• Share the Joy Appeal hamper packers and sorters - Knox Infolink
• Knox Toy Library - session volunteers
• Co-ordinator for Story Dogs program - South East suburbs
• Horticultural Assistant for Eastern Ranges school
• Helping Homeless by providing food donations - Temple Society
• Australia/Champion
• Knox Community Gardens - Assistant secretary
• Special Interest Group Facilitator and Telelink facilitator - working with the elderly
• Volunteer Tutors Needed for newly arrived refugees and migrants
• Big Brother Big Sisters school mentoring program volunteers
• Vision Australia
• Independent living skills trainer for people with disabilities - Burke and Beyond
• Administration assistant to work with people with disabilities - Burke and Beyond
• Photography, filmmaker, dance drama coach for people with disabilities - Burke and Beyond
• Cooking assistant disability support - Burke and Beyond -
• Multimedia assistant to support people with disabilities - Burke and Beyond
• Volunteer Assistant for Garden Craft Group - Mountain District Learning Centre
• Scoresby Football Club - canteen and cleaning help on home games
• Literacy and Numeracy assistant - VCAL program - Year 10 - Mountain District Learning Centre
• Kitchen/hospitality assistant for Monthly seniors lunch - Knox
• Planned activity group driver - Mountain District Learning Centre Ferntree Gully
• Mountain Gate Opportunity Shop - volunteers needed
• Carols by Candlelight Volunteers - Knox City Council
• Volunteer Information Session
• Puppy Carers in the City of Knox
• Volunteers for Thursdays at Knox Opportunity Shop Bayswater Inc
• Volunteer Care Giver :The Haven service for people with memory loss/dementia
• Volunteer Carers
• Orana Committee of Management Members - finance, administration and marketing expertise
• Customer Service
• Upper Ferntree Gully Angliss Hospital Auxiliary - fundraising, knitters and crafters
• Gardener - Shakti Migrant and Refugee Women's Support Group
• Social Enterprise - Upcycling furniture and textiles, landscaping or cooking
• Housekeeper - Coonara Community House
• Maintenance/Handyman - Polish House Rowville
• Hospitality Assistant - Glen Park Community House - Baywater
• Bridges Connecting Communities - Administration assistant
• Bridges Connecting Communities - Drivers needed
• Seniors Activities and Catering Assistants needed - Bridges Connecting Communities
• Rowville-Lysterfield Community News - distribution walkers
• Lunch club assistant - Bridges Connecting Communities
• Event Volunteers for Chrisalis Foundation
• Friendship Group Activities Assistant - Ferntree Gully
• Volunteers for children with additional needs - Illoura Ferntree Gully
• Volunteers to assist in Leisure and Health Programs - Boronia Aged Care
• Volunteers needed for Cafe and tending to bird aviaries
• Interchange - Host Volunteer Croydon - Emma
• Coonara Community House - Community craft project workers
• Coonara Community House - Landscape Gardening and general gardening
• Coonara Community House - Community Cafe Assistants
• Aged care health and well-being positions Templer and Tabulam home
  Aged care health and well-being positions Templer and Tabulam home
• Volunteer leadership program - Coonara Community House
• Gardening and Maintenance crew needed
• Knox Community Space Hosts - Westfield Knox
• Volunteers for Crisis Relief Food Centre - Rowville
• 2 X Office Administration - Rowville Neighbourhood Learning Centre
• Host volunteers for children with disabilities Nurserymen/Handyman - Knox Environment Society
• Swinburne University Wantirna - ESL language, computer and numeracy classroom support
• Pre-School Assistant with Knox City Council Preschool Services
• Animal attendant - Cat Carer/administration
• Meals on Wheels volunteers - City of Knox
• Woodworker required to construct makeshift huts and canine agility equipment
• Kick start your journalism career at the Studfield Wantirna Community newspaper
• Host volunteers for children with disabilities - Interchange Outer East
• Reception Support at Anchor Inc - Knox site
• Administration, Data Entry, Customer service for Knoxbrooke Disability Services
• Gardener and Cleaner at Rowville Salvation Army - Rowville
• Special Events Projects
• Community Visitor Volunteer Role
• Community Visitor Volunteer Role
• Independent Third Person Volunteer
• Independent Third Person Volunteer
• Disability support worker and/or bus driver

With a 38-year career in the clothing industry, Margaret has done everything from working in the warehouse to customer service to becoming a Personal Assistant. With a range of transferable skills and knowledge she was able to move around the industry, plying her trade to other places in the field.

