What is ampersand offering you?
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The Ampersand Network has been developed to assist students find volunteer positions in Australia and Overseas.
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It provides an information resrouce for uni students who are looking for a practical way to make a difference in the community, while helping to improve their career prospects.
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Our partners at Volunteering Australia and Conservation Volunteers Australia bring to the party over 5000 local and 2000 environmental volunteer opportunities to select from.
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How does ampersand boost my career prospects?
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Chief employers of graduate students increasingly cite volunteer experience as a central element of the much sought after ‘rounded’ employee.
The Ampersand Network maintains a list of major companies, law firms and government departments that will seek to employ recent graduates with volunteer experience.
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What are the social benefits for getting active with ampersand?
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The Ampersand Network has struck up working partnerships with Seven Nightclub and other popular nightspots around town.
The Ampersand Network will present fashion parades, band nights and end-of-exam parties in the months that follow. Bookmark this site for details of upcoming events.
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Who’s getting ampersand off the ground?
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The Ampersand concept was conceived by a group of seven students from Melbourne and Monash Universities, who now constitute the Ampersand Network's committee of management.
Each of us had experienced the frustrations of searching for volunteer work in a job market that was both inaccessible and less than receptive to the needs and interests of younger people.
Melbourne-based company SmartWorks came aboard the project in 2004, designing and constructing the website without charging a cent, as did Baker & McKenzie with their legal expertise.
With the support of Volunteering Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia and our friends in the private sector, the Ampersand Network can present volunteering as an appealing and accessible passtime to the student demographic.
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What kind of agency/organisation involves volunteers?
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Volunteering is an activity that can be legitimately undertaken in the not-for-profit sector only, as it is not a substitute for paid work and should not constitute a threat to the job security of paid workers.
Volunteering with a not-for-profit organisation provides a way for people to participate in the community and is a vehicle for individuals or groups to address human, environmental and social needs.
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What is an NFP?
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A not-for-profit (NFP) organisation is one that is established for charitable, humanitarian, or educational purposes that is officially incorporated as not-for-profit under state law. Its objectives are social rather than economic and it doesn’t distribute profits to owners or shareholders.
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Are there any special requirements for volunteers?
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In some specialized agencies, all staff - both paid and voluntary - will be required to undergo a police check before they begin work.
Organisations that work with vulnerable people, particularly children and people with disabilities, will almost always make a police check a precondition of taking you on.
Some agencies may ask only for volunteers that fall within a certain age range, have a drivers licence or speak a particular language. The best bet is just to ask.
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Will I need to be interviewed?
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Once you’ve selected and contacted a not-for-profit organisation you want to help out, you’ll probably be invited to attend an interview.
You should be prepared to answer questions about your previous work experience, both paid and voluntary, discuss your skills and qualifications and provide a list of referees for them to contact. It sounds a bit stringent but does give you the opportunity to check out whether an organisation is likely to suit you, and vice versa.
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Can I volunteer overseas?
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An increasing number of volunteer placement agencies are cropping all over the world. Whether you're looking for a gap year with a difference, or to incorporate some volunteer work into your big trip OS, the Ampersand Network can help get you started.
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Student Partnerships Worldwide and the Global Volunteer Network are two of the more popular agencies listed on our overseas opportunities page. Youth Challenge by Australian Volunteers International also offers some incredible group-based opportunities for Aussies under 25.
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Are volunteers covered by insurance?
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With the exception of volunteers with the Country Fire Authority (CFA), the State Emergency Service (SES) and schools, volunteers are not generally covered by WorkCover legislation.
It's really important to ask your organisation whether they have 'personal accident insurance' for volunteers that will cover you in the case of accident or injury.
If you're heading to a volunteer placement overseas, you should look into taking out medical and travel insurance as well. Many countries in Africa, South America, Asia and the Pacific can have bugs we're not used to here in Australia, so its best to plan for all contingencies.
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How much time do I have to commit?
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The time and commitment you want to make as a volunteer is entirely your call, but will partly depend on the volunteer position and organisation you choose. You might have only an hour to give each week during semester, or an entire evening or the odd weekend. Most people wishing to volunteer find a job that is compatible with their time commitments.
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Are there short-term volunteer opportunities available?
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Many volunteer-involving organisations are moving towards making more short-term opportunities available, particularly for students whose schedules can be a bit erratic.
Short-term volunteering often takes place in organisations involved in special events, environmental projects, fundraisers, camps and festivals. The organisations and prospective employers alike value short-term contributions.
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Have more questions?
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Drop us a line at info@ampersand.org.au and we'll do our best to steer you in the right direction.
Happy searching!
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