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Volunteer opportunities

Volunteer opportunities for UOW pre⁠-⁠service teachers

We encourage our pre-service teachers to volunteer their time, in addition to formalised placement experiences.

Below is a list of volunteer opportunities for UOW pre-service teachers, submitted by schools and other education providers.

For information about a specific opportunity, please refer to the listed contact.

Requirements

All volunteers must have a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) number.

UOWx record transcript

School of Education students who want any of these opportunities to count toward their UOWx record must complete the Taking up a volunteer opportunity form before they start.

Note: A supervisor at the venue must sign off on the volunteer hours through the Sonia placement system.

More information

More information about these volunteer opportunities can be found below:

Get an opportunity listed

Schools and centres can provide information about a volunteer opportunity using the Volunteer Opportunities submission form.

Note: Last minute submissions will not be posted. Please allow at least 2-week’s warning for opportunities.

Student enquiries

Professional Experience Unit
Email: pex-enquiries​@uow.edu.au
Phone: (02) 4239 2380

Summary of opportunities

Oppor­tunityLoca­tionApply before
Primary Ethics teaching various Wollongong schools 5 Decem­ber 2021
Literacy and support Yarrawarrah Public School 11 December 2021
After school tutoring PCYC Wollongong 14 December 2020
Homework hub mentoring CareSouth Berkeley 17 December 2021
Teaching reading to students with disabilities Tangara School 17 December 2021

Current opportunities

Location: various Wollongong schools

An opportunity exists for UOW Education or other Social Sciences students to volunteer as SRE/SEE teachers at public schools in the Wollongong region. The Primary Ethics lessons are taught during “scripture” time at schools, usually 30 – 45 minutes in length, once a week.

Classes are usually made up of 10 – 20 students and there is a DoE teacher in the classroom during the lesson.

Benefits include face-to-face teaching, building confidence and developing classroom management strategies.

Training is required. Primary Ethics provides FREE 2 day training workshops. The workshop is generally offered at UOW four times a year, or every week in Sydney, although currently the training is online, with occasional sessions at UTS in Sydney.

A current WWCC is required, as is a criminal history check. (Primary Ethics volunteers receive this check for a discounted rate of $20).

For further information, please liaise with Ann Hollifield, Wollongong Regional Manager for Primary Ethics.

The following public schools in Wollongong are looking for volunteers. (It is also possible to teach at schools anywhere in NSW – see Primary Ethics for more info).

When: 15 February – 5 December 2021

Teaching area: Primary

Applications close: 5 December 2021

Contact: Ann Hollifield
Phone: 0414 637 256
Email: ann.hollifield@primaryethics.com.au

Tuesdays

  • Balgownie: 9:30am – 10:00am
  • Unanderra: 12:00pm – 12:30pm
  • Wollongong West: 11:40am – 12:10pm or 12:10pm – 12:40pm
  • Dapto: 11:15-12:15pm
  • Figtree: 9:00am-9:30am

Wednesdays

  • Coniston: 9:00am – 9:30am
  • Corrimal: 12:45pm – 1:30pm
  • Fairy Meadow: 12:30pm – 1pm
  • Figtree Heights: 12:00pm – 12:40pm
  • Gwynneville: 10:00am – 10:30am and 10:30am – 11:00am
  • Hayes Park: 9:00am – 9:30am and 9:30am – 10:00am
  • Keiraville PS: 11:45am – 12:15pm and 12:15pm – 12:45pm
  • Mount Ousley: 9:00am – 9:40am
  • Pleasant Heights: 9:15am – 9:45am

Thursdays

  • Towradgi: 1:45pm – 2:15pm
  • Wollongong: 9:30am – 10:40pm
  • Nareena Hills 12:00pm-12:30pm

Location: Yarrawarrah Public School

We have 11 classes, from Kindergarten to Year 6.

We will upskill you in MultiLit/MiniLit. You will be doing small group/one-on-one intervention.

There are also in class support opportunities to work with small groups of students with direct teacher guidance.

A current WWCC is required.

