Volunteering
Opportunities to enrich your studies, expand your network, develop career-ready skills and broaden your horizons.
Join Swinburne’s student volunteer community through opportunities within the university and out in the community. Keen to make a difference? Volunteering is an excellent way to give back, make friends and have fun while gaining skills and experience that will help you stand out in a fast-changing workforce.
What is volunteering?
Volunteering involves contributing your time and skills to support activities and projects without financial gain.
Why volunteer?
Gain work-related experience and boost your CV
Build on your leadership and interpersonal skills
Make new personal and professional connections
Get recognition on your academic transcript
Volunteering opportunities
Whatever your interests, we have many rewarding opportunities available to enrich your Swinburne experience. You can volunteer on campus and in the community, in person and online, for a one-off task or a recurring activity. Plus, time commitments are flexible and vary from as little as a couple of hours to semester-long engagements, making it easy to fit volunteering into your schedule.
On this page, you’ll get a sense of the opportunities we have on offer. To check out what’s available, sign up via our volunteering portal.
As a volunteer Peer Mentor, you’ll support fellow Swinburne students at the beginning of their academic journey and help them settle in, developing sought-after skills to help you excel now and in the future. Some of the career-boosting benefits include:
- developing communication, interpersonal and leadership skills
- growing your network
- training in what you need to succeed as a peer mentor
- receiving official recognition for volunteer hours.
Peer Mentors enjoy flexible opportunities that fit their schedule and goals, from one-off and longer-term commitments via online, one-on-one chats in discipline-based Learning Communities to in-person mentoring within semester-long group programs.
For enquiries, email peermentoring@swinburne.edu.au
Buddy up with a new international student and make them feel at home while you learn about their culture and traditions. Offered through Swinburne College, experienced students are matched with new international students for buddy sessions to help them learn and speak English, make local friends, and provide a safe environment to ask questions about Swinburne and life in Australia.
For enquiries, email groupenglish@swinburne.edu.au
Tax time can be stressful for students – become a Tax Help volunteer and help relieve some of that stress while you learn more about the process yourself. Swinburne’s Tax Help service runs in person from July to October, helping our students lodge their tax returns and manage their tax obligations. You’ll learn new skills, build your networks and give back to your university community. No special experience needed – the Australian Tax Office (ATO) provides all the training. That’ll look great on your CV!
For enquiries, email volunteer@swinburne.edu.au
As a volunteer Study Buddy, you’ll guide first-year students through online one-on-one chats, aiding with unit content, assessments, and study resources. If you’ve excelled in specific first-year core units, you could boost your CV with career-related benefits such as:
- communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills
- meaningful connections with students
- training and resources for effective support
- official Swinburne acknowledgment for your volunteer hours.
Study Buddies enjoy the flexibility of supporting students online – from one-off to longer-term interactions – in discipline-based Learning Communities.
For enquiries, email studybuddies@swinburne.edu.au
If you have experience in studying via Swinburne Online, this is an opportunity to support new students in transitioning smoothly into their course and this method of study. Studying online is a unique experience; your insider knowledge can help others begin their course confidently.
For enquiries, email mentors@swinburneonline.com
Swinburne event volunteering
With Swinburne’s packed calendar of events, there are loads of exciting volunteer opportunities year-round for you to gain experience in a variety of event roles, from usher and guide to logistics and more. Throughout the year, there’ll be opportunities at major campus events, career expos, industry events, graduations, and public lectures, so keep an eye on this page and our volunteering portal, and you’re bound to find something that interests you!
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Open Day
A flagship Swinburne event and our biggest day of the year, attracting thousands. Volunteers play an essential part in contributing to its success. Help welcome prospective students to campus and show them what Swinburne has to offer. You can get free stuff like lunch and a Swinburne T-shirt, plus a certificate of appreciation.
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Orientation
Join other student volunteers to help make Orientation a success, welcoming commencing students to campus at the beginning of each semester. Opportunities span from taking registrations and greeting new students to supporting event set up and more. Register as a volunteer now so you can view Orientation volunteering opportunities when they go live in the month before each semester.
Community volunteering
Choose from a growing list of organisations that partner with Swinburne – local government, charities, and not-for-profits – offering diverse and rewarding volunteer roles in the community where you’ll meet new people, build skills, and give back. Simply register on Swinburne’s volunteer portal to browse current opportunities such as tutoring refugees and school students, supporting environmental and cultural causes and more.
Looking for a more flexible way to volunteer without going too far from home? There are plenty of virtual volunteering opportunities you can take up anytime, anywhere.
If you’re keen on skills-based volunteering to apply expertise from your field of study, there are opportunities that match skilled professionals with community organisations for flexible, short-term opportunities. Examples include boards and committees, website builds, marketing strategies and video development.
Maybe you want to pursue a passion and team up with like-minded people to make a positive impact? There are community group volunteering opportunities for every interest.
For more community-based volunteering opportunities that will be recognised on Swinburne’s volunteer portal, browse the following websites:
How to become a volunteer
Step 1: Register via the volunteer portal
Step 2: Apply for a free Working with Children Check (WWCC) as either a local or international student
Step 3: Email your WWCC number and expiry date to volunteer@swinburne.edu.au
Step 4: Once your volunteer registration is approved, you can start browsing opportunities
Awards, rewards and recognition
Swinburne values its volunteers and recognises their contributions – within the university and out in the community – no matter how big or small. By logging volunteer hours, students benefit from access to free accredited training, certificates, recognition on their final academic transcript, and consideration in Swinburne awards acknowledging student contributions.
