VolunteerNow (www.volunteernow.org.nz) is a website operated by Volunteering New Zealand to provide information about volunteering opportunities across New Zealand. It offers a database of over 1500 volunteer positions that are available either through ten of the regional Volunteer Centres or by national organizations.

A key function of the Volunteer Centres is finding potential volunteers on behalf of their networks of local community not-for-profit organisations. The VolunteerNow website plays an important role in linking volunteers with the positions available through the Centres. Each centre posts its current database of the volunteer positions on www.volunteernow.org. With a diverse range of positions on offer, potential volunteers have a lot of choice. To obtain more information about particular positions and receive a referral to the organisations offering the positions, the volunteers can either register on-line or contact the Volunteer Centre listing the position(s) direct by email or phone (0800 VOL CNTR - 0800 865268).

The centre may wish to interview the prospective volunteer before referring him or her to the relevant community organisation. Interviews may be carried out by telephone or face-to-face at the Volunteer Centre. Two Centres, Auckland and Canterbury, are also offering direct referral through on-line registration facility to the community organisations seeking to volunteers.

The inspiration for the development of VolunteerNow

The initial idea for a website for came from a discussion between Stephen Tindall and the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, on finding ways to encourage "Young Oldies" to be involved in their local communities.

Volunteering New Zealand was approached by the Tindall Foundation with an offer of funding to develop a website aimed at over 55s to encourage this demographic to volunteer. While VNZ accepted the offer, in development discussions it was agreed that an open website should not be limited to just one age group. There would be considerable value in having a site which listed positions suitable for all age groups. In line with the original objective, VolunteerNow has a special page that provides additional information on volunteering for the "Young Seniors" target group.

The development of the site and its later enhancements has been undertaken in full collaboration with the regional Volunteer Centres. The 0800 telephone service which connects callers directly to the nearest volunteer centre was established at the same time.

Benefits of Volunteer Now

For volunteers and potential volunteers, the VolunteerNow website provides a comprehensive list of current volunteer positions available through volunteer centres. They can do an online search for a specific volunteer role or do a search based on the type of volunteer organisation that they are particularly interested in. Volunteers can also browse to find other types of volunteer positions that they may not be aware of.

Through working in partnership with local volunteer centres, locally based voluntary groups are able to list or ‘advertise’ their volunteering roles online. If interested in doing this, they should get in touch with the local volunteer centre to discuss the process for listing positions with the centre and the information needed to promote the positions through the centre and on VolunteerNow.

National organisations can also promote and gain volunteer applications using VolunteerNow. Any interested organisations should contact Volunteering NZ directly and provide a brief outline of the volunteer roles they wish to fill. These will be listed in a special National section. Email office@volunteeringnz.org.nz or call 04 3843636.

Volunteer Now also provides information on volunteering and codes of practice for volunteers as well as voluntary groups in New Zealand.

Contacting a volunteer centre or Volunteering New Zealand

Voluntary groups who wish to seek volunteers through Centres and the VolunteerNow website should contact their nearest centre for local roles or Volunteering NZ for listing national positions. The contact details of the Centres are as follows:

 

• Volunteering Auckland – 09 3777887 or cheryll.martin@volunteeringauckland.org.nz
• Volunteering Waikato – 07 8393191 or volunteerinwaikato@xtra.co.nz
• Volunteer Western Bay of Plenty – 07 5713714 or mgr.volunteerwbop@xtra.co.nz
• Gisborne Volunteer Centre – 06 8684522 or gisvolunteercentre@xtra.co.nz
• Volunteer Hawkes Bay – 06 8336691 or volunteer@volunteeringhb.org.nz
• Volunteer Whanganui – 06 3479430 or whanganuivolunteercentre@xtra.co.nz
• Volunteer Wellington* – 04 4994570 or vw@volunteeringwellington.org.nz
• Nelson Volunteer Centre – 03 5467681 or nvc@ts.co.nz
• Marlborough Volunteer Centre – 03 5779388 or mvc@ts.co.nz
• Volunteering Canterbury – 03 3662442 or vc@volcan.org.nz
• Volunteering Mid and South Canterbury – (03) 687 7364 or volmsc@xtra.co.nz
• Volunteering Otago – 03 4771611 or dvct@ihug.co.nz

 

* Volunteer Wellington maintains satellite branches in Porirua and Hutt regions

To list a volunteer position that is available nationwide, please contact Volunteering New Zealand direct at 04 384 3636 or office@volunteeringnz.org.nz