Red Cross operates from eight regional centres. There are volunteer opportunities around NSW.

Ongoing volunteer opportunities are listed in alphabetical order below.

The words 'on hold' appear next to any service that currently has enough volunteers. If this occurs in your area of interest, please keep checking monthly for any changes.

For more information about the services we offer see our services page.

Register
Find out more about volunteering with these services by emailing nswvolunteers@redcross.org.au.


Administrative support

What: Volunteers can offer their professional and technical skills in areas such as accounting, computers or reception and administration. These volunteer roles are dependent on departmental requests.
Where: Red Cross House, Sydney CBD
When: Open Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm

Branches

What: Branches are traditional Red Cross groups where people enjoy the companionship of others and take part in fundraising activities.
Where: All NSW regional areas
When: Meetings are held once a month, generally during business hours. Additional time might be required during fundraising activities.

More about branches

City and Suburban Red Cross Shops

What: Red Cross Shops are retails outlets that sell new stock to the general public.
Where: Various Sydney and NSW regional locations.
Training: All shop volunteers are fully trained.  Where the shop has a computerised cash register system such as the CBD Red Cross Shop in 159 Clarence Street in Sydney, it would help if the volunteers already possess computer skills.  The CBD Red Cross Shop and our new shop in Hornsby currently need customer service volunteers with a mature approach who can commit to assisting for a period of six months or longer.
When: One day per week during business hours

More about Red Cross Shops

Clubs

What: Clubs are a new and innovative form of volunteering and supporting Red Cross. People in clubs come together after work for a range of information-based and socially-driven reasons. Clubs can focus on the general work of Red Cross or form a direct link to a particular community service.
Where: Sydney CBD, suburbs and regional areas around New South Wales
When: Email and outside business hours

More about clubs

Community Visitors Scheme

What: Our Community Visitors Scheme is about visiting and supporting people who live in an aged care home. Offering conversation, companionship and friendship. Residents may be lonely or isolated with limited or no contact from anyone in the outside community. 
Where: Volunteers visit an aged care home in their local area. Selected aged care homes in; Sydney metropolitan area, Greater Western Sydney, Central Coast, Nowra, Illawarra, Southern Highlands, Northern Region and Tweed Heads. 
When: Within facility visiting hours and as arranged. There is a minimum requirement of visiting for one hour per fortnight. (Additional visits are at the discretion of you and your resident.)
Training: We provide a one-off comprehensive training session to include such topics as; Aged Care Homes, Issues on Ageing, Dementia, Communication, Visiting Rights & Responsibilities and more.
Commitment: Regular attendance is important, as this is a long-term program allowing volunteers and residetns to form a friendship with the person they visit. A preferred minimum commitment of one year is desired.

More about the NSW Community Visitors Scheme

Emergency Services - Personal Support

What: People aged over 18 years are trained to provide comfort and a listening ear in either Evacuation or Disaster Recovery Centres to those affected by an emergency. Personal Support volunteers can also take part in community doorknocking following an emergency.
Where: All NSW regional areas
When: Volunteers are on standby during and after disasters and this role can be sporadic. The work depends on the scale of an emergency, though volunteers generally work a six to eight hour shift.
Training: One full day. Ongoing training in listening and communication skills is also offered.
Commitment: Volunteers' availability is only determined when they are contacted and put on 'standby' or are 'activated'. A reliable contact number is needed during disasters.

More about NSW emergency services personal support

Emergency Services - State Enquiry Centre

What: The State Enquiry Centre operates under the authority of the NSW Police Service and volunteers answer phone enquiries and key this information into a database.
Where: Red Cross House, Sydney CBD
When: Volunteers are on standby during and after disasters and this role can be sporadic. The work depends on the scale of an emergency, though volunteers generally work a six to eight hour shift.
Half a day. Ongoing training in listening and communication skills is also offered.
Commitment: Volunteers' availability is only determined when they are contacted and put on 'standby' or are 'activated'. A reliable contact number is needed during disasters.

