Volunteering
Volunteering is the life blood of a small, regional community like ours. Without our valued volunteers there are many events and services that simply would not happen.
To foster a thriving volunteering culture in our community a working group of volunteers with the support of Break O’Day Council and Volunteering Tasmania developed a Volunteering Strategy
Our shared vision for volunteering in Break O’Day is:
Break O’Day has a strong culture of volunteering that provides meaningful community connections and values giving back.
Volunteer organisations have access to all they need to support a sustainable and thriving volunteer culture in Break O’Day.
How to use the Strategy
Pick a focus area to work through that is most important to your group
Find something that might be easy to start with
Take it to the committee at the next meeting to see how it can be incorporated into your organisation
Reach out to the council for support on how you might get started on using the strategy in a practical way
- Wanting to volunteer?
- Meet some local volunteers
- Award Winning Volunteer Film Festival - National Volunteer Week 2024
- Resources for volunteering organisations
Are you looking for ways to volunteer in your community?
Express your interest
If you would like to some help to find volunteering opportunities, please complete Volunteer Expression of Interest form
Send to admin@bodc.tas.gov.au and we will send you information about current opportunities and let you know where else you can look.
Find a Community Group
You can also contact community groups directly. For a list of Community Groups in our area and their contact information see here.
Volunteering Opportunities
If you are a group or organisation and would like to promote your volunteering opportunity on this page.
Please send your details on this form. Or get in touch with community services at community.services@bodc.tas.gov.au or call 6376 7900.
Some Local Volunteering Opportunities – SCROLL
Some of the reasons why our wonderful local volunteers love giving back to their community…
| “I volunteer to keep my brain active and I enjoy helping people” Amanda, St Helens Online Access Centre |
| “I volunteer to give back to the community” Dave, St Helens Online Access Centre |
| “I volunteer because I like to give back to community, love meeting new people, enjoy the
other volunteers’ friendship” Heather, Meals on Wheels |
| “I volunteer because of the great range of people I meet” Christine, St Helens Tip Shop |
| “I volunteer because I met Richard Flanagan at the St Helens Tip Shop” Glenny, St Helens Tip Shop |
| “I volunteer because I love cleaning and recycling” Volunteer, St Helens Tip Shop |
| “I volunteer to make people happy by listening to music. So get up and dance” The Tone, Star FM |
| “I volunteer because I love community” Caitlin, Youth Collective of North East Coast Tasmania |
| “To see people smile and be included” Bridget, Volunteering Tasmania |
| “To help communicate, encourage happy feelings and to improve health and friendship through gardening” Peggy, Scamander Garden Club |
| “My obligation as a member of this awesome community” Volunteer, St Helens Marine Rescue |
| “I volunteer to help those in need, protect, educate , prevent, save lives and property” Volunteer, St Helens Fire Brigade |
| “I volunteer because I need to for myself – mental wellbeing is essential to be healthy!” Volunteer, St Mary’s Op Shop |
| “I volunteer because I like to think I’m helping other people in my community” Volunteer, St Mary’s Op Shop |
| “I volunteer because it makes me happy and I enjoy contributing to my community :)” Volunteer, St Mary’s Op Shop |
| “I volunteer because Lions’ motto is ‘We Serve’ and I enjoy giving back to the community. Making new friends and meeting the public, talking about all of the Lions programs” Ursula, St Helens Lions Club |
Volunteer Film Festival 2024
Council created the Volunteer Film Festival to help our local volunteers showcase and share with each other, celebrate their efforts together and have fun! It proved to be a joyful way to let anyone in our community know how wonderful volunteering is and encourage new volunteers to join them too.
11 local volunteer groups made short films under 5 mins about their volunteering to celebrate National Volunteer Week 2024.
Volunteers made their own films, submitted existing films or asked council staff for help to create their films. All entries were warmly received, it was not a competition and the different styles and approaches made watching them all more fun! Being involved in the production of their own films was a powerful way for volunteers to tell their volunteering stories in their own way.
On the 14th May we dressed up and rolled out the red carpet for a Gala Premiere Screening at our local cinema – Easy Tiger, with light refreshments, popcorn and choc-tops. More than 70 people attended, we were busting at the seams and set up a second screen in the foyer!
Break O’Day Council were thrilled to receive the 2024 Community Services Delivery Award from Local Government Professionals Tasmania for the Volunteer Film Festival. Discover all the films here on Council’s You Tube Channel. www.youtube.com/@BreakODayCouncilTAS
Films were screened on Facebook and showcased at the St Helens Library during National Volunteer Week 2024 too, 20-26 May .
Together we showed that volunteering in Break O’Day really does have something for everyone!
Fostering a culture of volunteerism in Break O’Day
When we worked with our volunteering community to develop a Volunteering Strategy for Break O’Day we identified some things that volunteer organisations could use to ensure their volunteers feel connected and safe in their roles. Here are some of the things volunteers told us:
- They felt reassured when the organisation had clear policies and procedures in place.
- When considering volunteering, potential volunteers have to weigh up the costs, transport and time required to participate and people with disability with must also consider accessibility to facilities and activities.
- When deciding whether to volunteer, potential volunteers wanted to understand what the expectations of the volunteering role was so they could make an informed decision around committing to volunteering.
- A Volunteer Organisation that provides a welcoming and safe environment that embraces diversity and inclusivity is highly desired by potential volunteers.
To help Volunteer Organisations in Break O’Day give their potential volunteers the information they need to make an informed decision – we have put together the following resources:
Guide to Onboarding_ Induction Checklist
Orientation for New Volunteers
Template_Volunteer Role Descriptions_Feb 2021
Additional Resources
Volunteering Profile 2029: Break O’Day Local Government Area
National Volunteer Week 2024: ‘Something for Everyone’
National Volunteer Week 2024 will recognise the diverse passions and talents everyone brings to the act of volunteering.
Find out more
International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day (IVD) mandated by the UN General Assembly, is held each year on 5 December. It is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organisations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector.
Apart from mobilising thousands of volunteers every year, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program contributes to peace and development by advocating for the recognition of volunteers and working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming.
UNV coordinates International Volunteer Day on 5 December every year to recognise and promote the tireless work, not just of UN Volunteers, but of volunteers across the globe. Every day, volunteers dedicate time and effort to ensure the inclusion of those often left behind, drive climate action and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Find out more about International Volunteer Day at Volunteering Australia
Learn about the Sustainable Development Goals at wellbeingaction.org/live-simply-and-well