When: 3 March – 17 December 2021

Teaching area: Primary

Applications close: 11 December 2021

Contact: Kyleigh Nash
Phone: (02) 9520 0277
Email: yarrawarra-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Location: PCYC Wollongong

Tutoring is a service offered at PCYC Wollongong after school on Mondays and Tuesdays, during the school term. As stated on the Wollongong PCYC website, the service aims to provide homework help and tutoring, which can be expensive or difficult for some families to provide. Tutoring is available for students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and can be tailored to the individual. The program is run by a group of volunteers with varying backgrounds. These volunteers include high school students, university students and other volunteers. Where possible, volunteer tutors are matched up with students based on the tutor’s knowledge/talents and the student’s needs.

In 2021, tutors will take on 1–2 students, depending on the needs of the students and the expertise of the tutors.

Tutoring can count towards your UOWx hours if you are a volunteer from UOW

When: 1 February – 14 December 2021

Teaching area: Primary, Secondary

Applications close: 14 December 2021

Contact: Matthew Bourne
Phone: 0417 686 076
Email: mbourne@pcycnsw.org.au

Days and times:

  • Monday: 3:30pm – 4:30pm (Years K–12)
  • Monday: 4:30pm – 5:30pm (Years K–12)
  • Tuesday: 3:30pm – 4:30pm (Years K–12)
  • Tuesday: 4:30pm – 5:30pm (Years K–12)

Location: CareSouth’s Berkeley office

The CareSouth Homework Hub:

  • Provides a safe, calm learning environment for students
  • Engages students in a positive mentoring relationship with UOW teaching student volunteers
  • Takes into account the learning needs of each child/young person and encourages volunteers to improve social skills and boost confidence through positive role modelling

The Program:

  • The Homework Hub runs each Tuesday at CareSouth’s Berkeley office (2 Matilda Way, Berkeley) from 3.30pm-5pm
  • Students read to Buster, a therapy dog. Studies have shown reading to therapy dogs not only improves literacy but helps with emotional regulation
  • Students work on homework sheets or assignments and use e-learning tools and apps. Often their only access to digital devices is in the Homework Hub.

The Benefits:

  • The aim of the Homework Hub is to build confidence and improve vulnerable young peoples’ prospects in pursuing education and employment pathways and achieving their hopes and dreams.
  • The volunteer program is mutually beneficial. Mentors in the Homework Hub work directly with vulnerable young people and learn how to support their learning, meet their needs and develop strategies, skills and resources which they can then take into future classrooms.

When: 3 March – 17 December 2021

Teaching area: Primary, Secondary

Applications close: 17 December 2021

Contact: Danielle Woolage
Phone: 0413 317 895
Email: danielle.woolage@caresouth.org.au

Location: Tangara School

Tangara School is a small SSP for students K-12 who have Moderate and Severe Intellectual Disability, and we have an additional satellite class for students with internalising disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Our teachers have been recognised by AITSL has having excellence in Visible Learning and Formative Assessment and have been filmed for their case studies.

We have been working on building teacher capacity across our network, and I am offering the opportunity to UOW students to spend a day with us and learn about how to explicitly teach reading to students with disability, how to engage in formative assessment and how to make learning visible with this cohort.

When: 26 April – 17 December 2021

Teaching area: Primary, Secondary, Autism

Applications close: 17 December 2021

Contact: Sarah Hillyer (Principal)
Phone: (02) 4871 1636
Email: sarah.hillyer5@det.nsw.edu.au

Information for volunteer coordinators

Often schools and educational organisations are seeking volunteers to assist with specific programs to support students or for special events. The School of Education Professional Experience Unit has a Volunteer opportunities page for these requests to be advertised to UOW students.

These opportunities may be one-off events or require a regular weekly commitment for a period of time.

Any opportunities pre-service teachers can gain in schools over and above their mandatory Professional Experience is extremely valuable and contributes to their development as an aspiring teacher. Volunteering is a wonderful reciprocal relationship which is advantageous to both the school/educational organisation and the pre-service teacher where they will experience working with students, staff, and the wider community in a professional environment. There are many benefits to volunteering in schools including:

    • observing professional practice in a variety of settings
    • developing communication and organisational skills through liaising with colleagues and students
    • having a positive impact on student learning outcomes
    • developing deeper knowledge and understanding which is directly transferable to their education degree
    • supporting and contributing to the school community
    • demonstrating and developing critical and creative thinking skills
    • establishing an education profile and liaising with other educators
    • showcasing volunteer experience in schools as valuable for future employment prospects
  1. Click on the Volunteer Opportunities submission form link (top of this page)
  2. Complete the required information regarding the opportunity, dates and contact details
  3. The request will be processed and added to the Volunteer opportunities page for UOW students to view

Any UOW student studying an education degree.

