Frequently asked questions
Have a question? Find an answer fast in our frequently asked questions.
About the Australian Volunteers Program
About the program
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The Australian Volunteers Program is an Australian Government-funded initiative that supports global volunteering. We support partner organisations operating across the Pacific, Asia, and Africa to achieve locally led change and the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The program fosters strong, mutual relationships between Australia and people and communities globally to contribute to achieving equitable development outcomes. Learn more about the program on our About us page.
The Australian Volunteers Program operates in a range of countries across the Pacific, Asia, and Africa. Learn more about each country by visiting our country pages.
Our Global Program Strategy outlines our strategic direction, policy context, guiding principles and priorities for the program. The strategy informs program plans, partnerships and volunteer assignments. Read the Global Program Strategy.
The Australian Volunteers Program is framed by and contributes to the Australian Government's International Development Policy and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Learn more about the policies that frame the program.
There are three modalities for volunteering:
- In-country volunteering - Volunteers live and work in the country of their assignment from the beginning to the end of their assignment.
- Remote volunteering - Volunteers remain in Australia while completing their assignments with their overseas counterparts.
- Hybrid volunteering - Volunteer assignments are a mix of in-country and remote phases. The length of each phase is decided by the in-country partner based on their needs.
Learn more about volunteering modalities throughout the FAQ and the volunteer journey pages.
The Australian Volunteers Program has a strong commitment to the safety, wellbeing and protection of children. All children have the right to be safe from physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and exploitation.
The program's commitment to child rights is reflected in its procedures and expected behaviours for all AVI staff, volunteers, program participants, contractors and associates. These measures reflect the program's zero-tolerance approach to child exploitation or abuse, empower people to be alert to risks, and to seek guidance and support to respond appropriately.
If you have reached out to the Australian Volunteers Program via email or a form on this website, our Australian or in-country staff will respond to you.
The Australian Volunteers Program is aware that there have been scams using the program’s name and logo in the past. If you are unsure that you are speaking to program staff, read more here.
About our volunteers
- Australian citizens or holders of a Permanent Residency Visa for Australia, or New Zealand residents in Australia with a Special Category Visa (SCV).
- Volunteers must be over the age of 18 and there is no upper age limit
- People with relevant experience
- People from diverse backgrounds, and with diverse perspectives and identities
Volunteering is a big commitment, and we offer a wide range of support across each stage of the volunteering journey. The specific support available will vary based on the details and modality of your assignment but may include:
- financial support such as flights to your assignment country, living & accommodation allowances, and reimbursements for relevant costs
- inclusion support for volunteers with specific requirements
- physical and psychological health and safety support
You can find more information on the support offered for each specific modality by reading about the volunteer journey and in the relevant FAQ sections. The program is also committed to ensuring we are inclusive in our practice, read more on our inclusion pages.
The program provides allowances and covers most costs associated with volunteer assignments. Learn about allowances and reimbursements for in-country and hybrid assignments and remote assignments, and refer to the Volunteer Guidebook for further details.
Please note that volunteering may have financial implications depending on your personal situation, such as impacting some Australian Government support payments (Centrelink payments).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released a Fact Sheet to provide advice on how payments you receive as a volunteer are treated for taxation purposes.
We cannot provide financial advice and encourage you to seek independent professional financial advice regarding your personal circumstances and potential financial impacts of volunteering.
You will be expected to work fairly and cooperatively with your partner organisation and colleagues. In addition, all volunteers must sign and comply with the Australian Volunteers Program Code of Conduct, Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct, and all other program policies.
Learn more about volunteer responsibilities in our volunteer guidebook.
The Australian Volunteers Program responds to the needs of partner organisations by recruiting volunteers with the right mix of skills, both personal and technical, for assignments in developing countries. Each volunteer placement is a direct response to a locally identified needs articulated through a request for specific personnel.
The professional skills required for an assignment will vary, based on the partners' needs.
The most successful volunteers have many soft skills, including integrity, self-awareness, and resilience, and are conscious of cross-cultural sensitivities.
Read more about the personal competencies that our recruiters look for in potential volunteers.
Program volunteers must be Australian citizens, holders of a Permanent Residency Visa of Australia, or New Zealand residents in Australia with a Special Category Visa (SCV).
We are committed to fostering a safe and equitable environment where all potential program participants are supported to fully participate and have equal access to contribute to positive development outcomes.
We aim to make the program as accessible and inclusive as possible to people with a wide range of needs. A few examples of this work includes:
- Access and Inclusion Plans for volunteers with disabilities to ensure their assignments and living and working arrangements are made more accessible.
- Ensuring LGBTQIA+ people are supported in navigating different legal contexts and cultural norms.
