South Australian public sector agencies work in partnership with volunteers across the state to deliver a range of services to the community. This is reflected in the partnership agreement between the government and volunteering sector, the Volunteering Strategy for South Australia 2014-2020.
Many government departments and agencies provide volunteering opportunities.
Arts
State Library of South Australia - volunteers undertake a range of roles that help make library resources available.
Adelaide Fringe Festival - volunteers give and gain invaluable experience to assist with this world-renowned event.
Art Gallery of South Australia - volunteer positions are often available in areas such as the information desk and the gallery's research library. Volunteers can also become gallery guides.
Community
Courts Administration Authority - the volunteer service provides a vital link between the court and its clients and maintains a high level of service to all court users.
Department for Correctional Services - volunteers provide assistance and support such as running libraries in prisons, assisting prisoners' families, transporting visitors to prisons, and helping prisoners reconnect with the community. Email DCS.VolunteerUnit@sa.gov.au about opportunities.
Justice of the Peace Services - being a Justice of the Peace (JP) is a voluntary activity. The role of a JP is to act as an independent and objective witness and sign documents that people use for official or legal purposes.
South Australia Police - various opportunities state-wide to suit a broad range of skills and interests.
Conservation
Environmental volunteers - the Department for Environment and Water website has information on a range of environmental programs and activities.
Friends of Parks have volunteers who plant trees, monitor frog and platypus populations, weed and clean waterways, regenerate wetlands, grow seedlings, revegetate native habitats for threatened species, and improve sustainable farm practices. Special interest groups range in areas of interest from butterflies to 4WD adventures, from the heritage and history of the Adelaide Gaol to walking the Heysen Trail.
Fishcare - volunteers help recreational fishers understand the rules and regulations that apply to them.
Landcare - thousands of Australians give time to their local Landcare group. All you need is an interest in the environment and enthusiasm for conservation.
Correctional services
The Department for Correctional Services offers a variety of volunteering opportunies.
Emergency services
Country Fire Service (CFS) - a volunteer-based fire and emergency service dedicated to protecting life, property and environmental assets in regional and semi-metropolitan South Australia.
Post-emergency recovery operations - in the event of an emergency, Volunteering SA&NT activate a phone number and an online link for people to register.
SA Ambulance Service - outside the metropolitan area and major regional centres, SA Ambulance rely on volunteers to deliver their service. Without these volunteers, many rural areas would not have a local ambulance service.
State Emergency Service (SES) - gives immediate assistance during emergencies and disasters as well as providing community response to day-to-day incidents such as vehicle accidents, searches, cliff rescues, flood and storm damage situations.
Volunteer Marine Rescue - working alongside the State Emergency Services Marine Unit, volunteers assist search and rescue authorities by providing a 24-hour response to marine emergencies.
Environment
Department for Environment and Water - offers many volunteer opportunities ranging from environmental field work to assist with the operations of government-owned historic sites and buildings.
Friends of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide - fosters interest in the activities of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and raises funds to benefit the Gardens.
Youth Environment Council of South Australia advises the government on the environmental perspectives of young people. It includes young people from all education systems in SA and peak youth organisations.
Health
Public hospitals in Metropolitan Adelaide and Country South Australia - each hospital has a range of volunteering opportunities, including guide services, retail outlets, ward activities and special support programs. Contact the hospital direct.
Heritage
Department for Environment and Water - offers many different volunteer opportunities ranging from environmental field work to assist with the operations of government-owned historic sites and buildings.
History Trust of South Australia - offers volunteers a variety of work including cataloguing collections, maintaining research libraries, research, providing education and school holiday programs, conducting oral history interviews and assisting at exhibition openings and other special events.
Preschools and schools
Student mentoring - links role models drawn from members of the community, with students at risk of leaving school early.
Department for Education - volunteers in preschools and schools make an essential contribution to the achievement and well-being of children and students across the state.
Sport and recreation
Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing - provides a range of information regarding volunteers, volunteer management and getting involved as a volunteer in the active recreation and sports sector.
Women
The Women's Information Service - provides free and confidential support to women in a range of areas including relationships, health, legal matters, housing, financial issues, work, education and domestic/family violence.
