Our volunteer program is an opportunity for the community to support Council staff to deliver many different programs and services across Blacktown City.
Volunteering with us ensures that we can continue to provide important services to residents.
We are very fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers and we value the important role they play in fostering a true sense of community across Blacktown City. If you would like to join the Blacktown City volunteer team, take a look at the opportunities below and see if there are any that interest you. Pay particular attention to the requirements of each role and make sure that you can meet them before applying.
We look forward to meeting you.
Please note:
- To join one of our volunteer programs you need to be aged 18+. The only exception at this time is Bushcare where younger children can attend when accompanied by an adult.
- If the role you are looking for is not shown, applications are currently closed. Please check back soon to see if they have reopened.
- Applications for Duke of Edinburgh and work experience placements (including Animal Studies course placements) are processed by our People and Culture team. Their application form can be found here.
I would like to volunteer
Available Volunteer Roles
Bushcare Group Volunteer - Adult
Bushcare groups involve residents that have an interest in the local environment, who enjoy being outdoors and joining with like-minded people in the community to improve local bushland reserves.
Location
Various reserves across Blacktown City.
Experience required
No experience necessary. Children/young people under 18 years of age must attend with a supervising adult.
Duration of volunteering
Volunteers generally work for 3 hours, one weekend a month.
Bushcare Group Volunteer - Child
**Important: Before a child/young person under 18 can apply to join this volunteer program, their parent or guardian must register (go back to the previous page and select Bushcare Group Volunteer - Adult'). Children/young people under 18 may not attend a Bushcare session without a registered parent or guardian.**
To complete the application form for a child, please click here.
Bushcare groups involve residents that have an interest in the local environment, who enjoy being outdoors and joining with like-minded people in the community to improve local bushland reserves.
Location
Various reserves across Blacktown City.
Experience required
No experience necessary. Children under 18 years of age must attend with a supervising adult.
Duration of volunteering
Volunteers generally work for 3 hours, one weekend a month.
Justice of the Peace
Justices of the Peace play an important role in the justice system and provide a valuable and accessible service to all members of our community. As an appointed Justice of the Peace, volunteers witness documents for members of the public.
Locations
- Mount Druitt Library
- Max Webber Library, Blacktown
- Dennis Johnson Library, Stanhope Gardens
- Lalor Park Library
- Riverstone Library
Shifts available
- We would be happy to talk to you about suitable times
Requirements of the role:
Must already be appointed as a Justice of the Peace for NSW, under the Justices of the Peace Act 2002.
Duration of volunteering:
Able to commit regularly for a minimum of six months.
One-on-one Adult Literacy Tutor
Our volunteer literacy tutors support English speaking adults who lack the essential literacy skills necessary for daily life. This vital volunteer program helps to bridge the gap left by an incomplete or unsuccessful time at school and helps ensure that the students do not become isolated or excluded from participating in the community.
Requirements for the role
- Good skills in reading, writing, spelling and use of technology
- Education level preferably to at least year 12
- Good communication skills
- Ability to step away from the authoritative ‘teacher’ role towards an active facilitation role
- Evidence of value and respect of difference (e.g. culture, lifestyle, expectations)
- Flexibility when discussing strategies, timeframes, meeting points etc.
Locations for tutoring (after training completed)
- Mount Druitt Library, Mount Druitt
- Max Webber Library, Blacktown
- Dennis Johnson Library, Stanhope Gardens
- Riverstone Library, Riverstone
- Lalor Park Library, Lalor Park
Free training
Our training and resources are based on guidelines provided by The Reading Writing Hotline and are offered to all successful applicants.
Reading Buddies Coach/Helper
Our Library Services team is looking for volunteers to support their Reading Buddies program.
Volunteers will listen to a primary school aged child read and assist them with improving their reading and comprehension skills. They will encourage the child to work out difficult words independently using visual cues and sounding out the words. With repeated attendance at Reading Buddies, the volunteers' presence and positive feedback will help the child's confidence and reading ability to improve and strengthen.
Location
Lalor Park Library
Requirements of the role:
Essential
- Working with Children check
- Reliability
- A caring and perceptive personality
- The ability to communicate on the child's level
- A likeable and approachable nature
- Familiarity with school reading levels to be able to discern if a child is making progress or not.
Desirable
- Experience working with children
- This role would suit a retired teacher or someone who has experience working with primary school aged children.
Duration of volunteering
- It is important that the children can gain trust and build a relationship with their reading buddy, so we ask that you only apply if you are able to volunteer on an ongoing basis.
- Ideally, a volunteer would be available a couple of times a week after school. The length of volunteer shift will depend on the demand and can be discussed with the program coordinator.
Sewing Club Mentor
Our Library Services team is looking for volunteers to support their Sewing Club.
Our Sewing Club Mentors support young people to learn basic sewing skills in a fun and welcoming environment. Mentors help participants build confidence using sewing machines safely while guiding them through simple projects and patterns.
We are looking for mentors who enjoy working with young people and hold a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) or are willing to get one.
Location
Max Webber Library (there may also be opportunities for the program to expand to other library branches in the future).
Requirements of the role:
- You must enjoy working with young people
- Ability to explain basic sewing patterns and instructions
- Confidence using and guiding others with sewing machines
- A likeable and approachable nature
- Working with Children check (or willing to get one)
- Reliability
Duration of volunteering
- We are hoping to run sewing club sessions fortnightly or monthly during school terms. Dates and times are flexible and can be discussed with volunteers.
Volunteer chef or cook - Books and Cooks program
Our Library Services team is looking for volunteers to support their Books & Cooks program.
Our Volunteer Chef or Cook will demonstrate how to prepare meals in front of a live audience as part of our Books & Cooks program. They will be confident speaking in front of a group and engaging with community members while cooking. The volunteer will share their knowledge of healthy, practical recipes and inspire participants to try cooking at home.
Location
Various locations across Blacktown City.
Requirements of the role:
- Knowledge of safe food handling practices
- Ability to safely use a range of cooking equipment
- Understanding of common food allergies and sensitivities
- Confident communicating with and engaging a group
- A likeable and approachable nature
- Current NSW Basic Food Handler Certificate
- Working with Children check (or willing to get one)
- Reliability
Duration of volunteering
Each session runs for approximately 3 hours, including setting up and packing away. This opportunity runs periodically throughout the year. Dates and times can be discussed and arranged based on volunteer availability.