- Indigenous Pathways, an Indigenous-led program that aims to expand and strengthen Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander participation in international volunteering.
Visit our diversity and inclusion pages to learn more. You can also contact recruitment@australianvolunteers.com or inclusion@australianvolunteers.com to discuss further support that may be required.
Many people show interest in undertaking multiple volunteer assignments. The benefits of applying the learnings, relationships developed and language acquired from previous volunteer assignments are well recognised – many of our volunteers have completed more than one successful assignments.
However, if a position attracts multiple candidates who meet the selection criteria and needs of the partner organisation, preference is given to new applicants. We aim to give as many people as possible the opportunity to participate.
Potentially. We flag on the position description when there’s scope for flexibility with things like professional qualifications and length of assignment. If you have questions regarding a specific assignment, please contact recruitment@australianvolunteers.com. It may also depend on what other applications we receive for the position.
About our partners
We partner with more than 1,000 organisations across the Pacific, Asia and Africa and support them to progress their development objectives. We also have over 100 Australian organisations in our partnership portfolio supporting development initiatives in partner countries through the referral of volunteers, sharing skills, and connecting businesses and communities.
Find out more about international partner organisations and Australian organisation partners.
The program selects partners based on our guiding principles and includes a range of factors, such as how the organisation’s objectives align with development priorities, the Australian Government’s aid program, the Sustainable Development Goals, our Global Program Strategy, and our child protection requirements.
Contact our local team in your region to learn more about how the Australian Volunteers Program can support your organisation. Read more about our partners.
Our Australian organisation partners play an important part in our contribution to international development. There are a variety of ways for Australian organisations to be involved in the Australian Volunteers Program including:
- Collaborating with partner organisations to develop volunteer assignments
- Supporting recruitment through sourcing and referral of volunteers
- Promoting the program and its assignments through their networks
- Establishing mentoring relationships between staff, volunteers, and partner organisations
- Support international partner organisations to achieve their development objectives through exchanging skills and knowledge
- Provide international professional development opportunities to your employees
Australian organisation partners of the Australian Volunteers Program include civil society organisations, education and training institutions, the private sector, professional associations and peak bodies, and international NGOs.
About assignments and recruiting
Assignments are created in-country when a partner organisation requests the assistance of a volunteer in consultation with the in-country team. Driven by local needs, each assignment is aligned with good development practice and the country’s development priorities. Volunteers do not replace local jobs, instead, they are committed to developing local capacity where a skill, knowledge or experience gap has been identified.
The assignments that we recruit for are based on the needs of our partners and therefore can vary widely across sector, duration, and modality. The roles that we have available are updated weekly, please visit our assignment page to see our current assignments.
While it is important to look for a role that is a close match to your skills, if you are not an exact fit, think about how your background may be useful based on the objectives outlined. Similarly, while we are an international development program, you don’t necessarily need to have international development experience to participate.
We want to know that you’re committed to supporting locally led change and mentoring in a respectful way. Your commitment to this principle will be assessed throughout the entire recruitment process.
The most important thing to our recruitment team is finding respectful, adaptable people to work with our partner organisations.
There are several stages in the recruitment process once you have applied.
- Screening: Applications are reviewed. Applicants will be contacted via email or phone approximately a week of the application closing date.
- Shortlisting: Applicants with skills and experience matching the position will be invited to participate in interviews with an Australian-based recruiter and to complete a mental health assessment. This is generally within two weeks of the application closing date.
- Interviews: Applicants will be invited to a subsequent interview with in-country staff and/or the partner organisation approximately three weeks.
- Recruitment compliance checks: Recruitment compliance checks will be conducted for the successful candidate, after the interview with in-country staff.
Visit the volunteer journey section of the site to learn more.
New roles are being advertised regularly, so keep checking back for one that fits your skill set.
You can also register for our Talent Pool to make a head start on your application and let our recruiters know you’re ready to volunteer.
Registering for the Talent Pool is your way of letting us know that you are ready to volunteer. It is an easy way for our recruitment team to keep track of your skills, experience, and volunteer preferences, and consider you for future assignments that are the right match for you.
Registering for the Talent Pool also makes a head start on your application and lets our recruiters know you’re ready to volunteer. If you’re a good match for an upcoming assignment, this process can fast-track you through the recruitment process.
Potentially. We flag on the position description when there’s scope for flexibility with things like professional qualifications and length of assignment. If you have questions regarding a specific assignment, please contact recruitment@australianvolunteers.com. It may also depend on what other applications we receive for the position.
The duration of assignments varies depending on the requirements of the role. Assignments can vary from one to 24 months.
In-country volunteering
Applying and preparing to volunteer
We actively support and encourage people with disabilities to participate in the program.
