Volunteers
We Want You!
Ever thought of volunteering? Volunteering not only benefits your association, it’s good for you, too.
Gain professional experience, meet new people, and learn new skills while helping us improve our services.
Volunteer workers at NSW Stoma are valued and appreciated and play an important role in supporting our strategic objectives. Volunteer roles include working within our operational environment, assisting with roles such as stock receipt and dispatch, administration, reception, and customer service or acting in a governance capacity by joining our board/executive committee.
While the majority of volunteers either have a stoma themselves or have a close family member who is living with a stoma, our association welcomes volunteer enquiries from any interested person.
NSW Stoma Ltd provides a clean, safe, friendly and happy work environment and we are always seeking friendly, positive people to help us cope with our ever-increasing workload.
Volunteers are reimbursed reasonable expenses for travel to our premises.
What is my commitment as an NSW Stoma Ltd Volunteer?
Volunteers take part in a regular workday which is usually between 8am and 4pm. Volunteering can be weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Once we negotiate your availability, we will include you on our roster and you become an important part of our team.
What happens if I can’t attend my rostered volunteer day?
We recognise that things don’t always go to plan. If you are sick or have another commitment on your rostered day, please contact us at the earliest opportunity to let us know that you won’t be in so that we can make other arrangements to fill the gap.
Is there a minimum age?
You must be 18 years old or over to volunteer at NSW Stoma Ltd.
Do I need experience?
While no formal experience is needed, all volunteers need:
• Good communications skills
• A good level of physical fitness
• A willingness to learn
• To be regular and reliable
• To be fluent in English
• A belief in the purpose of the organisation
We supply training and instructions for each volunteer. For other requirements, see our volunteer position descriptions here
How can I register my interest to volunteer?
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please review our Volunteer Roles, Volunteer Agreement, complete an Application for Voluntary Work, and email it to volunteer@nswstoma.org.au. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Volunteer Spotlight: Randall’s Story
I’d like to let everyone know about one of the most rewarding experiences that I have had for many, many years. I’m seventy-five years young and have been an ostomate and member of NSW Stoma for nearly five years.
For nearly three months now I’ve been working as a volunteer at the Stanmore office and warehouse and I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to give a bit back. The last time I did any volunteer work was way back in the 1980s when I’d shave the old blokes in the local nursing home every third Sunday.
I’m sort-of retired now, so I can give four hours a week to NSW Stoma. That’s all it is, four hours from 10am to 2pm. I chose Tuesdays as my rostered volunteer day and I’ve filled in a couple of times when a volunteer was away. Even though it’s only four hours a week, Mary and Carlos, in fact everyone made my start back into the workforce easy and with no hassles. They even threw a birthday party for me after I’d only been working for a few weeks.
The work tasks are not hard or difficult, not strenuous or intense but it’s all very rewarding. I leave at the end of my shift, with a real sense that I’ve done a worthwhile job and made a bit of a difference. I have been amazed at the huge range of product inventory that we handle and I’m slowly getting to know the code numbers of the different bags, spacers, belts, straps, tapes, accessories, creams, sprays and powders. I’ve met and traded stories with many of our members who pick-up their monthly supplies from office reception.
At the moment, I think there are seven or eight of us volunteers supporting the permanent staff whose workload seems to be ever increasing.
Ideally, we’d like some more volunteers so that we have two or three volunteers available to help each day, Monday to Friday.
The work tasks are spread around and include admin and reception duties in the office, receiving stock, pick and pack, dispatch and handling member pick-ups in the warehouse. Training is provided and travel costs are reimbursed.
Randall Cadby, April 2025