Youth Volunteering
Congratulations on considering getting involved in your community! As a young person, you can get involved in the community through the
Community Service Program (CSP) at your school, or as a volunteer.
Volunteering is a gift of your time and effort and is undertaken in not for profit organisations. There are literally hundreds of these organisations in Western Australia, offering a wide variety of volunteering opportunities. Some organisations also offer family volunteering opportunities, such as conservation projects or assisting with special events. Whether participating in the CSP or volunteering on your own or with family, it is a hugely rewarding experience to know that you are making a contribution to your community.
Aged 16 and younger (Years 9, 10, and 11)
For a number of reasons, many not for profit organisations are only able to accept help from adults (aged 18 years and older). However, commencing in 2007, those aged 16 and younger will have the opportunity to get involved in their community through WA’s Community Service Program (CSP). Secondary schools in WA will organise appropriate community service activities in their area, and we encourage you to find out more information from the CSP Coordinator at your school. To search through a list of opportunities in your community, visit the give20 website at
www.give20.org.au.
Aged 17+ (Year 12 and beyond)
While many not for profit organisations are only able to accept help from adults (aged 18 years and older), some organisations offer youth-friendly opportunities. The following websites may help you find a youth-specific activity in your community:
Why is youth volunteering a good thing?
Click to download What Works for Civic Engagement: Lessons from Experimental Evaluations of Programs and Interventions. This useful factsheet from Child Trends has some interesting conclusions.