Every year, Wesley Mission joins Australia to celebrate National Volunteer Week and over six million volunteers who freely give their time and talents to better their communities.
The theme for National Volunteer Week 2024 (20 – 26 May) is ‘Something for Everyone’. For more than 210 years, Wesley Mission has aimed to do all the good we can, because every life matters and everyone deserves support.
It’s only through the dedication of our volunteers that we can continue our vital work to create positive changes in the lives of individuals, families, and communities in New South Wales and across Australia.
Whether you’re interested in becoming a mentor to kids in care, have a skill you’d love to teach at Wesley School for Seniors, have an hour a fortnight to share a cuppa with an older person in your community or have a flair for events and fundraising, at Wesley Mission, there’s something for everyone.
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Why don’t you…
We’re looking for kind and compassionate people who can bring warmth and companionship to an older person in your community who might be feeling isolated. Become a Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitor and make a lasting impact in an older person’s life. We’ll match you with someone with similar interests and hobbies so you can form a friendship, helping them feel cared for and connected to the community.
What’s involved?
Weekly or fortnightly visits at a time that suits both you (the visitor) and the older person. Your time together may be spent enjoying each other’s company, having a cuppa, or pottering in the garden.
Get in touch with us via email: volunteering@wesleymission.org.au
Our Wesley Family Preservation Team is looking for a flexible, empathetic, and kind volunteer to assist with transporting the people we support, to and from appointments.
To provide care and consistency for the people we serve, this role would suit someone who’s looking for a long-term position and needs to complete voluntary hours for Centrelink.
What’s involved?
Starting and ending your day at our Blacktown office, you’ll take the work car (KIA Carnival) to and from appointments, ensuring the people we support have safe and happy journeys.
Get in touch with us via email: volunteering@wesleymission.org.au
As a volunteer aunty or uncle, you’ll provide friendship and be a mentor to a child living in difficult circumstances who needs a positive role model in their life.
Any adult over 21, who has a genuine interest in caring for children, can become a volunteer mentor. Mentors come from all walks of life and an be single or a couple and be with or without children.
What’s involved?
During your time together you can plan simple activities that help the child engage in positive social life skills and create happy childhood memories. ‘Nieces and nephews’ enjoy becoming part of your everyday life, participating in cooking meals, washing the dog, going for walks or other activities you do on the weekend.
You must be willing to commit for a minimum of 12 months.
Get in touch with us via email: volunteering@wesleymission.org.au
Do you have a green thumb and a few hours a week to spare? This is the role for you!
Wesley Mission’s Alan Walker Village is an independent living village in Carlingford with 219 units on just over five acres of beautiful green grounds. There are nearly 300 residents who make up this friendly, caring village community who enjoy a host of activities together in a tranquil environment.
What’s involved?
As a volunteer gardener, you’ll work at your own pace and as part of a team. Put your love of gardening to great use to help maintain green spaces for residents to enjoy.
Get in touch with us via email: volunteering@wesleymission.org.au
We are looking for volunteers who are good listeners, empathetic, compassionate and committed to supporting others.
As a volunteer Crisis Supporter, you’ll respond to people in crisis on the phone, so no one faces their darkest times alone. You’ll complete training to become a fully accredited, qualified phone Crisis Supporter. Working from either our Sydney City or Sylvania centre, you’ll listen to people in their time of need, without judgement, help them identify their next steps and encourage them to take positive action.
What’s involved?
Your journey from training to becoming an accredited Crisis Supporter involves three stages. These include training workshops, placement, and an internship followed by ongoing accreditation. To achieve your accreditation, you must attend and actively engage in all training components.
You can choose from several learning options, access many training pathways and receive additional support.
Get in touch with us via email: volunteering@wesleymission.org.au
Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Year Awards’ winners!
Be inspired by the amazing work of our volunteers and discover why they were chosen as winners for the Wesley Mission’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year Awards. Meet our winners below.
Brigetta Byrne
Wesley Youth Mentoring
Meet Brigetta, our 2023 Adult Volunteer of the Year Awards winner 🥇
Brigetta is no longer just a mentor; she’s become like a big sister to a young person she supports through Wesley Youth Volunteering. Since 2021, Brigetta has provided a consistent, positive adult presence in this young person’s life.
Today is the start of National Volunteer Week and we want to thank you Brigetta, for all you do. You’ve shown us how you don’t need to be related to make a difference in a young person’s life.
Catherine Asbridge
Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitor
For the last 7 years, Catherine has enriched the lives of many older Australians as a Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitor. She’s helped them remain connected to a community that cares about them and has brought them friendship and joy in the later years of their lives.
That’s why we chose Catherine to be our 2023 Senior Volunteer of the Year Award winner 🥇
Thank you, Catherine, for your commitment to living a life that acknowledges that every life matters.
Sarah Newman
Youth Volunteer
Meet Sarah, our 2023 Youth Volunteer of the Year Award winner 🥇
Whether they’re practising K-Pop dance moves, painting, swimming at their local pool or going to the movies, every visit Sarah has with the young person she mentors, is jam-packed with fun 💃 It’s no wonder Sarah’s mentee wants to continue seeing her forever.
Once a month, Sarah spends time with a young person in foster care as part of our Wesley Aunties & Uncles program, which pairs an adult, known as ‘aunty or uncle’, with a young person who needs a positive role model in their life.
Sam Tuli
Tenancy Officer with Wesley Community Housing
Sam’s done it all (with Wesley Mission) – student, volunteer and now employee!
Studying a Diploma in Mental Health, Sam found her calling when…
“I became immediately passionate and invested in The Hub’s vision [because of] the above and beyond support that it provides [its] clients. Originally, I volunteered Mondays and Tuesdays, but [I] quickly began volunteering on additional days wherever I could and was first in my class to smash out my placement hours, within 4 months.”
Sam continued to volunteer for another eight months, and this month she started her for-purpose career as a Tenancy Officer with Wesley Community Housing. Congratulations Sam 👏