More about the NSW State Enquiry Centre

Fundraising activities and events

What: Volunteers undertake a variety of tasks in administration or assistance on site at an event.
Where: All across NSW.
When: Red Cross conducts a range of fundraising activities and events throughout the year. Volunteer assistance depends on the project. During busy times, such as Red Cross Calling, volunteers play an important part in fundraising activities.

Good Start Breakfast Club™

What: Each Good Start Breakfast Club™ is operated by two volunteers, generally within school grounds and is usually for children aged between 5 and 12 years who want a nutritious breakfast. Volunteers provide a safe, friendly and encouraging environment for children, allowing them to socialise in a positive atmosphere and have a routine start to the day. Along with making their own breakfast and helping to clean up, children are also encouraged to share and cooperate with each other.
Where: Western Region, Sydney Metro Region, Greater Western Sydney Region, Hunter Region
When: Monday - Friday during school terms, 8.00am - 9.00am approximately
Training: A three-hour session that covers topics such as child self-esteem, self-confidence and the day-to-day activities of a club
Commitment: Preferred minimum commitment is on a weekly basis for one school term, but preferably the whole school year. The club coordinator maintains a roster for volunteers and relies on regular attendance.

More about the NSW Good Start Breakfast Club™

Hands On

What: The Hands On program is a service run by volunteers who provide a friendly visit and hand and nail care to patients in hospitals, residents in nursing homes, people with disabilities in day centres and people with mental illness in health units.
Where: Sydney and NSW regional areas
When: Two or three hours a week or fortnight
Training: Mandatory comprehensive two-day training
Commitment: Volunteers are matched with an aged care facility and visit more then one person each time they volunteer. Volunteers are required to fulfil the minimum amount of hours.

More about Hands On

Home Support Service

What: The Home Support Service, funded under the HACC program, offers services to people who are ageing, frail and isolated as well as people with disabilities. Activities may include friendly home visits, shopping, bill payment and medical appointments, assistance with reading and letter writing, and group leisure activities.
Where: Central Coast – Gosford
When: Minimum of one hour per fortnight at pre-arranged times.
Training: Half day program-specific training


Telecross

What: Telecross is a program where a daily phone call is made to check on the well-being of medically at risk people who live alone in their own homes. The phone conversations should generally be no longer than five minutes.
When: Between 8.00am and 9.00am, seven days-a-week, during the month a volunteer is rostered on.
Training: One hour and then an additional two hours to attend a general Red Cross volunteer orientation
Commitment: One month at a time. (Preferred minimum commitment is three months a year.) Volunteers receive a new client to call each rostered month. It is extremely important that the call is made between 8.00am and 9.00am every morning. The earlier the call is made, the greater the chance Red Cross has of contacting the clients should there be a problem.

Ring the NSW Volunteer Services Coordinator on (02) 9229 4286 for the contact details of the Red Cross office looking after your area.

More about NSW Telecross

Tenant Connect

Trauma Teddy Knitting

What: The 'bear that cares' which is knitted by volunteers throughout New South Wales, is given to children and adults during traumatic times.  They are not for sale.
When: If you would like to know more about our periodic friendly bear repair days please contact us.
Training: Consult with your local 'teddy coordinator'.
Commitment: Consult with your local 'teddy coordinator'.

CAN YOU HELP? We need to recruit coordinators of knitting teams before we can accept new knitters.  Bear Coordinators have the opportunity to arrange informal gatherings if that suits them and generally contribute to their community through these delightful little bears with support from the Red Cross.  If you consider yourself a "people person" who is able to liaise with a group of knitters in your local area and can arrange distribution of stuffing, wool and completed bears please contact us urgently.  Your local knitting group needs you.

Please contact Volunteers & Members by email on nswvolunteers@redcross.org.au or phone the Volunteer Services Coordinator on (02) 9229 4114.

Your Nearest Office

For information on volunteering opportunities and other local events across NSW, please contact your closest Regional Office. If in doubt, you can also contact 02 9229 4114 or nswvolunteers@redcross.org.au for assistance.

Check the table below to contact your local office: