Volunteer with Gateways
Why Volunteer with Gateways
Volunteering with Gateways is a great way to support your community.
Gateways relies on the valuable support of volunteers to help us ensure that children and adults with disabilities can participate and enjoy Gateways programs to their fullest potential.
Our volunteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds, professions and ages, with a wide range of skills and experience. From students to retirees, professionals and people looking for work - volunteering is open to everyone.
By volunteering you are helping your community and yourself by:
- Gaining new skills and work experience
- Exploring career opportunities
- Learning something about yourself
- Meeting new people.
You will also help children and adults with a disability/additional need feel valued, included and well supported by their community.
Which Gateways programs welcome volunteers?
Each year Gateways programs support more than 1000 children and adults with a disability, and their families, in the Barwon South Western Region.
Many of these program provide opportunities for people with disabilities to get together to form and maintain friendships and enjoy social, recreational and leisure activities.
Volunteers support gateways programs including:
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The Interchange Program matches a child or young person with a volunteer, who includes them in their family or individual activities on a regular basis. Commitments can vary from a few hours a weekend to a full weekend a month. Download an Interchange Volunteer Application Form (PDF 102 KB.
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Geelong Youth Group is a social group for young people with disabilities aged between 10 and 18 years. This group meets on four Saturdays during each school term.
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Geelong Get Up and Go Club is a social recreation club for people aged 18 years or more, who still live at home. Club members enjoy community-based activities on either a Friday night or Saturday.
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Colac Youth Group is a social group for young people with disabilities aged 15 years and more.
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Prime Movers is a group for older adults with dementia. Every Wednesdays this social group goes on outings in the Geelong region, as well as Melbourne.
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The Geelong School Holiday Program and the Colac School Holiday Program are run during school holidays to give children and young people with a disability the opportunity to take part in fun activities and catch up with their friends.. The junior program caters for children aged from six to 10 years, while the senior program caters for young people aged between 11 and 17 years.
- Community Living Services - Gateways has a number of shared accommodation houses that provide a long-term home to people with a disability. Some volunteers regularly visit clients at Gateways houses, establishing friendships and expanding the client's social circle.
How do I find out more?
To gain an insight into the tasks involved in being a volunteer download a Volunteer Position Description (PDF 155 KB) and the Volunteer Application Form.pdf (PDF 97 KB).
If you have spare time and want to put your skills, energy and passion to work, contact the Gateways Volunteer Coordinator via Contact Us or on 5221 2984.