Volunteer with YHA

Volunteers & YHA

Volunteering remains an important aspect of hostel life. It provides an opportunity for you to travel further and longer; practice language skills; gain practical experience and confidence; and to assist in finding a pathway to paid employment. Volunteers give back to YHA by providing short term help with incidental tasks that would not otherwise be able to be completed. 

How does it work?

Volunteers are YHA member guests who volunteer their help at a property. In exchange for helping, volunteers gain skills and work experience and may receive discounted or free accommodation and meals (if meals are part of the volunteer duty). You must be over 18 years of age at the time of volunteering. 

How long can you volunteer for?

Volunteers are typically active for no longer than 30 days at one property and with a maximum of 60 days across the YHA Australia network. In the event of a volunteer who helps at more than one property the limit applies cumulatively up to a maximum of 60 days.

Benefits of volunteering

• Contribution to the community
• English language skills as appropriate
• Social interaction and skill development
• Free or discounted accommodation (at YHA's discretion)
• Meals (when helping with an activity involving food)
• YHA shirt - at YHA's discretion, for use when volunteering

Types of volunteer activities

• Assisting with guest activities (such as organising a guest BBQ or preparing pancakes)
• Assisting guests to keep the self-catering kitchen clean
• Linen folding (supplementary as required) 
• Exterior rubbish pick-up and grounds tidy 
• Bush regeneration 
• Clean-up Australia 

Workplace Health & Safety

YHA is obliged to exercise the same duty of care to volunteers as to other guests and paid employees. In addition, normal workplace requirements with respect for example, to no bullying or harassment would apply.

Insurance

Volunteers, as non-employees are not covered by YHA’s workers compensation insurance. Instead we have volunteers cover which in the case of personal accident or injury is designed for the extent of the volunteer activities but it should be noted is not as comprehensive as workers compensation cover.

We recommend volunteers hold travel insurance which does not exclude cover for an accident while volunteering, however this is not compulsory to become a volunteer for YHA.

Interested?

We'd love to hear from you!

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