She finished her last job and took a well-earned rest before deciding what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Understandable she no longer wanted to work full time, though part-time work had its appeal. Now considered unemployed, with a Centrelink requirement of 15 hours’ voluntary work, she approached the Volunteers for Knox team and attended an induction. Her skills were matched with the Orana Community House in Wantirna South, who were in need of a receptionist. Knowing she had skills to offer she looked forward to applying them to a new role, different to what had once been familiar.

“I thought Volunteering in the community would be a good place to start,” she said, as she settled in to the reception desk at Orana. Two weeks later, Coonara Community House in Upper Ferntree Gully were also in need of reception support and through Volunteers for Knox she was offered a position there as well.  After three months working at Orana, Margaret was offered a 12 hour a week paid position as a casual Administrator, which then became a permanent part-time position.

Still for the wealth of knowledge she has brought with her, she says “I learn something different every-day.” Coming from a corporate background, she admits that the community sector is very different. She has since learnt how to manage websites, how to navigate new systems and is currently learning the adult education student data base, which keeps her pretty busy. When asked about the benefits of volunteering she admits, “I’ve developed new skills, I’ve met new people and I’m in the world in a new way.”

With a thoughtful addition, she adds, “It’s got me into a different way of working; its more relaxed and a different culture to what I’ve been used to.” Aside from the fact that people have been very supportive in both houses, she feels there is a sense of satisfaction in helping and giving back. This opportunity has enabled Margaret to continue to use her skills and feel valued for what she is doing, without all the pressure of her previous workplace.

The volunteers for Knox team are very professional and friendly, giving all the information you need in deciding if volunteering is for you, or in what sort of direction you’d like to go.

“Honestly, when I first started thinking about volunteering I didn’t have a clue about what to do, so to have an organisation like volunteers for Knox makes it easier; they can guide you to find a good fit.” The staff provide a smooth transition into the workplace, offering opportunities to change and to pick up new skills in new environments. “I would recommend others to take on volunteering, it’s very rewarding.

Volunteer for Knox would like to congratulate Natlie on her outstanding efforts volunteering at Murrindal and Knoxfield Pre-Schools. 

Jodie speaks so highly of Natalie and these are some things she's said…

"Natalie feels very comfortable with us and we have seen her grow from strength to strength over the nine years of her volunteering. Her interactions with staff, families and children are just wonderful. She cares for the children  beautifully  and they are excited to see her every day she volunteers. Natalie is fantastic caring for small groups of children and helps to build on the children’s skills and confidence. 

Natalie is very patient and kind and understands the challenges of children with additional needs and does so with such kindness, empathy and commitment. She has grown so much in confidence that she is now   volunteering with Oz Child and Wesley Mission supporting older children with various activities. We are very lucky to have Natalie as our super talented volunteer and hope that she knows how much we appreciate her every single day."

Volunteer for Knox thank Natalie a million times over for her years of service. Natalie has made the children, staff and families of Knoxfield Pre-School so happy through her years as a volunteer.

Graham aged 60 years is a retired gentleman who firstly enquired with Volunteer for Knox in mid 2015. Graham found that he had some spare time and read one of our brochures and came along for the induction/information session. Graham’s previous profession was that of a shop fitter/builder and is skilled in all things of “fixing it”.

A volunteer opportunity arose for Graham where he is now volunteering two days a week in a landscaping/building maintenance/grounds improvement program. This program is specifically to train long term unemployed clients in specific skill sets so as to add to these newly learned skills to their CV’s so as to assist in finding permanent employment.

Graham has participated with the building of sheds, painting and sprucing up buildings, gardening, grounds improvement/maintenance, construction and paving all the while he trains other clients who are working alongside him in specific building and landscaping skills.

Graham has found this volunteer role exceptionally rewarding, it’s company for him and provides company and socialisation  for the clients, they are achieving  marvellous things together and making plans and sketches happen and grow before their eyes. Graham stated it’s a feel good role and he is enjoying the company of the younger people and the diversity of personalities. He is also enjoying watching others achieve and learning new skills himself. He finds the staff members he works alongside to be brilliant and nothing is ever too much trouble. He drives 7 minutes from home and looks forwards to his Mondays and Tuesdays. So much so, he has encouraged his wife to apply for a volunteering positon too with Volunteer for Knox.

Download and complete the registration form and CrimTrak consent form below. 

Volunteers will need to provide original certified copies of their 100 points of ID, or bring their original documents to Volunteer for Knox for us to photocopy before we can process the application for a police record check which is required by most organisations.

Completed forms should be returned to the Volunteer for Knox office.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to call Volunteer for Knox on 0429 968 822.