The opportunity to create positive change in a young person’s life.
Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and we cannot thank them enough for the passion, lived experience and commitment they bring to supporting young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Around 500 volunteers from all different backgrounds are currently involved in a range of CMY programs including mentoring young jobseekers, sharing insights with newly-arrived young people on their settlement journey, supporting young people in police custody, or contributing to our youth leadership programs.
Please take a look through the following opportunities to see which one would be the most suitable for you.
Volunteer opportunities
Settling Smarter Volunteer Employment Mentor
Settling Smarter volunteer employment mentors focuses on guiding newly-arrived jobseekers, aged 18 to 25, to understand and prepare for the workplace.
Mentors and mentees continue to work together if the mentees secure employment. That’s because, along with supporting young people to overcome the barriers they face entering the workforce, Settling Smarter is committed to creating opportunities for young people to succeed and stay in the workforce.
Ucan2
Ucan2 engages a community of passionate volunteers who support newly-arrived young people, aged 16 – 25, through group activities in an educational setting.
Volunteers share their work, study and life experiences in Australia; act as positive role models, help young people practice English; and help foster young people’s confidence to make social connections and develop their skills.
Youth Referral and Independent Person’s Program (YRIPP)
YRIPP Independent Persons are volunteers who attend police interviews with a young person at a police station, when a parent or guardian is not available. The role provides an important opportunity to support young people at a critical time and to help divert those at risk of future offending.
Learning Support Programs (Homework Clubs)
CMY’s Education team supports schools and other organisations to run Out-of-School-Hours Learning Support Programs or Homework Clubs for students from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Volunteers support students with literacy, numeracy and study skills, help build confidence, self-esteem and feelings of connection to school and the wider community.
Volunteer opportunities for young people
Learning Support Programs (Homework Clubs)
CMY’s Education team supports schools and other organisations to run Out-of-School-Hours Learning Support Programs or Homework Clubs for students from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Volunteers support students with literacy, numeracy and study skills, help build confidence, self-esteem and feelings of connection to school and the wider community.
Explore – NOW RECRUITING
EXPLORE provides an opportunity for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to have direct input into the research that impacts their lives. The project supports a partnership between young people and researchers in order to enhance the relevance and responsiveness of research (and post-research interventions) to young people.
Positive Change Makers – NOW RECRUITING
Positive Change Makers provides youth leadership training for all experience levels, delivered by experienced youth facilitators.
Modules use experiential learning, offering a range of engaging and practical activities to build the capacity of our future leaders and explore concepts of values-based leadership, team building, active citizenship, culture and allyship.
Western Young People’s Independent Network (WYPIN) – NOW RECRUITING
WYPIN is a youth-led group based in Melbourne’s west, working to develop programs that will benefit multicultural young people.
The network engages young people each year in a variety of programs that focus on capacity building, empowerment, engagement, advocacy and challenging racism in the community.
Youth Advisory Group – NOW RECRUITING
The Youth Advisory Group is an opportunity for young people to build their advisory and advocacy skills and influence the work of CMY.
PLEASE NOTE: All CMY volunteers are required to complete a Police Check and a Working with Children Check. This is considered a minimum standard for child safety in the sector. You are also likely to go through a recruitment process that includes interviews and reference checks.