We aim to make the program as accessible and inclusive as possible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Access and Inclusion Plans are available for volunteers with disabilities to ensure their assignments and living and working arrangements are made more accessible.
People who identify as having disabilities or who would like to find out more information about the program’s disability-inclusion approach, please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com.
Visit our diversity and inclusion pages to learn more.
We actively support and encourage people who identify as LGBTQIA+ to volunteer overseas.
We have supported hundreds of gay, lesbian, and queer-identifying people to participate in the program. There are things you need to factor into your planning, such as different legal contexts and cultural norms. We encourage you to talk to our team if you feel comfortable self-identifying – please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com. Visit our LGBTQIA+ pages to learn more.
A health concern does not exclude you from volunteering with the Australian Volunteers Program.
Some in-country locations can be challenging and may have limited medical facilities. Volunteers must go through a medical clearance process. Any existing health issues and their potential management will be considered during pre-assignment medicals. This may include being referred to your GP or specialist to prepare a health management plan for the duration of your assignment.
If you have questions about how your health may impact an assignment, you can contact recruitment@australianvolunteers.com. If you need an Access and Inclusion Plan, please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com to discuss support that may be needed.
There are opportunities for your family or partner to join you on an in-country volunteer assignment where feasible. Volunteers with assignments of 12 months or longer may be eligible to receive financial support for dependants. The program cannot, however, guarantee this support until prospective Approved Accompanying Dependants (AADs) have successfully completed all required compliance checks.
The program will conduct a rigorous risk assessment when determining whether families or partners can be supported to accompany a volunteer on an in-country assignment. Approval to deploy families and partners will be provided at the program's discretion using a comprehensive risk-based approach.
Our risk-based approach includes a careful assessment of each country noting its specific safety and security context. This assessment involves close engagement with the in-country management staff. It must be noted that families and partners will only be deployed to locations where it is safe to do so and based on a risk assessment undertaken at the time.
The program cannot support volunteers to take pets on assignments. There are a number of carefully considered reasons for this, including:
- In medical, political, or natural emergency evacuations, people may have to leave their pets behind. There's a high risk of suffering to the animal and additional stress to their owner.
- International travel with pets can be extremely complex due to different regulations and restrictions imposed by different countries.
- Finding suitable accommodation to keep pets safe can be challenging.
- Some destinations may lack the necessary infrastructure and veterinary facilities to be able to adequately care for pets.
Any request for volunteers to take pets will be declined.
We are committed to the learning and development of each volunteer. Before departing, the program provides an interactive online learning course and a pre-departure briefing to prepare you for your time in-country. The standard pre-departure briefing is a three-day workshop, however alternative briefing formats may apply depending on the duration of your in-country assignment. A range of online resources are also available and accessible throughout your assignment. You will also undertake an in-country orientation program run by the in-country team of your assignment country.
Every country has their own visa requirements, with processing times varying from a few days to a few months. If you are the preferred candidate, further information on visas will be made available to you during the onboarding process.
We will put you in contact with current and returned volunteers, and our in-country team. Alongside your own research, these people will guide you with what to pack and what to leave at home. More information about baggage policies is available to preferred candidates.
You are encouraged to make use of the resources provided by your partner organisation. You should be provided with adequate tools to get the job done. Once you’re put in touch with your partner organisation you can discuss easy-to-pack resources like online learning materials, software, and document templates.
On assignment
The program recognises that like any organisation, circumstances and priorities in the partner organisations can change, especially as your organisation learns more about you and your skill set. When this occurs, it’s important to be flexible and to keep your in-country team informed of any significant changes to your assignment objectives.
All assignments are expected to develop an Assignment Plan that sets out clear objectives of the assignment, as agreed by the volunteer and partner organisation. At the end of each assignment (and the mid-way point for longer assignments), volunteers and partners assess the extent to which objectives have been achieved. The program assesses development outcomes more broadly on a regular basis, in line with our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework.
The objectives defined in each assignment are based on an expected time commitment from the volunteer. Fulfilling these objectives is important to the partner organisation. If you feel you can no longer support your partner organisation according to the original terms of your assignment, you may be able to adjust hours in consultation with your partner organisation.
In some cases, we may need to end the assignment early.
Professional indemnity insurance is not provided for Australian volunteers. Consult your partner organisation about the need for professional indemnity insurance for your role prior to your departure, and where required, you are advised to obtain adequate insurance from a reputable insurance provider. Please refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook for more information.
Volunteers are eligible to receive allowances for settling in, living and accommodation, and resettlement.
Learn more about in-country allowances or explore the table of current living and accommodation allowances.
A specific accommodation allowance is provided to cover housing. The value of the allowance is decided based on what amount will enable you to access accommodation of a reasonable standard that is considered safe and secure.
