worldwide through providing immediate assistance and advocating on behalf of the poor. It operates in over 40 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. As a rule, ActionAid does not send volunteers overseas to work in our projects. Wherever possible, we aim to provide local people with employment opportunities first. However, volunteering opportunities are available in ActionAid’s Sydney office and are advertised in the website below.
Volunteering info: www.actionaid.org.au/volunteering/volunteering.html

Anglicare Sydney www.anglicare.org.au
Anglicare is the urban mission and community care arm of the Sydney Anglican Church. As one of Australia’s largest Christian care organisations, Anglicare reaches out to thousands of people every year. Opportunities are available in areas ranging from ESL teaching and migrant support to office administrative support. Volunteering info: www.anglicare.org.au/how-can-i-help/volunteer

Asylum Seekers Centre www.asylumseekerscentre.org.au
ASC volunteer-run programs provide asylum seekers opportunities for creative expression, exercise and recreation, for increasing their English language skills and most importantly, a sense of community to reduce social isolation. ASC Volunteers perform a variety of different functions including, but not limited to teaching English and a range of holistic health and creative expression classes; managing reception and providing administrative support; providing nutritious meals; providing IT support; working on the ASC garden and site maintenance; and organising fundraising events.
Volunteering info: www.asylumseekerscentre.org.au/get-involved-volunteer-volunteer-program-overview.html

Australian Afghan Hassanain Youth Association www.aahya.org.au
Australian Afghan Hassanain Youth Association (AAHYA) provides a range of services for young refugees with Afghan/Hazara backgrounds including a Saturday school, group outings, information sessions (e.g. on health, driving in Australia, etc), advocacy and other services as needed by the community. AAHYA is always open to having volunteers join the organisation.
Volunteering info: www.aahya.org.au

Australian League of Immigration Volunteers www.aliv.org.au
The Australian League of Immigration Volunteers (ALIV) was originally started by the United Nations Association to try and improve life for the children inside immigration detention centres. The program has four main projects: to take children out on camps every school holidays; excursions every fortnight; to run a “kid’s room” inside the detention centres and to take families out on family days. Volunteers are needed to assist with week-long camps in school holidays, work with adults in immigration detention, do admin work in the ALIV office and take on leadership roles in the organisation.
Volunteering info: www.aliv.org.au/need.html

Bridge for Asylum Seekers Foundation www.asylumseekersfoundation.com
Bridge for Asylum Seekers Foundation (BASF) provides supplementary living assistance to asylum seekers living in the community. BASF is always looking for volunteers to assist in varied roles such as administration, web/database maintenance, refugee support and fundraising.
Volunteering info: phone 0418 261 160; e-mail: asylumseekersfoundation@bigpond.com

Friends of STARTTS www.friendsofstartts.org
Friends of STARTTS (FOS) supports the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Survivors so they can provide counselling, physiotherapy, camps for children and youth and many other programs for refugees. FOS seeks volunteers to actively work with children, families and adults as well as those who like to work behind the scenes - in recruitment, administration, fundraising, volunteer management and programming.
Volunteering info: www.friendsofstartts.org/volunteer.html

Horn of Africa Relief and Development Agency: www.harda.org.au
The Horn of Africa Relief and Development Agency (HARDA) supports and acts as an advocate for the successful settlement and integration in Australia of refugees and humanitarian entrants from the Horn of Africa countries. It also develops and seeks funding for model sustainable development projects in Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti. HARDA is currently administered and managed entirely by a volunteer workforce. Volunteers are needed to support HARDA’s services for refugees and provide administrative assistance.
Volunteering info: www.harda.org.au/get_involved/volunteers

House of Welcome www.houseofwelcome.com.au
The House Of Welcome seeks to provide a place of welcome, trust and friendship for asylum seekers and refugees; assist them in their transition to life in the Australian community; develop their capacity to engage confidently with the various aspects of life in Australia; promote their legal and human rights as they seek to have their status recognised and enable them to become full and independent members of Australia as citizens. Volunteers offer hospitality, client reception, English and computer lessons at our centre. Others organise respite outings or local services orientation or meeting accommpaniment with clients.
Volunteering info: www.houseofwelcome.com.au/volunteers.php

