Volunteering

Leavers is a 4-day event which takes place annually in Dunsborough on the WA south coast.  The event is coordinated by WA Police and supported by 15 local organizations.  The event provides a safe and supervised venue with entertainment for young people to celebrate their high school graduation. Over 9,000 young people attend each year. WAAC hosts the Chill-Out Tent at “The Zone” which is the main Leavers Festival area and operates in the evenings. WAAC also supports young people during each day at various fun activities including the legendary ‘Beach Fest’.

Volunteers must be aged 18 and over (having graduated from high school in or before 2023). All new volunteers must be interviewed and screened for selection purposes. Screening includes a Working with Children Check. Volunteers must also have a current first aid and CPR certificate (valid at the time of the event). WAAC provides training in basic youth work practice, harm reduction philosophy, event health and safety measures, emergency response procedures and WAAC’s Leavers Project policies.

Location: South West (Dunsborough/Busselton) – WAAC will organise transport and accomodation

Time: Sunday 17 until Friday 22 November (inclusive)

Tasks: Set-up and break-down of activities, supervising young people, providing health resources, lay-counselling, basic first aid, documenting incidences and maintaining the WAAC managed spaces at the events.

To learn more about volunteering for Leavers 2024 and to apply to volunteer with WAAC directly for Leavers 2024, please click the link here.

Our Outreach/Health Promotion volunteers help to promote our services and disseminate health information in our local community. Community Outreach volunteers staff booths at festivals and events, and hand out condoms and safer sex information as “Safe Sex Angels” to the public Monday – Sunday throughout the year. All volunteers receive health promotion training and may sign up for outreach activities whenever they are available to help.

Location: Various

Time: Various

Tasks: Health promotion and education, handing out condoms, running stalls, etc.

Event volunteers assist with WAAC community and fundraising events throughout the year. Events include StyleAID, World AIDS Day, Annual Volunteer Recognition Event, Barn Dance, Pride Fest and Leavers Project in Dunsborough. The range of tasks volunteers undertake at events depends on the nature of each event. Duties may include set-up and breakdown, providing staff support, event décor, assisting with fundraising elements, selling merchandise, serving food and drink, staffing the guest reception area and running a coat check-in etc.

Location and Time: Various – dependent on event

The WAAC Needle and Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) serves people who inject drugs across Perth. We aim to prevent the spread of Blood Bourne Viruses including HIV and Hep C. Our services include the provision of needle and syringe units, barrels and tips free on exchange or at low cost, safe disposal of used drug injecting equipment, education on harm reduction and safer drug use, referrals to services and health information.

NSEP volunteers are trained in basic program operations and are placed in a relief pool so that they may be called upon to provide support to staff when needed.

Location: Various – Two fixed locations (West Perth and Fremantle) and seven van sites (Rockingham, Mirrabooka, Joondalup, Belmont, Midland, Armadale and Gosnells)

Times: Various – NSEP sites operate at various times between 12pm and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Tasks: Site maintenance, materials stocking, serving clients and assisting with basic program administrative duties.

The Freedom Centre is WAAC’s LGBTIQA+ youth program based in Leederville. Freedom Centre provides young LGBTIQA+ people aged 12 – 25 with services and a safe and welcoming space to socialise and participate in fun activities.

Volunteers must be aged 19+ and openly identify as a member of the LGBTIQA+ community and are asked to commit to a weekly shift for a minimum of 6 months. Volunteers may schedule their preferred weekly shifts on a monthly basis with staff. New volunteers are trained in youth work practice, workplace health and safety, emergency response procedures and Freedom Centre’s policies.

Location: Freedom Centre, Leederville

Times: Various – Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3.30pm till 8pm.

Tasks: Supervising young people, facilitating safe and healthy discussions, coordinating activities.

Volunteer drivers transport clients to and from WAAC’s programs and services. Volunteers use WAAC vehicles to pick up clients and bring them to WAAC and drive them home after the session. Volunteers must have a current driver’s license and be comfortable driving WAAC’s vehicles.

Location: WAAC Head Office – Transport across Greater Perth region

Time: Various

Tasks: Picking up/dropping off clients for appointments at WAAC.

WAAC’s History Project volunteers support the organization by working to preserve historical documents and items of interest including press releases, photographs, correspondence, art, audio/visual media, posters, quilts etc. The goal is to organize and archive materials in a way that will ensure their preservation for future reference and appreciation. Volunteers may negotiate a schedule that is convenient to them and to WAAC staff for working on this project at WAAC’s main office.

Location: WAAC Head Office, West Perth

Time: Negotiable

Tasks: Organise and archive historic materials, scan materials.

The Document Scanning Project is an ongoing project at WAAC which requires our volunteers to scan documents, name files with consistency and care, and save them in Sharepoint folders for WAAC’s future access. Volunteers must have a basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and be able to use a photocopier/scanner. Volunteers must not be a current or past client of WAAC.

Location: WAAC Head Office, West Perth

Time: Thursday, 10am – 2pm

Tasks: Scan and name documents, save documents to Sharepoint.

WAAC utilises the skills and talents of volunteers in a variety of ways which support our organisation and our clients living with HIV. Professional services include photography, blog writing, legal support, pet care, printing, activity coordinator, vehicle rental and mover services (for events), first aid, hair stylists, and art therapy.

Location: WAAC Head Office

Time: Various

WAAC partners with various universities and colleges in Perth and serves as a placement site for students throughout the year. Prospective students may reach out to Carolyn Spivak at [email protected] to learn more about the placement opportunities offered by WAAC across all program areas.