Rewards and Recognition Program
The Rewards and Recognition Program operates from January to December on a calendar year basis and the number of hours you commit. Rewards and recognition per number of hours committed may be subject to change and can include:
20-hour volunteering certificate and a choice of one of the following:
- Victorian Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate, face-to-face and online training
- Victorian Safe Food Handler certificate, face-to-face training
- $20 GiftPay voucher
- 40-hour volunteering certificate
- Emerging Leaders Program (ELP)* reference added to final academic transcript
- $40 GiftPay voucher
*ELP will continue to end of Semester 1 2025, replaced with a new award launching at the start of Semester 1 2025
- 80-hour volunteering certificate
- LinkedIn Endorsement (choice from a list)
- $80 GiftPay voucher
- 100-hour volunteering certificate
- LinkedIn recommendation (a virtual written reference)
- Auslan certificate (online training) or a $100 GiftPay Voucher
Swinburne Employability Award
An exciting new co-curricular award will be launched in Semester 1 2025 – the Swinburne Employability Award – recognising students’ experiences in addition to their courses, such as volunteering, paid work and internships. Students will receive a digital certificate and recognition on their Academic Transcript for each completed part of the Award. Stay tuned for more info in 2025.
For enquiries, email sea@swinburne.edu.au
Emerging Leader Program
By mid-2025, Swinburne’s Emerging Leader Program will be phased out, but students will still have time to finish any remaining certificates, with applications closing on 25 May 2025. This program provides formal recognition on academic transcripts of experiences and skills students develop during university, including volunteer work in the community.
For enquiries, email emerging-leader@swinburne.edu.au
Next-level opportunities
Feeling more confident and ready to take volunteering to the next level? Explore Swinburne’s inspiring next-level opportunities, such as Student Ambassadors, Mentors and student representation and leadership positions.
Student ambassadors act as representatives of the university. You’ll become a valued member of the Future Students Team, working alongside Swinburne staff in a range of departments and at events throughout the year. Student ambassadors are paid roles, receive training, meet students from across the university and receive recognition. Got the motivation and enthusiasm needed to represent Swinburne?
For enquiries, email ugteam@swinburne.edu.au
Launch Now! Mentors help secondary school students in years 9 to 12 feel confident and dream big as they navigate high school and plan for their future. In these paid roles, you’ll support students from regional and low socio-economic communities in discovering their interests, learning about different careers and understanding how to make informed career choices through on-campus experiences, workshops and school visits.
For enquiries, email schoolprograms@swinburne.edu.au
Study Group Leaders provide study support for other students studying the same unit and course via face-to-face group sessions. In these paid roles, Study Group Leaders facilitate discussion among students to deepen their understanding of key concepts and collaborate on tasks. Study Group Leaders are current undergraduate Swinburne students who have previously completed the unit and achieved academic excellence.
For enquiries, email studygroups@swinburne.edu.au
The Student-Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC) in each of Swinburne’s Schools serve as a consultative and advisory forum for discussing student experience matters, including academic support, communication, and input into School activities and initiatives. SSCCs facilitate student engagement and promote consultation.
SSCC members act as the contact and voice of students in their School, attend a minimum of two meetings per semester, and work collaboratively with the other SSCC members and their School’s Academic Director to contribute to projects that enhance the student experience at Swinburne. Student benefits include gaining leadership experience to add to the CV and enhance employability.
Our Swinburne student Employability Peer Assistants support all students with Career and WIL-related questions. In these paid roles, you’d help students with questions about navigating the range of careers and employability resources and services at Swinburne. There are opportunities to become an Employability Peer Assistant both online and in person at the Career Chat and WIL desks in the Hawthorn campus library.
For enquiries, email employability@swinburne.edu.au.
Council and statutory elections are conducted annually to fill vacancies in university bodies. Students (and staff) considering nominating for a position are encouraged to read information about the roles, responsibilities and time commitments:
- University Council
- Academic Senate
- School Academic Committees
- Vocational Education Teaching and Learning Committee
For enquiries, email elections@swinburne.edu.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are so many benefits for individuals in volunteering, personal and professional:
- Skills – practice communication, problem-solving and leadership skills for the future
- Socially – make new friends, meet people with similar interests or passions, have fun
- Rewarding – increase confidence levels, feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment
- Impact – be part of something bigger, make a difference, create social impact
- Employability – demonstrate initiative and motivation to employers by volunteering
- Recognition – receive recognition for volunteer hours with training and other benefits
In Semester 1 2025, Swinburne will launch an online induction for all volunteers, a series of bite-sized modules just for Swinburne students. Students will then need to complete the training before starting their first volunteering activity.
Depending on the opportunity, Swinburne volunteers may already receive local-level induction or briefings when signing up for a university program or event.
Yes, volunteers are required to obtain a valid Working with Children Check by completing the screening process for people who work with or care for children in Victoria, including Swinburne volunteers (students and staff). The good news? The WWCC is free for volunteers.
Visit the Victorian Government’s WWCC website, where you can apply for, track and check the status of your application.
Students logging volunteer hours can receive a range of tiered benefits under Swinburne’s Reward and Recognition Program, such as free accredited training, vouchers, certificates and recognition on their final academic transcript via the Emerging Leader Program (note: this program will be replaced by a new Award at the beginning of Semester 2 2025, which will continue to recognise volunteering). The Rewards and Recognition Program operates on a calendar year basis.
For enquiries, email volunteer@swinburne.edu.au
Want to volunteer?
Want a little more information on the volunteering opportunities and programs available at Swinburne? Chat to our volunteering team today.