During the recruitment process and while on assignment, there are costs that you may need to pay upfront. The program will reimburse you for some of these expenses.
Refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook and the reimbursable expenses matrix for an indication of costs that are covered.
Working hours for Australian volunteers are the same as for full-time local employees in your partner organisation, usually Monday to Friday. Please refer to the details in your position description.
In nearly all partner organisations, a level of English is spoken, and sometimes it will be the fourth, fifth or sixth language spoken by your colleagues. Unless specified as a pre-requisite, you are not expected to be fluent in the local language. The local level of English fluency and the language acquisition expected of you will vary from country to country, between partner organisations, from capital cities to rural/remote locations, and of course, who you're talking to.
Learning the local language or dialect is highly encouraged. Many volunteers report that language acquisition greatly enhances their experience and ability to foster relationships.
All volunteers will receive access to some basic language support during their in-country orientation program. The amount of language training and support provided by the program after the in-country orientation varies based on your country and region. Self-directed learning via apps and podcasts is recommended.
No, engaging in any paid work and/or business enterprise for personal gain while on an in-country assignment is not acceptable, breaches the Australian Volunteers Program Code of Conduct and will lead to termination of the volunteer’s assignment.
It is usually acceptable to practice your own faith, provided respect is shown for the local religion/s. Australian volunteers are not permitted to proselytise, that is to preach or attempt to recruit an individual or group to a religion. This includes volunteers who are assigned to a faith-based organisation.
If you are offered an assignment, you will need to sign a Code of Conduct requiring you to follow local laws while in-country, so you must be mindful of any laws affecting you, before your application.
Offences and penalties can differ markedly from those in Australia. You should also be aware of local laws relating to same-sex relationships.
Regardless of local consent laws, sexual activity with a child (being a person under the age of 18 years) is prohibited under all circumstances.
If you have questions we encourage getting in touch with our recruitment team at recruitment@australianvolunteers.com or our inclusion team at inclusion@australianvolunteers.com
Volunteers are entitled to a minimum of four weeks (20 working days) of annual leave per year, accrued on a pro-rata basis. Some volunteers use this time to travel.
For safety and security reasons, our in-country team must be aware of volunteers' whereabouts – particularly when travelling outside of their normal assignment area. Requests to travel are made in the Australian Volunteers Portal and approvals are made by our in-country teams and in some circumstances may be escalated to the Regional Director or the Melbourne Office. More information is available in the Australian Volunteers Guidebook.
Program participants may not travel to DFAT Level 4 “Do Not Travel” Destinations. Refer to Smartraveller for information about travel advice levels.
Support
All volunteers will receive some basic language support during their in-country orientation program. The amount of language training and support provided by the program after the in-country orientation varies based on your country and region. Self-directed learning via apps and podcasts is recommended.
Learning the local language or dialect is highly encouraged. Many volunteers report that language acquisition greatly enhances their experience and ability to foster relationships.
Health and safety
Yes, several medical assessments must be undertaken before you can go on assignment.
As a part of the recruitment process, a mental health check will be undertaken by Response Psychological Services.
If you have been selected as a preferred candidate for an in-country assignment, you will be required to complete a health clearance process. This process includes:
- Dental health clearance
- General health clearance
- Mandatory vaccinations
Your health clearance process will vary depending on the length of your in-country assignment.
You are required to complete mandatory vaccinations prescribed for the location and scope of your assignment before departure.
Please refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook for more information.
Program participants are provided with travel and medical insurance cover while on assignment outside of Australia. Chubb provides the insurance cover. Insurance claims are made through Corporate Services Network.
24-hour routine and emergency medical and security assistance is provided through International SOS during your in-country assignment.
The insurance policy gives coverage in the event of injury, illness, property loss/damage, disability, and death. Cover commences from the time you depart for your in-country assignment until the end of your assignment and includes approved travel during your assignment.
Insurance coverage does not cover every eventuality and contains certain standard exclusions. Please refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook for more information.
The Australian Volunteers Program partners with a number of organisations to provide health care and cover to volunteers completing their assignment in-country.
24-hour routine and emergency advice and assistance is provided by International SOS during your in-country assignment. Psychosocial support is provided by Response Psychological Services.
Do note that some in-country locations can be challenging and may have limited medical facilities.
If you have existing healthcare requirements, these must be considered during pre-assignment medicals.
If you have questions about how your health may impact an assignment, you can contact recruitment@australianvolunteers.com. If you need an Access and Inclusion Plan, please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com.
All Australian volunteers are provided with 24-hour routine and emergency advice and assistance under the program. Please refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook for more information. Our emergency assistance provider International SOS retains the capability to conduct medical evacuations.