Jesuit Refugee Services www.jrs.org.au
The Jesuit Refugee Service is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people around the world and in our own Australian community. JRS Australia works with asylum seekers and refugees by assisting with accommodation, financial assistance, English classes, finding employment and personal support and accompaniment. We also provide support to those who have been granted refugee status to find employment and offer assistance with their transition to independence. Volunteering positions are available in Australia and internationally.
Volunteering info: www.jrs.org.au/volunteers/overview

Illawarra Multicultural Services: www.ims.org.au
Illawarra Multicultural Services (IMS) fosters the development of services that assist migrants to settle and participate in the social and economic life of the community. Volunteers are needed to support IMS’ services and programs for refugees, provide administrative support and assist with projects and events.
Volunteering info:www.ims.org.au/information.html

Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative: www.mdsi.org.au
Our mission is to assist disadvantaged and marginalised people by providing services that: facilitate acceptance and inclusiveness; develop individual, family and community resilience; and build enduring relationships. Volunteers assist with a variety of programs including helping families connect with the community, tutoring young people and teaching English.
Volunteering info: www.mdsi.org.au/volunteers.htm

Mercy Connect Sydney Project www.mercyworks.org.au
Mercy Works is seeking volunteers to mentor students from refugee backgrounds in both primary and secondary schools as part of its Mercy Connect Sydney Project. The locations are in the Inner West, South and South Western areas of Sydney. Volunteers sit with nominated students and mentor them in literacy, course subjects, and assignment/assessment tasks, assisting them in their educational transitions. Volunteers commit to at least a half a day per week for four school terms. Experience in an educational setting is required. Retired teachers are encouraged to apply. Training will be provided in early 2012. For further details contact Sally Macfarlane at Mercy Connect Sydney on phone 9564 1911 (Monday and Thursdays) or by e-mail mcsp@mercy.org.au.

Northern Settlement Services: www.nsservices.com.au
Northern Settlement Services (NSS) provides a range of services and support to migrants and refugees, including multi-lingual information and referral, casework and counselling, community education and development. NSS uses many volunteers in many different programs to assist refugee and migrant clients.
Volunteering info: http://wwwnssvolunteerscomau.blogspot.com

Sydney Community College Refugee Mentoring Project http://getskilled.sydneycommunitycollege.com.au
The aim of the Refugee Mentoring Program (RMP) is to reduce refugee unemployment and underemployment. The RMP uses mentoring, work experience, training and other forms of support to assist refugee participants along an employment pathway.
Volunteering info: http://getskilled.sydneycommunitycollege.com.au/Volunteer%20Mentors

St Vincent de Paul Society www.vinnies.org.au
SPARK, a special work of the St Vincent de Paul Society, provides curriculum, social and cultural support to newly arrived refugee children and their families through selected primary schools in Western Sydney. Each school term, SPARK recruits and trains volunteers from high schools, universities and the local community to assist on two of its main programs. The Bright Sparks program is a homework and activities club providing homework tutoring and English support for Kindy to Year 6 Students. The Family Group program is for parents and guardians to meet, practice English, gain support from each other and volunteers, and establish relationships with teachers and other parents and community members. Both programs run once a week for 1.5 hours after school from 3:00pm-4:30pm. By volunteering with SPARK you will be part of a rewarding program which provides much needed assistance and support to refugee children and their families. St Vincent de Paul is looking for volunteers who interested in working with children and families of refugee background, have good spoken and written English skills and are enthusiastic, friendly, and patient. Training is also provided for all volunteers.
Volunteering info: vinnies.org.au/spark/home

Northern Territory

Lutheran Community Care www.lccsa.org.au
Lutheran Community Care provides community services on behalf of the Lutheran Church in South Australia and Northern Territory, including services to assist newly arrived refugees. A range of Volunteer opportunities are available if you enjoy working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Volunteering info: www.lccsa.org.au/volunteer-opportunities.html

Melaleuca Refugee Centre www.melaleuca.org.au
Melaleuca Refugee Centre provides an environment for resettlement and healing of refugee survivors of torture and trauma, their families and communities through confidential, high quality, holistic services. Volunteers are attached to a specific refugee family for a six-month period to provide social support and settlement assistance.
Volunteering info: www.melaleuca.org.au/volunteering

