the drum loves volunteers. We see this as a great opportunity to provide young people with positive experiences that enable them to navigate employment and career pathways. Volunteering can also build someone’s confidence, their networks including with their peers. It can also play an important role in building someone’s understanding of what a job in the community sector is like, develop a history of work experience. Other times, young folks may want to get involved and give back to their community or connect with a particular cause. Of these things are legitimate! The drum considers that volunteering should offer the volunteer something in return for their time, passion and commitment to our work.
As part of our commitment to building the communities we work in, we prioritise providing these opportunities to young people who live, work or have a strong connection to Carlton and Parkville and/or who are of:
- Diverse cultural, ‘racial’, ethnic and religious backgrounds
- Refugee and humanitarian entrant background
- International students
- Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+)
- Public housing residents
The commitment reflects to these community members reflects our values- we want to make sure young people who don’t necessarily have the same opportunities have options to build their confidence, their knowledge and increase the opportunities available to them.
So, hit us up, put in an application! You can do this by clicking here.
What can you expect?
The type of volunteering opportunity you have will dependent on matching your skills and interests with our capacity and current opportunities. We try really hard to make sure volunteers get practical experience in the community, with young people as well being involved with the “behind the scenes stuff” that is need to plan programs and activities.
Check out the types of programs and activities we currently run to get see what type of opportunities there are. If there are particular programs or activities you are interested in you let us know through the online application process.
What’s our application process?
All volunteer applications are reviewed with consideration of current opportunities, our capacity and your availability and interest. Your completed form will be held securely and confidentially.
We will endeavour to get back to you within 10 working days after receiving your application.
If we are able to bring together your interests with our capacity we will invite you in for an interview. If this goes well we could go to the next steps- doing a police check and seeing if you have a Working with Children Card.
How to get there
Most of our volunteering opportunities are based out of our main 3 sites (Carlton, North Melbourne and Collingwood). At this stage, we aren’t able to take on new volunteers during Stage 4 lockdown. But please keep checking in to see when these opportunities pop up again!
Our office is located near the corner of Queensberry Street and Drummond Street Carlton- up towards the city. This means you can walk from Melbourne Central of Parliament Station in about 15 minutes. Or you can get a tram up Swanston Street and get off at Queensberry and head towards Exhibition Gardens.
As we want you to be involved in some of our work in the community you might need to get to one of our programs. This could include going to the community space at 480 Lygon Street Carlton, Kathleen Symes Community Centre and Library or Carlton Baths for instance.
Permission required
All our volunteers aged 18 and older need to have these things, not only because we have a strong commitment to ensuring the safety of young people and fulfilling our duty of care, but because Victorian Laws require it. If you are worried about this, be sure to chat with us and we can support you with the process.