In case of an emergency, the program reserves the right to evacuate Australian volunteers. Decisions about the evacuation of Australian volunteers in the event of war, unpredictable and violent political situations, or natural disasters will be coordinated by the program with the Australian or other diplomatic missions in the host country.
Response Psychological Services has been contracted by the program to provide confidential counselling for all Australian volunteers. This free service provides you with the opportunity to speak to a psychologist who is experienced in assisting people living and working on international assignments.
Finishing your assignment
We offer transition support once you've arrived home. This includes a medical health assessment with your GP and access to psychological debrief. GP health assessment must be completed within 10 weeks from your assignment end date.
Return support also includes an optional post-assignment check-in call, an online learning module and an invitation to attend a post-assignment workshop. This is an opportunity to meet and share your experience with other returning volunteers and gain strategies for settling back in. You'll also be welcomed into our Alumni network, which provides opportunities to connect with other volunteers and stay engaged with the Australian Volunteers Program.
If you choose to remain in-country or travel to another country upon the completion of your assignment, you accept full responsibility for your health and security from the moment your assignment ends.
Should you decide to remain in-country and seek work after the conclusion of your assignment, it is your responsibility to organise the necessary visa and work permits. You will also need to provide your own travel and medical insurance.
You should be mindful that remaining in your country of assignment in paid employment could be perceived as taking jobs from local people, which could impact the operating context of the program.
Annual leave needs to be taken within your assignment dates. If you leave your assignment early, then all allowances stop on the day you cease work, and unused leave will not be paid out. Should you wish to travel at the end of your assignment, this is not considered annual leave and would be at your own cost.
See more information about ending an assignment in the Australian Volunteers Guidebook.
The Alumni welcomes past Australian volunteers from all chapters of Australian Government-funded international volunteering programs. It helps past volunteers stay connected with each other and the Australian Volunteers Program, as well as supporting wider awareness of the value of volunteering and increasing greater cultural awareness and connections across countries.
Anyone who has been an Australian Government-funded international volunteer is welcome to join the Alumni and there are more than 7,500 Alumni members across Australia and overseas.
Hybrid volunteering
Applying and preparing to volunteer
We actively support and encourage people with disabilities to participate in the program.
We aim to make the program as accessible and inclusive as possible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Access and Inclusion Plans are available for volunteers with disabilities to ensure their assignments and living and working arrangements are made more accessible.
People who identify as having disabilities or who would like to find out more information about the program’s disability-inclusion approach, please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com.
We actively support and encourage people who identify as LGBTQIA+ to volunteer overseas.
We have supported hundreds of gay, lesbian, and queer-identifying people to participate in the program. There are things you need to factor into your planning, such as different legal contexts and cultural norms. We encourage you to talk to our team if you feel comfortable self-identifying – please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com. Visit our LGBTQIA+ pages to learn more.
A health concern does not exclude you from volunteering with the Australian Volunteers Program.
Some in-country locations can be challenging and may have limited medical facilities. Volunteers must go through a medical clearance process. Any existing health issues and their potential management will be considered during pre-assignment medicals. This may include being referred to your GP or specialist to prepare a health management plan for the duration of your assignment.
If you have questions about how your health may impact an assignment, you can contact recruitment@australianvolunteers.com. If you need an Access and Inclusion Plan, please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com to discuss support that may be needed.
There are opportunities for your family or partner to join you on an in-country volunteer assignment where feasible. Volunteers with assignments of 12 months or longer may be eligible to receive financial support for dependants. The program cannot, however, guarantee this support until prospective Approved Accompanying Dependants (AADs) have successfully completed all required compliance checks.
The program will conduct a rigorous risk assessment when determining whether families or partners can be supported to accompany a volunteer on an in-country assignment. Approval to deploy families and partners will be provided at the program's discretion using a comprehensive risk-based approach.
Our risk-based approach includes a careful assessment of each country noting its specific safety and security context. This assessment involves close engagement with the in-country management staff. It must be noted that families and partners will only be deployed to locations where it is safe to do so and based on a risk assessment undertaken at the time.
The program cannot support volunteers to take pets on assignments. There are a number of carefully considered reasons for this, including:
- In medical, political, or natural emergency evacuations, people may have to leave their pets behind. There's a high risk of suffering to the animal and additional stress to their owner.
- International travel with pets can be extremely complex due to different regulations and restrictions imposed by different countries.
- Finding suitable accommodation to keep pets safe can be challenging.
- Some destinations may lack the necessary infrastructure and veterinary facilities to be able to adequately care for pets.
Any request for volunteers to take pets on assignment will be declined.