Queensland

Multicultural Development Association www.mdainc.org.au
The Multicultural Development Association (MDA) promotes multiculturalism and acts as a strategic mechanism for the empowerment of people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds through a range of community development, system advocacy, education and training, and through a range of service delivery activities. Volunteers are needed to support new arrivals to settle in Australia and assist with office, administrative and project work.
Volunteering info: www.mdainc.org.au/?page_id=46

Refugee Claimants Support Service www.refugees.org.au
The Refugee Claimants Support Service offers English tuition, emotional support, information and referral, some limited material support, computer skills, and assistance with accommodation, food, employment and health care. Please check their website to see if any volunteering opportunities are available.
Volunteering info: e-mail refugee.voladmin@uccommunity.org.au

Romero Community Centre www.romerocentre.org.au
The Romero Centre provides casework, community development and support to refugees who are former Temporary Protection Visa holders and their families, living in Brisbane. The project operates under the auspices of Brisbane Sisters of Mercy. Some examples volunteer roles are: casework support, accommodation support, project work, newsletter production, childminding, administration, and tutoring.
Volunteering info: www.romerocentre.org.au/volunteer.php

South Australia

Australian Refugee Association www.ausref.net
The Australian Refugee Association (ARA) provides advice, assistance, advocacy and practical support with settlement services, migration services, employment services, public education, policy and advocacy. Volunteers are needed to support ARA’s programs and services for refugees and assist with fundraising and promotions.
Volunteering info: www.ausref.net/cms/volunteer

Lutheran Community Care www.lccsa.org.au
Lutheran Community Care provides community services on behalf of the Lutheran Church in South Australia and Northern Territory, including services to assist newly arrived refugees. A range of Volunteer opportunities are available if you enjoy working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Volunteering info: www.lccsa.org.au/volunteer-opportunities.html

Tasmania

Migrant Resource Centre (Northern Tasmania): www.mrcltn.org.au
The Migrant Resource Centre provides services and resources to humanitarian and migrant entrants to Tasmania, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. Volunteers can provide social support and settlement assistance to newly-arrived refugees.
Volunteering info: www.mrcltn.org.au/default.aspx?page=4ebd414e-6f14-4014-ad17-dead92c86f55

Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) www.mrchobart.org.au
The Migrant Resource Centre provides services for migrants and refugees, particularly those who are socially and financially disadvantaged. Volunteers support the Centre’s Multicultural Day Centres for seniors, youth activities, aged care programs, gardening, cooking, befriending and employment support services, English language and driving lessons.
Volunteering info: www.mrchobart.org.au/_webapp_1098736/Volunteers

Victoria

AMES www.ames.net.au
AMES and a consortium of partners assist newly arrived humanitarian entrants successfully settle in Victoria. Volunteers provide practical settlement support and English tutoring. Training is provided.
Volunteering info: www.ames.net.au/volunteering

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre www.asrc.org.au
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is the largest provider of aid, advocacy and health services for asylum seekers in Australia. Volunteers make up the vast majority of the ASRC’s workforce. With over 25 different programs operating at the ASRC there are many ways that volunteers can get involved.
Volunteering info: www.asrc.org.au/prospective/about

Australian Karen Foundation http://australiankarenfoundation.org.au
The aim of the Australian Karen Foundation is to improve the lives of Karen refugee people and communities on the Thai-Burma border and in Australia through education and training. Volunteering opportunities are available in the Foundation’s Victorian office and in camps on the Thai-Burma border.
Volunteering info: http://australiankarenfoundation.org.au/12.html

Centre for Multicultural Youth www.cmy.net.au
The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) advocates for the needs of young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. CMY is looking for committed volunteers to provide extra learning support to students from refugee and migrant backgrounds in homework clubs around Melbourne. These programs assist in developing young people’s confidence and helping them socially and academically to participate in school in a more meaningful way. Volunteer tutors work individually or with small groups of students, focusing on literacy development and assisting students to complete homework and assignments. Most programs run after school (from around 3.30pm or 4:00pm) for approximately two hours. For more information please contact Megan on (03) 9340 3714 or lbbvolunteers@cmy.net.au or visit www.cmy.net.au/learningbeyondthebellvolunteering
Volunteering info: www.cmy.net.au/VolunteeringwithCMY; www.cmy.net.au/learningbeyondthebellvolunteering

