Charity Work in Brisbane

Volunteering early in life can have a positive influence on children and how they value their time, skills, and service to the community. It can also build self-esteem, bring families closer together, and foster a sense of community spirit. If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities in Brisbane, there are various ways that families can participate in voluntary activities together.

Volunteering with Sporting Organisations

Depending on the age of the children and the location of the family, there are many opportunities for families to volunteer together in sports clubs. For example, one family member could play, another could be a referee, another could sell raffle tickets, and perhaps family members could serve on the committee. This type of volunteering provides roles for different interests and capabilities within the family, regardless of their interest in the actual sport.

Surf Life Saving is another voluntary opportunity for families that frequent the Gold and Sunshine coasts on weekends.

Volunteering in Nature

Conservation and community gardens can be great activities that families can participate in together. It’s a very social activity, promotes exercise, supports a healthy environment, and allows the whole family to learn about the ecosystem and growing food close to home. These activities can be done once-off or regularly, in the city or countryside.

There are also opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors while helping out voluntarily with local council tree planting programs, national parks and wildlife bush regeneration programs, and activities such as Clean Up Australia Day.

Volunteering for Not-for-Profit Organisations, Institutions, and Churches

Depending on their age, children can engage with the elderly in locations such as nursing homes. Activities like inter-generational socialization can involve teaching the elderly new technologies, such as Facebook, or reading to them. Children can be good listeners, and some elderly clients can go a long time without visitors, so they would love the chance to chat. Parents can support children with this engagement.

Other voluntary activities in this category could include school and kindergarten activities, fundraising, reading to children, helping out with fetes and festivals, recycling projects, caring for animals, or sorting donated books.

One organization to consider volunteering with is the Nappy Collective, which helps the 1 in 10 families who don’t have enough nappies for their babies.

The Benefits of Volunteering with Your Family in Brisbane

The benefits of volunteering with your family are well-documented and include:

1. A shared sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
2. Helping families learn about their own community.
3. Developing respect and understanding for different people and lifestyles.
4. Creating family memories and strengthening family bonds.
5. Learning new skills or building on existing skills.
6. Building the self-confidence of family members.
7. Improving communication among family members.
8. Providing an opportunity for families to have lots of fun!

Volunteering Situations That Are Not Suitable for Families

Parents should only choose roles that their children are mature enough to participate in and check first that the organization allows child volunteers. Not-for-profit organizations can guide parents on the suitability of engaging children in an activity. There are boundaries around insurance, as the insurance to protect volunteers under 18 years of age may be too expensive for some organizations, and they may unfortunately have to decline engaging youth and children. Additionally, there is the issue of Blue Cards and whether the activity fits the criteria for young people engaging in voluntary work.

How to Find Opportunities for Volunteering with Your Family in Brisbane

Volunteering QLD offers a free online search tool for finding thousands of volunteering opportunities available all over Queensland. The varied volunteer positions cover the arts, environmental conservation, sports, welfare, and emergency services. You can help the homeless, children, animals, the elderly, refugees, or people with disabilities. The opportunities include one-off events, short-term projects, and long-term roles. You are also able to search based on your interests, motivations, availability, and location.

If you are aware of someone in your local community who may need some extra assistance, then our guide to Crisis Help for Brisbane Families in Need may provide you with some vital information.

In conclusion, volunteering with your family in Brisbane can have numerous benefits, including building self-esteem, fostering a sense of community spirit, and strengthening family bonds. There are various opportunities available, from volunteering with sporting organizations to helping out in nature or for not-for-profit organizations, institutions, and churches. By engaging in charity work in Brisbane, you not only make a positive impact on the community but also create lasting memories and learn new skills along the way. So why not get involved and start making a difference today?