The Minns Labor Government's partnership with SEEK Volunteer is connecting volunteers to their dream roles in record numbers, as part of the NSW Volunteer Recruitment Portal.
Since launching in 2017, the NSW Volunteer Recruitment Portal has delivered on a range of milestone achievements.
These include:
- 1.59 million+ online visits to the NSW Volunteer Recruitment Portal.
- 81,000+ people connected to volunteer organisations via expressions of interest.
- 75 per cent growth in organisations registered on the portal since October 2017.
- An average of 27,800 online visits per month over the last year (January 2025-December 2025)
Community services, seniors and aged care, and health round out the top three sectors attracting volunteer interest.
Ronald McDonald House volunteer Caitlyn Portela, 23, from North Rocks is one of many NSW Volunteering Portal success stories. Portela accepted a volunteer position last year and is already making a difference caring for children and families in need.
The NSW Volunteering Strategy 2020-2030 supports the volunteering sector to attract and retain volunteers, including people of all ages, people with disability and people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The Strategy sets out the framework for our work to strengthen the sector, with the NSW Volunteer Charter, Disability Inclusion Volunteering Guidelines and Youth Volunteering Guidelines, to make sure everyone can volunteer, and their contributions are celebrated.
Organisations looking to fill volunteer opportunities can register for free and list available roles on the volunteering portal with the help of user-friendly templates.
People can find their next volunteer role at: https://makeadifference.volunteering.nsw.gov.au/
Minister with responsibility for Volunteering Jodie Harrison said:
"Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities, with 4.9 million of them contributing over 1.3 billion hours to our collective wellbeing.
"The NSW Government is working to grow volunteering, not only through the recruitment portal, but to make sure volunteers have access to the support they need and their contributions are recognised.
"We know volunteering is changing, so we are working with volunteering organisations, volunteers and the Centre for Volunteering to make sure the sector can adapt and attract new volunteers."
Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney CEO Claire Barber said:
"The NSW Volunteer Recruitment Portal is a useful tool for Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney, helping us connect with compassionate individuals who want to make a difference.
"Each listing often inspires dozens of people to reach out, eager to lend their time to support families with seriously ill children. It's a powerful way to grow our community of care."
Ronald McDonald House volunteer Caitlyn Portela said:
"I became motivated to volunteer through a willingness to help people throughout their journey in life.
"Whether this is a shoulder to lean on or someone to just listen to, I felt a need to offer this to people.
"RMHC is a place where people come for shelter and support, and I felt this was the place I wanted to start my volunteer journey and just be that person to walk alongside someone in their journey."
