Volunteer at the house

Volunteers are essential to Brunswick Neighbourhood House’s work for the community. Our volunteers come from diverse professional and personal backgrounds which creates a rich and welcoming experience for all who visit. We welcome applications from anyone who has the time to get involved. Some of our roles require specific skills, other jobs including on the job training, while still others are just about lending an extra pair of hands. Get involved in a way that suits you.

Express interest in volunteering

Check out our current volunteer opportunities listen below. If you would like to become a BNH volunteer, please click here to fill out our volunteer expression of interest form. One of our team members will be in touch shortly after. For any questions of queries, please contact us on 03 9386 9418 or email info@bnhc.vic.edu.au. We look forward to hearing from you!

CHESS CLUB

When: Every Tuesday at the Chatty Café (during term time) 10AM-12PM

Chess Club, occurs at the same time as Chatty Café and welcomes players of all ages and experience levels. This fun and inclusive space brings together people from different generations and backgrounds to learn, play, and connect and order a delicious barista made coffee while they play!

Chess Teacher

You don’t have to be a Grand Master!  We’re looking for people who play chess well enough to introduce newcomers to the game in a welcoming and safe learning environment for all participants.  You will be supported by our lead Chess Tutor.

MONTHLY COMMUNITY LUNCH

When: The second Thursday of each month 9:00AM-1:00PM

Community Lunch program is a monthly event that brings people together to share a delicious vegetarian meal and connect with others in the community.

Cook Server

This is a 5-to-6-hour shift, once a month. under the guidance of our head chef and Cook Program facilitator volunteers perform harvesting, dining room set up, food preparation, cooking, service, clearing and washing-up, ensuring the kitchen and Main Hall are reset ready for our afternoon classes on departure. Community Lunch is a lot of fun and ideal for people who can’t volunteer every week.  Ingredients are provided by the food rescue charity Secondbite, and combined with fresh produce from our own BNH Kitchen Garden.

Community Lunch is held on the second Thursday of each month, with lunch served at 12 pm. Volunteers are needed between 9 am and 1 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, develop kitchen skills, and contribute to a program that fosters connection and inclusivity.

SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS

When: Every Monday (during term time) 10 am – 2 pm

Our Life Skills class caters to adult students with mild cognitive disability. Life Skills is a well- established program supported by a community of committed volunteers. We are now looking for volunteers to join our team.  Special Needs Support Volunteers operate under the guidance of the tutor and other established volunteers and support workers to assist with classroom activities such as formal learning and skills acquisition, dance and movement, hands on activities like gardening and baking and outings. We are especially interested in people with a background in working with special needs students and education however, previous experience is not essential.

CHILDCARE SUPPORT

When: Fridays 10:30AM-1:30PM – short term volunteer role

We’re seeking a reliable volunteer to assist in our childcare program on Fridays while our usual volunteer is away. In this role, you’ll support arts and crafts activities, help with washing, drying, and folding kitchen towels and cot sheets, and provide general assistance in the childcare room as needed. A minimum 3-hour shift (10:30 AM – 1:30 PM) is required. A valid Working with Children Check is essential. If you enjoy working with children and supporting a caring environment, we’d love to hear from you!

BRUNSWICK NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE EVENTS

When: as needed.

Event Support

BNH’s Event Volunteers help deliver a variety of community events throughout the year. Event volunteers work together with BNH staff to deliver:

  • Brunswick Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraisers
  • Sydney Road Street Party information stall
  • Neighbourhood House Week celebrations (Warr Park)
  • Brunswick Multicultural Festival (Warr Park)
  • BNH Art Exhibition (Warr Park)

If you are great at hands on organisation, fit enough to lift and carry, enjoy the buzz of ‘show time’ and great at front-of-house meet and greets, you’re just the sort of person we need. Express your interest to be a BNH event volunteers and we’ll be in touch as opportunities arise.

GENERAL HOUSE VOLUNTEERS

Maintaining a Neighbourhood House is the almost the same as running your own home. We have regular chores to attend to including washing, transporting goods between De Carle and Garden Streets, garden bed watering and maintenance, cleaning, and preparing the house for weekend venue hire. If you enjoy the quiet pleasure of domestic chores and want to support out beautiful mudbrick house in Warr Park, please express your interest. For those who join the team on a weekly volunteering basis, BNH will support Centrelink Voluntary Work claims for the Mutual Obligation Requirements.

CHATTY CAFE (Positions filled – Waitlist only)

When: Every Tuesday (during term time) 9:30AM-12:30PM

The Chatty Café is a unique weekly gathering that combines great affordable coffee with meaningful conversations. This program is all about connecting with your neighbours, building community, and learning new skills.

a. Lead Barista
 If you have barista experience, we’d love to hear from you.  As a Lead Barista, you will make coffees and check that others are producing the perfect brew. You’ll teach Baristas in Training how to operate the coffee machine. You will also ensure that the coffee machine is properly cleaned and returned to storage at the end of your shift and the Main Hall space is clean and tidy.

b. Barista in Training
Want to learn how to make great coffee? As a Barista in Training, you’ll practice using our coffee machine with support from our Lead Barista, take orders and payments, serve drinks to our guests, clean cups and clear tables. Helping to set up and pack down our coffee cart every session and ensure that the Main Hall space is clean and tidy.

c. Chatters
Do you enjoy meeting new people? As a Chatter, your primary role is to welcome anyone from the community into our space. You’ll engage visitors in friendly conversations, help guests meet new people and feel comfortable, and create a warm, inclusive environment where people feel connected.

General Compliance

All volunteers are asked to

  • attend an online or in-person interview
  • provide or be willing to undergo a criminal history check.
    Please note: evidence of a criminal history does not automatically preclude volunteers from working with us.
  • attend induction
  • sign the BNH volunteer code of conduct.
Brunswick Neighbourhood House acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.