Diversitat www.diversitat.org.au
Diversitat provides a range of community services, including multicultural and immigration services. Volunteering opportunities are available in a variety of areas including settlement and community support services, aged care and arts and events.
Volunteering info: www.diversitat.org.au/get-involved/volunteer

Ecumenical Migration Centre www.bsl.org.au/Ecumenical-Migration-Centre-EMC.aspx
The Ecumenical Migration Centre (EMC) at the Brotherhood of St Laurence has been at the forefront of the migrant rights movement in Australia for over forty years. It pioneered the delivery of services to migrant communities and today continues to strengthen the capacity and infrastructure of new and emerging communities. Volunteering opportunities for which you don’t need qualifications, and others for which more specialised skills are required, are both available.
Volunteering info:www.bsl.org.au/Volunteer-with-us.aspx

Fitzroy Learning Centre www.fitzroylearningnetwork.org.au
The Fitzroy Learning Network is a community-based Neighbourhood House that welcomes people from diverse educational, cultural and social backgrounds. Volunteers have direct contact with the clients and provide mentor support for the ESL classes, computer clubhouse, and a sewing program for women and individual tutoring. Volunteers also participate in administration duties, cooking, gardening, fundraising, marketing and the Board of Management.
Volunteering info: www.fitzroylearningnetwork.org.au/Getting%20Involved.html

North Yarra Community Health www.nych.org.au
North Yarra Community Health aims to provide high quality and responsive
programs and services to all members of the community. Volunteers are involved in a wide range of activities, such as driving buses, leading exercise groups, assisting with social activities groups and administration.
Volunteering info: www.nych.org.au/volunteers/index.html

Oromo Relief Association www.oromoreliefassociation.org
The Oromo Relief Association aims to provide support for Oromo and other nationalities in the Horn who have been affected by armed conflicts and other human-induced and natural disasters, by mobilising humanitarian aid and providing relief and resettlement assistance leading to self-reliance. Volunteers with experience in humanitarian duties are sought.
Volunteering info: www.oromoreliefassociation.org/?page_id=137

South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre www.sermrc.org.au
The South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre (SERMRC) provides a range of services to migrants and refugees, including multicultural aged care, refugee settlement services, refugee family services, refugee youth services, community development projects, skilled migrant employment services and cross-cultural training for service providers. Volunteers are needed to support SERMRC’s social support, homework support and driver education programs.
Volunteering info:www.sermrc.org.au/index.php?page=volunteers

Springvale Community Aid & Advice Bureau www.scaab.org.au
Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau (SCAAB) provides a range of community services including support for refugees and newly arrived migrants, employment services, emergency relief, financial counselling and youth services. Volunteers are needed to support SCAAB’s services and programs.
Volunteering info: www.scaab.org.au/Vol.htm

Victoria’s Volunteering Portal www.volunteer.vic.gov.au
An initiative of the Victorian State Government, the Volunteering Portal aims to provide a centralised resource in Victoria for people and organisations to use to find and offer volunteering opportunities, as well as providing information and tools for those needing them.

Western Australia

CASE for Refugees Inc. http://caseforrefugees.org.au
CASE for Refugees is a not for profit community legal centre that provides free legal advice, representation and advocacy to refugees, humanitarian visa holders and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who live in Western Australia. CASE has volunteering opportunities available for  lawyers, law and social work students and migration agents.
Volunteering info: http://caseforrefugees.org.au/get-involved/volunteering

Centrecare www.centrecare.com.au
Centrecare provides professional counselling, support, family dispute resolution and training services, including to migrant and refugee clients. Volunteers are needed to support newly arrived refugees by providing basic life skills assistance and social support and to support Centrecare’s Migration Advice service.
Volunteering info: www.centrecare.com.au/employment/volunteerprogram

Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors www.asetts.org.au
The Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors (AseTTS) provides services to people who are humanitarian entrants or are from a refugee type background and who have experienced torture or trauma in their country of origin, during their flight to Australia, or while in detention. Volunteers in ASETTS’ Project Connect program can assist survivors of torture and trauma by providing practical assistance with such things as transport and travel training and an introduction to services and activities in their new community; by providing personal support and assistance in building new social supports and developing informal networks; and by providing friendship.
Volunteering info: www.asetts.org.au/employment/volunteer-program-project-connect