I’m thinking of volunteering. Where’s a good place to start?
Where do I find out about community organisations near me?
Where are the free Christmas dinners?
If an organisation says they are not-for-profit, what does this mean?
Are there Citizens Advice Bureaux in Australia?
I’m thinking of volunteering. Where’s a good place to start?
If there is a particular organisation you’d like to volunteer with, don’t be afraid to contact the organisation and ask them if they have any volunteer positions available that you could apply for. If they do have positions available they will need to know what skills you can offer and how much time you can give. They may require additional information from you as well – the information they need will depend on the nature of the volunteer work you are interested in undertaking.
Don’t be disheartened if the organisation doesn’t have any volunteer positions currently available. There may be an opportunity further down the track. If you are really keen to work with them, ask if it’s possible to leave your contact details with them so they can get in touch with you if anything comes up.
Depending on the type of work, some voluntary roles do not require any training and operate within a learn-as-you-go environment, while other kinds of voluntary work do involve training and some organisations may provide the training for their volunteers. As well as helping volunteers in their day-to-day work, volunteer training can be a great opportunity for personal learning and development. You may want to find out what, if any, training will be available to you as a volunteer with the organisation you wish to work for.
Here’s a list, to get you started, of types of organisations you could approach:
- Get involved with your child’s education provider – fundraising, school board member, maintenance and upkeep of grounds or property, information technology support
- Help with other youth organisations – as a mentor, activities organiser or providing transportation
- Work with animal welfare groups – hands-on care for animals or advocating for animal rights
- Participate in community or professional interest, cultural and creative groups – marketing and publicity, organising events, governance and management, professional advice, technology support
Remember that volunteering helps your community as well as yourself. You don’t have to be an expert before you volunteer either; volunteering can help you gain skills, experience and confidence.
Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) is an association of regional volunteer centres and national organisations with a commitment to volunteering. Your regional volunteer centre will help you to find organisations in your local area which are looking for volunteers.
You can also search on the Volunteer Now website to find volunteer positions available in your area. The CAB service is delivered by volunteers, so contact the CAB to find out about volunteering opportunities with us, as well as about other opportunities in your community.
Information about the Volunteer and Community sector is on the Office of the Community and Voluntary Sector website.
Where do I find out about community organisations near me?
Search this website (link Search Community Directory) to find out if we have an appropriate group listed in our online database. If you can’t find one here, then contact your local CAB as they have access to more information than is available here.
Back to top
Where are there free Christmas dinners?
This will depend on the region you are in. Churches or your local Salvation Army often provide a free Christmas dinner. Local community clubs, like the Lions, may also offer a free Christmas dinner.
In past years the organisers of the meals were different in different cities. Some of the providers included City Mission (Auckland and Christchurch), Salvation Army (Wellington) and Church of Christ (Dunedin).
Contact your local city council or Citizens Advice Bureau for more information about who will be offering Christmas dinners in your region this year.
If an organisation says they are not-for-profit, what does this mean?
A non-profit organisation is any society, association or organisation that does not function for the profit or gain of any member, and has rules that do not allow money, property or any other benefits to be distributed to any of its members.
This does not mean that the organisation cannot make a profit, only that the profit must be used for the purposes of the organisation and not the benefit of its members.
Are there Citizens Advice Bureaux in Australia?
There are organisations in Australia which provide aspects of the service that the CAB in New Zealand offers. Some provide a number of levels of assistance, while others offer a more limited information-only service. The following links should help you to find community information services in each state or territory: