Volunteer with YHA

Here at YHA we aim to help travellers explore the world, to learn and to participate in cultural exchange. Find out how you can follow in the footsteps of the volunteers who founded YHA Australia.

Volunteers & YHA

Volunteering remains an important aspect of hostel life. It provides an opportunity for guests to travel further and longer; practice language skills; gain practical experience and confidence; and to assist them 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 it works

Volunteers are YHA member guests who volunteer their help at a hostel. 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 hostel and with a maximum of 60 days across the YHA Australia network. In the event of a volunteer who helps at more than one hostel the limit applies cumulatively up to a maximum of 60 days.

BENEFITS

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 hostel shirt - at YHA's discretion, for use when volunteering

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES MAY INVOLVE:

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 YHA has 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.

YHA recommends 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!