Why volunteer in-country

Your skills are needed

International volunteering allows you to contribute meaningfully by supporting local organisations to achieve their development goals. Your skills and unique experiences can support our partners in countries across the Pacific, Asia and Africa.

Many of our volunteers find that they gain just as much or even more than they contribute.

New experiences, friendships and skills

Personal and professional growth are important aspects of the volunteer experience. We foster a culture of learning and reflection through formal training, briefings, and monitoring and evaluation activities throughout your assignment. Volunteering can also be a great way to boost your career — 72% of volunteers involved in our longitudinal study reported that their assignment made them better at their job.

On assignment, you will learn about your new country, colleagues and culture. Along with language skills that you might gain, these experiences will give you a deeper understanding of how to work across cultures. Nearly all volunteers we surveyed agreed that cultural knowledge and skills were some of the greatest benefits of their experience. 

These impacts stand the test of time — even four years after their assignments ended, many volunteers held on to the personal and professional growth sparked by their volunteer experience.

A long-term study of Australian volunteers found that the biggest impact they experienced from their assignment was:

• Personal growth — For 40% of volunteers, the biggest impact included things like a greater sense of satisfaction and stronger relationships.
• Professional development — For 26% the biggest impact was professional — boosting their confidence at work and helping shape their career direction.
• Global connections — Another 26% said the biggest impact was their connection to their host country and an improved understanding of the community they worked with.
• Increased understanding of development — For 8%, the biggest impact was gaining a better understanding of international development.

To apply your skills and unique experiences, and make a significant contribution to communities overseas, browse our current assignments. If you can’t find the right assignment, register for our Talent Pool. 

To learn about how your organisation could benefit from a volunteer, discover the benefits of partnering with the Australian Volunteers Program.