“Every human being feels pleasure in doing good to another”. Thomas Jefferson (American President)

Volunteering at PRNC

Volunteering at the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood CentreWith around 150 volunteers actively giving their time at the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre, volunteering plays an integral role in the services we deliver.  Since the beginnings of our centre in 1987, community volunteers have been actively involved in owning and operating our organisation.  Volunteering helps build stronger, more connected and caring communities. But that is not all it does.  It helps build and develop individuals.  The choice to volunteer at the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre is an opportunity to make our community a better place and make ourselves better people.

Why volunteer?

Because volunteering is good for us!  Depending on your interests and needs, volunteering is a way of:
• developing work experience
•  increasing social interaction and meeting people
• experiencing something new.
• learning new skills or improving on  existing skills
• sharing knowledge and experiences
• gaining a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging.
• becoming better acquainted with the community
• giving back to the community and assisting others
• getting back into the workforce
• keeps “the grey matter” working
• being useful and helpful
• improves health and wellbeing

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give”. – Winston Churchill. (Prime Minister, Great Britain)

The Principles of Volunteering

• Volunteering benefits the community and the volunteer.
• Volunteer work is unpaid.
• Volunteering is always a matter of choice.
• Volunteering is not compulsorily undertaken to receive pensions or government allowances.
• Volunteering is a legitimate way in which citizens can participate in the activities of their community.
• Volunteering is a vehicle for individuals or groups to address human, environmental and social needs.
• Volunteering is not a substitute for paid work.
• Volunteers do not replace paid workers nor constitute a threat to the job security of paid workers.
• Volunteering respects the rights, dignity and culture of others.
• Volunteering promotes human rights and equality.

“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.“  Kofi Annan (Secretary General, United Nations)

Volunteer Roles at the PRNC

The Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre has over 20 different volunteer roles to choose from.  Some of these opportunities we have include:
• Supporting people in need as Family Support Visitors, Kids Friends Mentors, Relief Volunteers and Accommodation support workers.
• Administration and Maintenance in our Centre Operations Department.
• Legal volunteering for our drop-in service on Thursday nights.
• Assisting with hiring out our community centres to local groups.
• Financial help for clients in our No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS).
• Volunteering by facilitating our support groups, education programs and adult literacy tutoring. Minding children for parents who attend these groups.
• Sharing their expertise on our Management Committee and in Steering groups.
• Looking after our community garden and cooking our community lunches.

You can find a list of the volunteer roles we are currently recruiting for on Volunteering Queensland’s website.

What our volunteers say about the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre:
• “A friendly and professional work environment which makes me feel I’m contributing”
• “Seeing the positive difference that is made to people’s lives”
• “The range of work provided at the Centre”
• “It’s a lovely place with great people”
• “Seeing people grow”
• “Doing something for the community and meeting new people”
• “Empowering individuals in need”
• “Good support, encouraged to succeed, genuine feedback”
• “Part time hours to volunteer”
• “Support from staff, being valued, encouraged and seeing what I do for the children helps them”.
• “The warm ‘family’ feeling of belonging to the centre”
If you would like to become a volunteer for the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre, please contact our Volunteer Development Coordinator at the Centre.

We are also able to refer interested people to other volunteer organisations in the Moreton Bay Region.  The opportunities for volunteering in Moreton Bay are as wide and varied as our landscape and our communities, from the shores of Redcliffe and Bribie Island to the green pastures of Samford and Woodford.  Volunteering in Moreton Bay is a way for us all to get our hands and feet dirty in the human, environmental and social needs of the place where we live and love to be.

For a full list of Volunteering Opportunities across the Moreton Bay region, please download  Jump In- Volunteer in Moreton Bay.
For more information on Volunteering Opportunities please visit these organisations:

Volunteering Queensland www.volunteeringqld.org.au Ph: 3002 7600
Volunteering Australia www.volunteeringaustralia.org Ph: 9820 4100
Go Volunteer www.govolunteer.com.au Ph: 9820 4100
Moreton Bay Regional Council – Volunteering http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/living.aspx?id=64209 Ph:3205 0555
Queensland Government – Volunteering http://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/participate/volunteer Ph: 13 13 04
Volunteer Abroad www.volunteerabroad.com
Tourism Volunteering www.tourismvolunteering.com.au Ph: 3002 7600
Clean Up Australia www.cleanup.org.au Ph: 1800 282 329
Indigenous Community Volunteers www.icv.com.au Ph: 1800 819 542
Roma Street Parkland Volunteers www.romastreetparkland.com Ph: 3006 4545
Volunteers in Policing www.police.qld.gov.au/join/vip Ph: 3364 3735
State Emergency Service www.emergency.qld.gov.au/ses Ph: 1300 369 003
Fishcare Volunteers www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_8187.htm Ph: 1800 659861
Environmental Protection www.derm.qld.gov.au/about/employment/volunteersworkexperience.html Ph: 1300 130 372

If you would like to become a volunteer for the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre, please contact our Volunteer Development Coordinator at the Centre.

The following is a link to Volunteering Queenslands website.