We are committed to the learning and development of each volunteer. Before departing, the program provides an interactive online learning course and a pre-departure briefing to prepare you for your time in-country. The standard pre-departure briefing is a three-day workshop, however, alternative briefing formats may apply depending on the duration of your in-country assignment. A range of online resources are also available and accessible throughout your assignment. You will also undertake an in-country orientation program run by the in-country team of your assignment country.
Every country has their own visa requirements, with processing times varying from a few days to a few months. If you are the preferred candidate, further information on visas will be made available to you during the onboarding process.
We will put you in contact with current and returned volunteers, and our in-country team. Alongside your own research, these people will guide you with what to pack and what to leave at home. More information about baggage policies is available to preferred candidates.
You are encouraged to make use of the resources provided by your partner organisation. You should be provided with adequate tools to get the job done. Once you’re put in touch with your partner organisation you can discuss easy-to-pack resources like online learning materials, software, and document templates.
On assignment
The program recognises that like any organisation, circumstances and priorities in the partner organisations can change, especially as your organisation learns more about you and your skill set. When this occurs, it’s important to be flexible and to keep your in-country team informed of any significant changes to your assignment objectives.
All assignments are expected to develop an Assignment Plan that sets out clear objectives of the assignment, as agreed by the volunteer and partner organisation. At the end of each assignment (and the mid-way point for longer assignments), volunteers and partners assess the extent to which objectives have been achieved. The program assesses development outcomes more broadly on a regular basis, in line with our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework.
The objectives defined in each assignment are based on an expected time commitment from the volunteer. Fulfilling these objectives is important to the partner organisation. If you feel you can no longer support your partner organisation according to the original terms of your assignment, you may be able to adjust hours in consultation with your partner organisation.
In some cases, we may need to end the assignment early.
Professional indemnity insurance is not provided for Australian volunteers. Consult your partner organisation about the need for professional indemnity insurance for your role prior to your departure, and where required, you are advised to obtain adequate insurance from a reputable insurance provider. Please refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook for more information.
Allowances are provided based on the current active phase of your hybrid assignment.
In-country living and accommodation allowances are provided for the time that the volunteer spends in-country as part of their hybrid assignment. Learn more about allowances for the in-country phase.
The volunteer will also receive a modest allowance during the remote phase of the assignment. Allowances vary depending on if the remote phase is part-time or full-time. Learn more about remote allowances.
A specific accommodation allowance is provided to cover housing for the in-country phase of the assignment. The value of the allowance is decided based on what amount will enable you to access accommodation of a reasonable standard that is considered safe and secure.
During the recruitment process and while on assignment, there are costs that you may need to pay upfront. The program will reimburse you for some of these expenses.
Refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook and the reimbursable expenses matrix for an indication of costs that are covered.
Your working hours will vary based on what phase of the assignment you are in.
Working hours for Australian volunteers are the same as for full-time local employees in your partner organisation, usually Monday to Friday.
Working hours for remote Australian volunteers are indicated in the position description. Generally, assignments are part-time (less than 25 hours a week) or full time (25 hours or more a week). The hours you will volunteer are upon arrangement with your partner organisation, but generally mirror office hours of the partner organisation you are supporting. These hour amounts are also designed to include some self-managed work.
Please refer to the details in your position description or speak to your recruiter to learn more.
In nearly all partner organisations, a level of English is spoken, and sometimes it will be the fourth, fifth or sixth language spoken by your colleagues. Unless specified as a pre-requisite, you are not expected to be fluent in the local language. The local level of English fluency and the language acquisition expected of you will vary from country to country, between partner organisations, from capital cities to rural/remote locations, and of course, who you're talking to.
Learning the local language or dialect is highly encouraged. Many volunteers report that language acquisition greatly enhances their experience and ability to foster relationships.
All volunteers will receive access to some basic language support during their in-country orientation program. The amount of language training and support provided by the program after the in-country orientation varies based on your country and region. Self-directed learning via apps and podcasts is recommended.
Engaging in any paid work and/or business enterprise for personal gain while on the in-country phase of your assignment is not acceptable and breaches the Australian Volunteers Program Code of Conduct.
Paid employment can be undertaken during the remote phase of your assignment.
It is usually acceptable to practice your own faith, provided respect is shown for the local religion/s. Australian volunteers are not permitted to proselytise, that is to preach or attempt to recruit an individual or group to a religion. This includes volunteers who are assigned to a faith-based organisation.
If you are offered an assignment, you will need to sign a Code of Conduct requiring you to follow local laws while in-country, so you must be mindful of any laws affecting you, before your application.
Offences and penalties can differ markedly from those in Australia. You should also be aware of local laws relating to same-sex relationships.
Regardless of local consent laws, sexual activity with a child (being a person under the age of 18 years) is prohibited under all circumstances.
