Is your isolation routine starting to feel a bit like Ground Hog Day? If so, you are not alone!

The good news is that there are still plenty of ways you can volunteer. Below are some tips to help you decide what kinds of volunteering opportunities would best suit you during this time.

Helping those impacted by COVID-19

As the impacts of COVID-19 are felt throughout our communities, the demand for volunteer services is increasing, particularly services supporting the elderly, vulnerable and disadvantaged.

To cater for this demand, SEEK Volunteer has created a specific COVID-19 category search filter. A quick search using this filter will show you the different ways in which you can help those in need.

Current opportunities include companionship video calls to the elderly or vulnerable in isolation, delivering groceries and necessities to the doorsteps of those who can’t leave their homes, preparing care boxes of donated goods and becoming a volunteer translator for the vulnerable trying to access information and services.

In-demand roles

You will notice that some roles featured on SEEK Volunteer are now listed at the top of the search page, accompanied by a tab named ‘In demand’. This means that the opportunity is urgently in need of a high volume of volunteers to provide services supporting COVID-19.

Finding the right fit for you

With thousands of opportunities listed on SEEK Volunteer, trying to find the right fit for you can take time. SEEK Volunteer has some handy tools which can help fast track the right opportunities straight to your inbox:

• Filter it. Our search filters enable you to customise your search and increase your chances of finding the right opportunity. You can filter in many ways, including by category, work type and availability to help find the opportunities that are right for you.
• Save it. Even if you don’t find the right volunteering fit for you right now, just save your search criteria and you will receive an email alerting you to new relevant opportunities when they get posted.
• Favourite it. To help stay on top of the opportunities or organisations that you are interested in, make sure you ‘favourite’ them by clicking on the heart-shaped ‘favourite opportunity’ icon. This will enable you to find the opportunities easily next time you visit SEEK Volunteer.

We understand that during this time, volunteering will not be for everyone. Above all and before helping others, it is vital that you take care of your own wellbeing. However, if you do find yourself with capacity and desire to seek out volunteering opportunities during the coming months, make sure you save your search and then keep an eye on your inbox so that we can alert you about new opportunities that may interest you.

Practical considerations

I’d like to volunteer, can you help me understand the practical considerations that relate to volunteering and COVID-19?
To make sure that you are well informed to make the right decisions about volunteering, read this useful guide from Volunteering Australia – Volunteering in response to a pandemic.

As a volunteer what can I expect from a volunteering involving organisation to keep me safe during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Volunteers are considered as ‘workers’ under Work Health andSafety (WHS) Laws and as such should be afforded the same considerationsas a paid employee. Safe Work Australia has information on preparing workplacesfor Covid-19. You can read more at the Safe Work Australia website.