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Office of the Public Advocate logo

Safeguarding the rights and interests of people with disability.

Advice Service

9am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday

1300 309 337

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Volunteer vacancies

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OPA supports more than 650 volunteers who provide support for people with disability or mental illness across Victoria.

You are most welcome to register your interest for one of our volunteer positions. Your expression of interest will be acknowledged, and you will be sent further information about the volunteer program that you are interested in.


If you are considering becoming an Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) volunteer, it is essential that you read the position description for the OPA volunteer program you are interested in.

If there are no vacancies in your region, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be placed on a waiting list for future volunteer positions in your region. Please provide your residential address when requesting to be placed on the waiting list.

How to apply and selection

Vacant positions are grouped according to their program.

Select a role that interests you and is in the region where you live.

Read the position description and check that you have the necessary skills and attributes.

Click ‘enquire here’ at the end of the role description.

You will be taken to an online enquiry form. The information you provide in this form and any attachments will be used to assess your suitability for the role.

When you have completed the form, click ‘submit.’

A member of the volunteer recruitment team will contact you to further discuss your enquiry.

Community Visitors Program vacancies


Mental Health Community Visitors

Metropolitan areas: Northern, North Western, Western, Eastern and Southern
Regional areas: Mildura and Hume

Role: Volunteers are needed to visit facilities where people are receiving mental health treatment to monitor and report on the service provided, make inquiries into patient’s wellbeing and to advocate for their rights. Volunteers work in pairs and visit mental health facilities such as hospital mental health units, community care units and prevention and recovery centres.

As a Community Visitor volunteer, you will talk to patients to identify issues of concern. At the conclusion of a visit, you will contribute to a report documenting your findings.

Additional requirements: Volunteers cannot be a current employee of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. This role is ideally suited to individuals who are able to visit during mornings Monday-Friday.

Access to your own transport is required.

If there is a vacancy in your area, you will be emailed an information pack. This pack includes a volunteer application form that needs to be completed and returned to OPA before your inquiry can be progressed further.

Enquire here

Disability Services Community Visitors

Metropolitan areas:  Northern, Western, Eastern and Southern
Regional areas: Barwon South West, Outer Grampians, Bendigo, Colac, Benalla, Wangaratta, Stawell, Horsham, Echuca, Swan Hill, Shepparton, Cobram, Kialla, Nathalia, Numurkah and Mildura

Role: Volunteers are needed to visit group homes for people with disability to monitor and report on the service provided, make inquiries into resident’s wellbeing and advocate for their rights. Volunteers will work in pairs and visit group homes managed by community service organisations.

As a Community Visitor volunteer, you will talk to residents to identify issues of concern. At the conclusion of a visit, you will contribute to a report documenting your findings.

Additional requirements: Volunteers cannot be a current employee of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. This role is ideally suited to individuals who are able to visit during late afternoons Monday-Friday.

Access to your own transport is required.

If there is a vacancy in your area, you will be emailed an information pack. This pack includes a volunteer application form that needs to be completed and returned to OPA before your inquiry can be progressed further.

Enquire here

Residential Services Community Visitors

Metropolitan areas: All eastern, northern and southern metropolitan areas 
Regional areas: BSW 

Role: Volunteers are needed to visit Supported Residential Services (SRS) to monitor and report on the service provided, make inquiries into resident’s wellbeing and to advocate for their rights. Volunteers work in pairs. 

As a Community Visitor volunteer, you will talk to residents to identify issues of concern. At the conclusion of a visit, you will contribute to a report documenting your findings.

Additional requirements: Volunteers cannot be a current employee of the Department of Health and Human Services.This role is ideally suited to individuals who are able to visit during the day Monday-Friday.

Access to your own transport is required.

If there is a vacancy in your area, you will be emailed an information pack. This pack includes a volunteer application form that needs to be completed and returned to OPA before your inquiry can be progressed further.

Enquire here

Independent Third Person Program vacancies

Independent Third Person Program

Metropolitan areas: Nil
Regional areas: Benalla, Shepparton & Horsham

Role: Independent Third Persons (ITPs) attend police interviews for adults and young people with disability to ensure that they are not disadvantaged during the interview process. 

Enquire here

Community Guardianship Program vacancies

Community Guardianship Program

There are currently no vacancies in the Community Guardianship Program. 

If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for future volunteer positions in your region, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Volunteering with OPA

  • Community Guardian volunteer role description
  • Community Visitor volunteer role description
  • ITP Position Description
  • OPA CV Recruitment Brochure
  • OPA ITP Recruitment Brochure
  • Volunteering with OPA - Frequently Asked Questions
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Level 1, 204 Lygon Street
Carlton, Victoria 3053
Australia

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Phone: 1300 309 337

TTY: 1300 305 612

Fax: 1300 787 510

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The Office of the Public Advocate is located on the land of the Traditional Owners, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations. We acknowledge their history, culture and Elders both past and present.