If you have questions we encourage getting in touch with our recruitment team at recruitment@australianvolunteers.com or our inclusion team at inclusion@australianvolunteers.com
Volunteers are entitled to a minimum of four weeks (20 working days) of annual leave per year, accrued on a pro-rata basis. Some volunteers use this time to travel.
For safety and security reasons, our in-country team must be aware of volunteers' whereabouts – particularly when travelling outside of their normal assignment area. Requests to travel are made in the Australian Volunteers Portal and approvals are made by our in-country teams and in some circumstances may be escalated to the Regional Director or the Melbourne Office. More information is available in the Australian Volunteers Guidebook.
Program participants may not travel to DFAT Level 4 “Do Not Travel” Destinations. Refer to Smartraveller for information about travel advice levels.
Support
All volunteers will receive some basic language support during their in-country orientation program. The amount of language training and support provided by the program after the in-country orientation varies based on your country and region. Self-directed learning via apps and podcasts is recommended.
Learning the local language or dialect is highly encouraged. Many volunteers report that language acquisition greatly enhances their experience and ability to foster relationships.
Health and safety
Yes, several medical assessments must be undertaken before you can go on assignment.
As a part of the recruitment process, a mental health check will be undertaken by Response Psychological Services.
If you have been selected as a preferred candidate for an in-country assignment, you will be required to complete a health clearance process. This process includes:
- Dental health clearance
- General health clearance
- Mandatory vaccinations
Your health clearance process will vary depending on the length of your in-country assignment.
You are required to complete mandatory vaccinations prescribed for the location and scope of your assignment before departure.
Please refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook for more information.
Program participants are provided with travel and medical insurance cover while on assignment outside of Australia. Chubb provides the insurance cover. Insurance claims are made through Corporate Services Network.
24-hour routine and emergency medical and security assistance is provided through International SOS during your in-country assignment.
The insurance policy gives coverage in the event of injury, illness, property loss/damage, disability, and death. Cover commences from the time you depart for your in-country assignment until the end of your assignment and includes approved travel during your assignment.
Insurance coverage does not cover every eventuality and contains certain standard exclusions. Please refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook for more information.
The Australian Volunteers Program partners with a number of organisations to provide health care and cover to volunteers while completing the in-country phase of their assignment.
24-hour routine and emergency advice and assistance is provided by International SOS during your in-country assignment. Psychosocial support is provided by Response Psychological Services.
Do note that some in-country locations can be challenging and may have limited medical facilities.
If you have existing healthcare requirements, these must be considered during pre-assignment medicals.
If you have questions about how your health may impact an assignment, you can contact recruitment@australianvolunteers.com. If you need an Access and Inclusion Plan, please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com.
All Australian volunteers are provided with 24-hour routine and emergency advice and assistance under the program while they are in-country. Please refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook for more information. Our emergency assistance provider International SOS retains the capability to conduct medical evacuations.
In case of an emergency, the program reserves the right to evacuate Australian volunteers from in-country locations. Decisions about the evacuation of Australian volunteers in the event of war, unpredictable and violent political situations, or natural disasters will be coordinated by the program with the Australian or other diplomatic missions in the host country.
Response Psychological Services has been contracted by the program to provide confidential counselling for all Australian volunteers. This free service provides you with the opportunity to speak to a psychologist who is experienced in assisting people living and working on international assignments.
Finishing your assignment
We offer transition support once you've arrived home. This includes a medical health assessment with your GP and access to psychological debrief. GP health assessment must be completed within 10 weeks from your in-country phase end date.
Return support also includes an optional post-assignment check-in call, an online learning module and an invitation to attend a post-assignment workshop. This is an opportunity to meet and share your experience with other returning volunteers and gain strategies for settling back in. You'll also be welcomed into our Alumni network, which provides opportunities to connect with other volunteers and stay engaged with the Australian Volunteers Program.
If you choose to remain in-country or travel to another country upon the completion of your assignment, you accept full responsibility for your health and security from the moment your assignment ends.
Should you decide to remain in-country and seek work after the conclusion of your assignment, it is your responsibility to organise the necessary visa and work permits. You will also need to provide your own travel and medical insurance.
You should be mindful that remaining in your country of assignment in paid employment could be perceived as taking jobs from local people, which could impact the operating context of the program.
Annual leave needs to be taken within your assignment dates. If you leave your assignment early, then all allowances stop on the day you cease work, and unused leave will not be paid out. Should you wish to travel at the end of your assignment, this is not considered annual leave and would be at your own cost.
See more information about ending an assignment in the Australian Volunteers Guidebook.
The Alumni welcomes past Australian volunteers from all chapters of Australian Government-funded international volunteering programs. It helps past volunteers stay connected with each other and the Australian Volunteers Program, as well as supporting wider awareness of the value of volunteering and increasing greater cultural awareness and connections across countries.
