Become a HammondCare volunteer
For more than 90 years, HammondCare has relied on volunteers to help provide relationship-based care. Today, volunteers make a world of difference by dedicating their time to HammondCare’s aged care homes, and hospitals, and by visiting clients in their own homes.
We’re looking for passionate people like you to help spread joy by regularly visiting aged care residents, home clients and patients. You’ll receive training and support from our experienced staff. And if you have a special interest, we’d love to find a role within your local community.
Here are some of the ways you can make a difference:
- Become a friend through home visits
- Drive a wheelchair-accessible bus
- Bring your pet for a visit
- Assist with group activities such as exercise, cooking, and arts & crafts
- Capture a patient’s life story through our biography program
Call 1800 79 33 99 for more information

Explore volunteering opportunities
Residential Care visits
Join residential care staff and support aged care residents by:
• Visiting as a friend
• Driving a minibus for local trips
• Assisting with pastoral care
• Activities like cooking, gardening, and arts & crafts
Home visits
As a Home Care volunteer, you can share an interest with an older person in your community. Your Coordinator will connect you with someone experiencing loneliness.
Pictured is volunteer Prajdnik Awasthi with John Bush, a former Trade Commissioner and art collector. They visit galleries and bond over art. Read their story.
Hospital volunteering
Volunteer alongside clinicians to bring joy to patients and visitors. You can help by:
• Serving tea and drinks during morning tea and happy hour
• Supporting the Dreams Project to fulfill special wishes
• Assisting with art, music, and games
• Capturing patient stories as a Life Stories volunteer
Social Club & Respite Cottage volunteering
HammondCare Social Clubs offer a welcoming space for older people, including those with dementia, to connect, socialize, and enjoy activities. Respite Cottages provide overnight support, while Social Clubs run during the day.
Your support benefits clients, staff, and family who rely on these services for a much-needed break from caregiving.
Help patients through Community Palliative Care
Support people with life-limiting illnesses by volunteering with our Community Palliative Care Service by:
• Visiting patients for companionship and family respite
• Driving patients to outings, appointments, or shopping
• Writing patient life stories as a Life Stories volunteer
Pastoral Care volunteering
As a Christian organisation, we support all individuals with care, compassion, and a listening ear.
Pastoral volunteers play a key role, guided by our coordinators and trained through the Spiritual Care Series, to offer meaningful spiritual support, guidance, and companionship.
Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS)
HammondCare is an approved provider of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS), funded by the Australian Government. As a volunteer, you'll be matched with aged care recipients who may feel isolated, supporting both HammondCare and other providers in the ACVVS network.
Apply onlineTypes of volunteering roles
Our volunteering roles are as varied as the people we serve. We focus on building relationships with residents, clients, and patients. This is why we look for long-term volunteers who can dedicate their time for one to two hours a week, and become a friendly, familiar face.
Social volunteer
Bring joy to the lives of residents or patients by having a one-on-one chat over a cuppa or engaging in gentle activities such as crafts, listening to music together, reading the newspaper, and so much more.
Pet volunteer
Your furry friend can bring lots of joy to the lives of residents in our residential care homes, patients in hospital, or clients living in the community.
Arts and crafts volunteer
Are you creative? Do you enjoy arts and crafts? Assist a small group of residents to create their own masterpieces with the support of a Volunteer Coordinator. All equipment is supplied.
What our volunteers have to say
Charlise and Mollie
Charlise brings her dog, Mollie, along with her to visit clients in their homes. “It may be an hour out of your day, but it might make someone's whole week, so a little sacrifice goes a long way for other people".
Thu
Thu visits residents at Hammondville where he uses his French language skills and his musical talent to bring joy to people's lives. "I wanted to do work that reflects my value, my belief... I think that we can improve the quality of life of people in need".
Volunteering opportunities
Share friendships at our Residential Care Homes
We provide expert Residential Care to people who can no longer live at home and need a high level of care. There are many ways volunteers can engage with residents:
- Becoming a friend to residents and sharing friendships
- Driving a minibus to take residents on local trips in their community
- Assisting with pastoral care activities
- Supporting activities such as exercise programs, cooking, walking, nail care and art and craft
Connect with an older person in your community
As a HammondCare At Home volunteer, you can enjoy the fulfilment of participating in a shared interest with an older person who lives close to your home.
Your local Volunteer Coordinator will connect you with someone in your community who is living at home and is experiencing loneliness and social isolation.
We aim to partner you with someone who shares similar interests such as playing board games, crocheting, having a cuppa and chat, going for a walk, or visiting a local coffee shop or men’s shed group.
There are also opportunities to volunteer in one of our Respite Cottages or Social Clubs.
Support people in Hospitals and Clinics
Volunteer alongside specialised clinicians, providing a range of services, to help bring meaningful engagement to patients and their visitors. There are many ways you can give support to the people in our care, providing them with a sense of hope, including:
- Taking trolleys room-to-room for morning tea and happy hour
- Helping dreams come true through the Dreams Project
- Supporting therapists in activities including art, music, and games
- Capturing a patient’s life story as a biography service volunteer
Volunteer in Community Palliative Care
We’re passionate about providing comforting physical and emotional support to people with a progressive life-limiting illness. As a volunteer with our Community Palliative Care Service, you may be involved with:
- Visiting a patient at home to provide company and give their family a break
- Driving patients to an outing, an appointment, or to do some shopping
- Helping our pastoral care team with pastoral services
- Capturing a patient’s life story as a biography service volunteer
It’s easy to get started
Register online
Speak with our team
Once you've applied, we'll set up a time to discuss your application, the registration process and explore your areas of interest.
Start your induction
Get involved
For more information, fill out this form and we'll be in contact to learn more about your interests. Alternatively, call 1800 79 33 99 to speak with one of our friendly team, or apply online here for one of our currently available Volunteers roles.
Read our latest stories and news