Pre-service teachers will liaise directly with the school or venue via the contact details they have listed.

Pre-service teachers will usually already have a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC). Some may also have completed the Anaphylaxis Training and the Child Protection Training as part of their mandatory checks for Professional Experience. First year students are able to commence these checks early if they are interested in seeking a volunteer opportunity.

University commitments and Professional Experience placements take priority and must be considered when liaising to undertake any volunteering.

No, these volunteer opportunities are not for monetary compensation.

The school/educational organisation may offer a certificate to recognise any volunteering undertaken.

The school/educational organisation may have their own sign in requirements on site.

A school Volunteer Coordinator may also need to approve hours submitted by the pre-service teacher volunteer via a SONIA login should they wish for their volunteer hours to be formally recognised.

SONIA is an online placement system used by UOW.

Schools who host UOW pre-service teachers for Professional Experience placements will be familiar with SONIA.

A UOW pre-service teacher volunteer can record their volunteer hours in SONIA and have them approved by the Volunteer Coordinator. If you do not already have a SONIA login this will be arranged for you once the UOW pre-service teacher has provided your details, if they intend to have their volunteer hours recognised.

Information for students

Often schools and educational organisations are seeking volunteers to assist with specific programs to support students or for special events. The School of Education Professional Experience Unit has a Volunteer opportunities webpage for these requests to be advertised to UOW students.

Any opportunities pre-service teachers can gain in schools over and above their mandatory Professional Experience is extremely valuable and contributes to their development as an aspiring teacher. Volunteering is a wonderful reciprocal relationship which is advantageous to both the school/educational organisation and the pre-service teacher where they will experience working with students, staff, and the wider community in a professional environment. There are many benefits to volunteering in schools including:

    • observing professional practice in a variety of settings
    • developing communication and organisational skills through liaising with colleagues and students
    • having a positive impact on student learning outcomes
    • developing deeper knowledge and understanding which is directly transferable to their education degree
    • supporting and contributing to the school community
    • demonstrating and developing critical and creative thinking skills
    • establishing an education profile and liaising with other educators
    • showcasing volunteer experience in schools as valuable for future employment prospects

Any UOW student studying an education degree.

If you are not studying an education degree, or if you are interested in other types of volunteering, please refer to UOWx.

View the volunteer opportunities listed above. If there is a particular opportunity that appeals you, liaise directly with the school or venue via the contact details they have listed.

Yes, you will require a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC). As a pre-service teacher you should already have this check in place. Also, many schools may request you complete the Anaphylaxis Training and the Child Protection Training. Once again, these are part of your mandatory checks for PEX. First year students are able to commence these checks early if they are interested in seeking a volunteer opportunity.

You will need to carefully consider what time and commitment you are able to offer. Some opportunities request an ongoing commitment eg, once a week for an hour. Other opportunities may be for a special event and require only a limited or one-off commitment, e.g. one day.

University commitments and Professional Experience placements take priority and must be considered when liaising with the school/educational organisation to undertake any volunteering.

No, these volunteer opportunities are not for monetary compensation.

The school/educational organisation may offer a certificate to recognise any volunteering you have undertaken.

The school/educational organisation may have their own sign in requirements on site.

Should you wish to have any volunteer hours recognised by UOWx, you will also need to complete a Taking up a volunteer opportunity form, (see top of this page). This information will be used to set up an online timesheet via your SONIA login for you to submit for approval by the Volunteer Coordinator (at the venue).

The minimum hourly threshold for a student to be considered ‘Engaging’ is 20 hours which must be completed in a calendar year per community volunteering opportunity to have the activity included on the UOWx Record.

‘Highly Engaging’ is a total of 160 hours. This equates to a student volunteering one hour per week for 40 weeks over the course of a four year degree. These hours would be recognised and appear on your UOWx record.

UOWx is a service that helps connect students with incredible learning opportunities and experiences outside of their academic coursework. The UOWx program formally recognises that co-curricular involvement in a bid to emphasise to employers the drive and dedication of the students involved. There are over 170 paid and volunteer activities that are recognised by UOWx which students can receive formal recognition for.

Check out the UOWx website.