Anyone who has been an Australian Government-funded international volunteer is welcome to join the Alumni and there are more than 7,500 Alumni members across Australia and overseas.
Remote Volunteering
Applying and preparing to volunteer
We actively support and encourage people with disabilities to participate in the program.
We aim to make the program as accessible and inclusive as possible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Access and Inclusion Plans are available for volunteers with disabilities to ensure their assignments and living and working arrangements are made more accessible.
People who identify as having disabilities or who would like to find out more information about the program’s disability-inclusion approach, please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com. Visit our diversity and inclusion pages to learn more.
We actively support and encourage people who identify as LGBTQIA+ to volunteer overseas.
We have supported hundreds of gay, lesbian, and queer-identifying people to participate in the program. There are things you need to factor into your planning, such as different legal contexts and cultural norms. We encourage you to talk to our team if you feel comfortable self-identifying – please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com. Visit our LGBTIQA+ pages to learn more.
A health concern does not exclude you from undertaking a remote assignment with the Australian Volunteers Program.
If you have questions about how your health may impact an assignment, you can contact recruitment@australianvolunteers.com. If you need an Access and Inclusion Plan, please contact inclusion@australianvolunteers.com to discuss support that may be needed.
We are committed to the learning and development of each volunteer. Before beginning your assignment, the program provides an interactive online course and a "Preparing to volunteer" briefing workshop. A range of online resources are also available and accessible throughout your assignment, as well as a country-specific orientation program run by the team based in your assignment country.
On assignment
The program recognises that like any organisation, circumstances and priorities in the partner organisations can change, especially as your organisation learns more about you and your skill set. When this occurs, it’s important to be flexible and to keep your in-country team informed of any significant changes to your assignment objectives.
All assignments are expected to develop an Assignment Plan that sets out clear objectives of the assignment, as agreed by the volunteer and partner organisation. At the end of each assignment (and the mid-way point for longer assignments), volunteers and partners assess the extent to which objectives have been achieved. The program assesses development outcomes more broadly on a regular basis, in line with our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework.
The objectives defined in each assignment are based on an expected time commitment from the volunteer. Fulfilling these objectives is important to the partner organisation. If you feel you can no longer support your partner organisation according to the original terms of your assignment, you may be able to adjust hours in consultation with your partner organisation.
In some cases, we may need to end the assignment early.
Volunteers receive a modest allowance during their remote assignments. Allowances vary depending on if the remote phase is part-time or full-time.
During the recruitment process and while on assignment, there are costs that you may need to pay for up front. The program may reimburse you for some of these expenses including:
- Australian Federal Police checks
- International police checks
- A language allowance of up to AUD$400
Refer to the Australian Volunteers Guidebook and the reimbursable expenses matrix for an indication of costs that are covered.
Working hours for remote Australian volunteers are indicated in the position description. Generally, assignments are part-time (less than 25 hours a week) or full time (25 hours or more a week). The hours you will volunteer are upon arrangement with your partner organisation but are generally related to the office hours of the partner organisation you are supporting. Please consider that time zones may impact working hours. These hour amounts listed in the position descriptions are designed to include some self-managed work.
In nearly all partner organisations, a level of English is spoken, and sometimes it will be the fourth, fifth or sixth language spoken by your colleagues. Unless specified as a pre-requisite, you are not expected to be fluent in the local language. The level of English fluency among the community and the language acquisition expected of you will vary across countries and partner organisations.
Learning the local language or dialect is highly encouraged. Many volunteers report that language acquisition greatly enhances their experience and ability to foster relationships.
Volunteers will receive access to some basic language support during their in-country orientation program. A language allowance of up to AUD$400 (paid as a reimbursement of costs) is available to remote volunteers. This can be used to cover costs associated with language classes, translation, or interpretation services.
Healthy and safety
No, medical assessments are not required for remote-only assignments.
Finishing your assignment
We offer transition support once you have finished your assignment, including access to psychological debrief. Post-assignment support also includes an optional post-assignment check-in call, an online learning module and an invitation to attend a post-assignment workshop. This is an opportunity to meet and share your experience with other recent volunteers. You'll also be welcomed into our Alumni network, which provides opportunities to connect with other volunteers and stay engaged with the Australian Volunteers Program.
The Alumni welcomes past Australian volunteers from all chapters of Australian Government-funded international volunteering programs. It helps past volunteers stay connected with each other and the Australian Volunteers Program, as well as supporting wider awareness of the value of volunteering and increasing greater cultural awareness and connections across countries.
Anyone who has been an Australian Government-funded international volunteer is welcome to join the Alumni and there are more than 7,500 Alumni members across Australia and overseas.
