Volunteer With Us

Please note that we are currently at capacity with our volunteers, and our next application intake will be 21st April 2025 (at the latest). While we are still accepting new applications during this time, we will not be able to review them for the month of April. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Make a Meaningful Impact

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? At St Mary’s House of Welcome, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for those experiencing homelessness, poverty, and social isolation. Volunteering with us is a meaningful way to lend a hand and be part of positive impact within our community.

Volunteers play a vital role in the functioning of SMHOW, contributing their time and energy to various aspects of our programs and services. From running our reception area to preparing and serving meals, volunteers ensure that SMHOW continues to be a warm and welcoming space for Melbourne's community in need.

Volunteering Opportunities

Breakfast & Lunch Services

Monday - Friday
Breakfast - 8:00am-10:00am
Lunch - 10:30am-2:00pm
Saturday
8:00am - 12:00pm
Responsibilities:
- Assisting the Chef to prepare breakfast and lunch
- Setting tables, washing crockery and cutlery with dishwasher
- Ensuring service users have been offered and served a drink and a meal
Reception

Monday - Friday
8:30am-1:00pm
Saturday
8:00am - 12:00pm
Responsibilities:
- Assist clients with mail checks and provision of toiletries
- Referring service users to the homeless management team
- Answering phone calls, and directing phone enquiries to the appropriate person
- Some simple data entry and administrative tasks may be required
Donated Food Drivers

Monday and Thursday
8:00am-11:00am and 11:00am-2:00pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
8:00am-11:00am
Responsibilities:
- Collect food donations from local shops and donors
- Occasional deliveries also required
Food donation pickups occur every weekday morning and are vital to keeping our services running. Van provided by SMHOW.

Apply Now

How to become a Volunteer

To be eligible for a volunteer role, applicants must be 18 years or older and consent to a National Police Check and a Working with Children Check.
Please fill out the application form here.
After submitting your application, you can expect a response from our volunteer team within two weeks.
Once your application is processed, one of our team members will contact you via email with detailed information about the available role, your induction process, and your start date.

Who can volunteer?

Community Volunteers

St Mary’s House of Welcome is very fortunate to have almost 200 regular volunteers who are actively involved in a variety of roles across the organisation. They have contributed around 8,000 hours per year in areas such as the Dining Room, art classes, social inclusion programs, collecting food donations and – of course – our wonderful receptionists who manage to create such a welcoming atmosphere for the people seeking our assistance or support.

Learn More
Corporate Volunteers

Each year, we have a number of corporate groups volunteering with St Mary’s House of Welcome via their Corporate Responsibility Programs. Usually, these groups get involved in hosting Community BBQs or excursions for our service users.

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School Volunteers

We currently have more than 20 schools which volunteer at St Mary’s House of Welcome throughout the year. We have also have numerous schools from regional Victoria visit us to learn more about what we do and help with things such as preparing and serving morning tea. St Mary's House of Welcome encourages interest shown by young adults in our work. Unfortunately, our Child Safe Policy does not allow us to welcome young adults under 18 years as volunteers, unless they form part of our school organised activities program.

Learn More