Becoming a volunteer 

Potential volunteer opportunities

There are many different types of activities you could do as a sport and recreation volunteer including:

• Coach (or assistant coach, junior coach, team manager, age group manager)
• Official (umpire, referee, linesman, stewards, scorekeepers, timekeepers)
• Elected member (club president, secretary, treasurer)
• Apparel (uniforms, sewing costumes, jersey washer)
• Catering (cut oranges, help at the BBQ, work in the canteen or kiosk, water runner, bar manager)
• Equipment and grounds (maintenance, set up)
• Committee member or help with committees (fundraising, recruitment, social club, marketing)
• Event volunteer (marshalling, aid or water station)
• Media and communications (newsletters, media releases, game wrap-ups, club photographer, Facebook or website updates)
• Life saver, life guard
• Trail leader, guide
• Statistics, club historian, fixture or draw assistant
• Volunteer coordinator
• Or just helping out around the club wherever it's needed.

There are many other ways you can volunteer in sport and recreation – it is not limited to the above list.

Skills you can offer to a sport and recreation club

Studying media, journalism, public relations

• Write a couple of media releases for your local sport or recreation club or help them get a story in their local paper.
• Write some content for their club website.

Photography

• Offer to take some action photos of your team.
• Offer to take player profile shots or pictures of the current board/management committee.
• You could even re-size images for them to feature on their website.

Graphic design

• See if the club is interested in getting some help designing posters
• Design new templates for newsletters.
• Design something for their website.

Website skills

• Your local club might need some website administration help.
• Work on some new layouts or HTML coding.

An interest in coaching or officiating

• See if you can assist a coach or official during a match or in preparation for an upcoming season.

Access to a washing machine and clothes line

• Wash team uniforms.

An interest in the sport

• Arrange to turn up early and assist with grounds set-up and safety checks.
• Or if the sport is in the off-season, see if you can help with equipment cleaning or stocktakes.

Studying human movement, physio, sports science, sports management

• This is a great opportunity to volunteer and get some industry experience while you're studying. See what skills you can bring to your local club.

General maintenance – trades

• If you're a tradie or handy with a paint brush, your local sports club might need some help with general clubhouse maintenance and upkeep.

Admin skills or office support

• Help the admin officers with mail outs, getting ready for registrations or entries.

Cooking or retail

• Help out with the BBQ, canteen or kiosk or cut the oranges.

Financial skills

• You may be able to assist with excel spread sheets or MYOB.

Have completed a Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) course online

• Assist a club with member protection enquiries and or administration.

Have your Responsible Service of Alcohol (18+)

• Assist at a clubhouse bar for the responsible service of alcohol.

First aid certificate

• You may be able to help out on game day as a first aid volunteer.