Volunteer with BlueCare

Volunteering with us is life-changing. You can make a difference in your local community, grow your skills and find a real sense of purpose. It’s just a few hours a week for you. It’s life-changing for older Australians.

We welcome volunteers from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience. Our volunteers are anywhere between 16 and 85 years old and include students, retirees, job seekers and professionals.

Join our wonderful community of volunteers and develop new skills while helping others. Volunteer and change lives. Yours included.

Volunteer opportunities

Our volunteers assist in many ways, depending on their skills and choices, and the services available at their local centre. You could make a difference to someone’s day by:

  • Services assistance

    Our residential and respite services welcome help with recreational, social and craft activities run on-site. Some have coffee shops, canteens or libraries, which really appreciate volunteer support.

  • Sharing skills and interests

    Our residential aged care and respite centres welcome people who wish to share their knowledge and skills, whether it be a craft activity, sport, music or IT, or are interested in helping support others with their favourite interests.

  • Life stories

    Volunteers visit regularly to help in compiling a person’s Life Story as a gift to leave their family for the future. In a residential or respite centre, a shorter version can be developed to provide cues for staff supporting the person with care requirements. This is a lovely way to have a chat and encourage someone to tell their story, which involves active listening, prompting, encouraging, writing and a bit of detective work!

  • Pastoral care

    A listening ear is a beautiful gift to give another person – our Pastoral Care volunteers visit clients and residents to do this, easing loneliness and providing support. They may pray with people and read the Scriptures as requested. Some assist our Chaplains in leading worship and other services. These activities can be a wonderful connection point with people.

  • Social visits

    Interests and hobbies are always better shared with another like-minded person. A social visit involves regularly visiting a person at their home or in one of our services to share a chat over a cuppa, reading or, other activities of interest to you both.

  • Assisting with transport

    Using their own vehicle or a BlueCare pool vehicle, volunteers in some services take a person shopping, to medical appointments or on other outings.

  • Shopping support

    Volunteers can accompany a person and assist them with their shopping of any kind.

  • Outings

    Volunteers help with organised group or individual recreational outings. Our Respite Centres run a program of interesting outings that our volunteers attend to enhance each person’s experience and assist staff.

  • Bus hosts

    Volunteers assist on respite centre buses, greeting people and helping to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone going to and from our centres and their homes.

  • Administration support

    This involves supporting our staff with basic administration such as filing, photocopying and data entry.

  • Gardening

    Calling all green thumbs! We need your help to maintain the gardens at some of our residential and respite centres. You could also assist a person with their home garden doing things like helping them water the garden, repot their plants and minor tidying while having a chat and sharing the joy of gardening.

What our volunteers say

BlueCare volunteer Kylie smiling at camera
Changing lives with admin

See how volunteer Kylie uses her administration skills to support the volunteer co-ordinator at BlueCare Coomera Community Care and grows her confidence in the process.

BlueCare volunteer David smiling at camera
Changing lives with connection

See how retiree David gives back at BlueCare Coomera Community Care by helping out in the kitchen and participating in activities with clients, regaining his self-worth in the process.

Volunteer training and support

We will work with you to find a role to suit your lifestyle, interests and skills. You’ll meet with one of our volunteer team members so you can volunteer in a way which makes the most of your time and strengths.

No prior experience is necessary, but all volunteers require a police check, Yellow Card and two reference checks. We will assist you to apply for them and there will be no cost to you.

You will be connected with a staff supervisor for ongoing support, advice and essential, mandatory training to ensure your experience is positive and worthwhile. This is completed at your local service and usually takes around half a day to complete.

If you would like to change lives, yours included, please sign up to volunteer.

Blue Care staff member sitting with client in garden smiling at each other.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
At BlueCare, we welcome people of all sexualities, genders, ethnicities, faiths, abilities and interests – everybody is welcome here.

Frequently asked questions about volunteering

  • Who do I talk to if I am unable to attend on my nominated day or time

    All BlueCare volunteers have a nominated Volunteer Coordinator or Supervisor they can contact if they can’t make it, or have any questions or concerns.

  • What if I need time away for holidays, illness or casual work?

    That’s fine! We completely understand our volunteers have other commitments and interests. If you can, please let your local Volunteer Coordinator or Supervisor know in advance, giving as much notice as you can, particularly for longer periods of leave.

  • How many hours do I need to volunteer?

    We don’t have any set minimum time commitments. We are open to finding a role to suit the time people can give, depending on your lifestyle and wellbeing. For instance, someone working fulltime might be able to give two hours per fortnight, which would significantly improve the life of an older person who is lonely. A person who is retired may be able to fit in a day or two of volunteering around their other interests. Please be mindful of your own wellbeing – we encourage people to volunteer for a maximum of 16 hours a week. We are very flexible and value any regular time commitment you can manage.

  • Can I change my volunteer role?

    Sure! BlueCare is a part UnitingCare, one of the largest health and community services providers in Queensland. As such, our volunteers can transfer between our other services, as well as within BlueCare. Some roles do require additional specific training but there are many roles across the organisation where skills are easily transferable. If you are interested in exploring these options, explore more volunteer activities on the UnitingCare Volunteering Portal.

  • How old do you have to be to volunteer with BlueCare?

    The minimum age to volunteer with BlueCare is 16. Full time students under 18 must have the written consent of their parent or guardian.

  • Why do I need to have a National Criminal History Check to volunteer?

    This check is a legislative requirement for all volunteers and staff. This ensures our clients and residents feel safe and confident in the support they receive.

  • Why is BlueCare volunteer training mandatory?

    Training is mandatory for all our volunteers to protect the wellbeing and safety of themselves, fellow volunteers, staff and clients.

  • Will I be covered by insurance when I volunteer?

    Yes. Volunteers are covered by UnitingCare Volunteer Personal Accident Insurance. This insurance covers our volunteers from age 16-75, with reductions in available cover after 75, ceasing completely at 95. Please note any damage which occurs to a volunteer’s personal vehicle is to be covered by their own car or vehicle insurance policy.

  • Will I get a paid role with BlueCare if I volunteer?

    Volunteering for UnitingCare is not a transitional period into employment. We will never ask potential employees to volunteer first, and volunteers do not become paid staff. While you are volunteering with us, you are encouraged to apply for any paid roles that arise if you are looking to change to a paid position within the organisation.

  • Do I definitely need two personal or professional referees?

    Yes, two referees are required for each and every volunteer. They cannot be related to you. If you are unsure about who to list, or don’t think you will be able to supply two referees, please give us a call on 07 3253 4000.

  • While volunteering, will I be reimbursed for any expenses I incur?

    If we ask you to use your own car for your volunteer role, you will be reimbursed for the distance you drive with clients. Unfortunately, we currently are not able to reimburse our volunteers for their expenses beyond this. From time to time we apply for grants for certain projects and this can fund expenses associated with that particular project.

Sign up to volunteer

A younger and older lady hugging and smiling at the camera
To become a volunteer at BlueCare

  • •  Visit our Volunteering Portal
  • •  Search for volunteer opportunities available
  • •  Fill in an application form by creating an account
  • •  Connect with the volunteer supervisor to learn more about the role

Sign up today
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