5 December 2024 | Article
Bringing light to loneliness: Garry’s story this Christmas

5 December 2024 | Article
The true spirit of Christmas: David’s tale of friendship

31 May 2024 | Article
Volunteer Di and her guitar bringing joy for people with very severe dementia symptoms
FAQs
How many hours do you require from volunteers?
We’ve found that volunteers who are committed regularly over a long period of time gain a deeper sense of personal satisfaction. Preferably, you’ll be available for at least one hour per week over 12 months or longer. This may vary between roles and locations, so we encourage you to speak with us about your interests and availability.
What do I need to do to volunteer in a residential care home?
To volunteer in our residential care homes, you must:
- Be 16 years of age or older
- Show proof of COVID-19 (three doses) and flu vaccinations
- Follow our COVID-19 guidance
- Complete a criminal record check, which we can arrange
- Complete an NDIS Worker Screening Check.
What do I need to do to volunteer in someone's home?
To become a Home Care volunteer, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Show proof of COVID-19 (three doses) and flu vaccinations
- Follow our COVID-19 guidance
- Complete a criminal record check, which we can arrange.
What do I need to do to become a hospital or community palliative care volunteer?
To become a Health and Palliative Care volunteer, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Show proof of COVID-19 (three doses), flu vaccinations, and further immunisation screening
- Follow our COVID-19 guidance
- Complete a criminal record check, which we can arrange.
I’m looking for work or needing to complete placement hours. Can I volunteer with HammondCare?
We appreciate the interest, however, volunteering isn’t a pathway to a paid role at HammondCare or completing work placements. Our recruitment team is always looking for great people to work with us, so we encourage you to check the vacancies on our Careers page.
How can my company get involved and volunteer as a team?
We welcome organisations who would like to get involved in our Corporate Community Engagement program. For more details, call our Volunteer Coordinator on 1800 793 399.
Are there residential care homes in my local area?
You are able to volunteer at our residential care homes in Cardiff, Caulfield, Darlinghurst, Erina, Hammondville, Horsley, Miranda, North Turramurra, Wahroonga, Waratah and Woy Woy.
Can I volunteer as a community social visitor in my local area?
We welcome volunteers in ACT, NSW (Central Coast, Northern Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra, South East Sydney, South West Sydney, Southern Highlands, Central West, Far West, Northern Rivers) and Victoria (Melbourne Metro).
What training and support do I get as a volunteer?
You will be completely supported from the moment you start as a volunteer. Before you’re on the ground, we prepare you for the role with our online training program. Then from day one, you’re paired with a volunteer buddy who will introduce you to people and guide you on your journey. Your local Volunteer Coordinator also provides ongoing support.
I’m interested in visiting someone in their home. How will you know if we’ll get along?
Your local Volunteer Coordinator will meet with you to find out about your interests, and then they’ll look for someone close by who may share similar interests. At your first meet-up, the Volunteer Coordinator will help with introductions and get the conversation going.
Can I complete the service component of my Duke of Edinburgh Award with HammondCare?
The Duke of Edinburgh International Award is a development program empowering youth to explore their full potential. We welcome students aged 16 years or older who are willing to commit to a minimum of 60 hours of service in one of our residential care homes. Please note that student placements are limited.
I work full-time during the week. Can I volunteer on the weekends or evenings?
The majority of our volunteer opportunities are held during the week, Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm. There are limited opportunities to volunteer outside these times, but we can discuss your availability and preferences during the interview process.
How can I help raise funds for HammondCare?
You can help by volunteering to help raise vital funds for The HammondCare Foundation. All funds raised go toward helping us continually expand and improve our services and support for people in need. Visit the HammondCare Foundation to learn more about the work we do.
Are there any short-term volunteering opportunities?
Our volunteer programs provide opportunities to build relationships with the clients, residents, and patients we care for. The best way to make this happen is with a volunteer commitment of at least an hour per week or fortnight for 12 months or more. But, from time to time, we may have short-term opportunities available. You can check our volunteer opportunities page for updates.
Is HammondCare part of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS)?
HammondCare is an approved provider of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS), which is funded by the Australian Government. To become a ACVVS volunteer, you will be matched with care recipients with Australian Government-funded residential aged care and home care packages who may be feeling isolated. ACVVS volunteering not only enriches the lives of those supported by HammondCare, but also extends to other participating aged care providers in the ACVVS network.
Which hospital or community palliative care service can I volunteer at?
We welcome volunteers at Braeside Hospital, Greenwich Hospital and Neringah Hospital.
You can also volunteer at our community palliative care across the Northern Beaches and North Shore Sydney.