Food for the Homeless Sydney, Australia

WHY we need you in Australia

13.2% of Australian's are living below the poverty line (thats over 3 million people).
Around 14% of people in Australia, are eating less food than they need due to a lack of money or other resources.
The number of wildlife handed to the RSPCA has dramatically increased over the past decade.
Many animals are significantly injured on roadsides, meaning they cannot then survive in the wild.

APPLY NOW

Ready to volunteer abroad? Complete your application online in about 5 min.

HOW can you help?

Help provide the homeless with nutritional food, with the help of local donations
Give them the short-term support they need to get back on their feet
Work with our local team and various food banks in Sydney
Bring along a compassionate and kind nature to this project

WHAT can you do?

Prepare food to be given to the homesless
Help to distribute the food
Visit local food banks to gather more food or donations
Talk to the homeless people at the project, listen to their stories, encourage and help to inspire them

Why Involvement Volunteers International?

Non Profit Org & Charity with 30+ Years Experience
Authentic, Meaningful & Affordable Projects
Social Experiences - Sharing with International Volunteers
Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries

Project Description

PROJECT NAME: FOOD FOR THE HOMELESS
LOCATION: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)

MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK

MIN AGE: 16+

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: N/A

PROJECT COSTS: From US$645 + APPLICATION FEE

Overview

Homeless people in Sydney? Yes, there are hundreds of homeless people in Sydney and the number seems to increase every year. These people living below the poverty line have various health problems and disabilities. They need short-term support to get back on their feet. Mostly they are Australians, Aboriginals, Torres Strait Islanders, New Zealanders and others.

In this program, you will actively engage in the local community development by working with our local team and various food banks in Sydney. You will assist us to provide food for over 100 homeless people while encouraging them and bringing hope to their lives.

During the week you will visit food banks in the area to negotiate and get excess food items and donations. With the collected food items, you will prepare food for the homeless people. Once the food is prepared you will have the opportunity to distribute the food to the people in need. You will also get to talk to them, encourage them and inspire them to achieve something more in life.

Our project aims at providing, haircuts, shower facilities as well as part-time job opportunities for a few of them in the future.

Location

Sydney is Australia’s largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city, with an enviable reputation as one of the world’s most livable and beautiful cities. Known as the Harbour City, Sydney is brimming with history, nature, culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design. Located on one of the world’s most beautiful harbours, Sydney also has some of Australia’s most famous surf beaches like Coogee and Bondi Beach, beautiful coastline scenery and easy access to the Royal National Park, the world’s second oldest national park. Beyond the beautiful coastline Sydney’s ethnically diverse streets are full of action, and home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of Australia’s most iconic structures.

Project Tasks

Provide food for the homeless people in Sydney who are unable to earn a living
Encourage and support them till they can stand on their feet.
Visit food banks and prepare the food to be given out

Food & Accommodation

Your accommodation is located in the peaceful suburban city called Beecroft in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, 25 km from the Sydney central business district (25 to 30 minutes drive). You will be staying in the residential area where you can easily reach all the services and facilities such as supermarkets, ATMs, banks, shopping malls, and restaurants.

The Centre is a comfortable dorm-style accommodation, with up to 4 people in each room. The centre has a well equipped kitchen which you can use to store your food and make your own meals. There is also cozy living room where you can hang out with the fellow volunteers, watch movies and spend time. There is wifi in public areas, lockable rooms, ben linen, water, tea, coffee and laundry facilites (for an extra cost).

Meals are prepared by the volunteers. You will be provided with enough staple food ingredients. Prepare different menus of breakfast, lunch and dinner by yourself and share with the other participants. The cooking facility will be available for you to prepare breakfast from 6.30 am to 8.30 am and 6 pm to 8 pm for dinner.

During weekends, meals will not be provided. However, cold food will be available at the kitchen if you wish to stay at the center during the weekends. Furthermore, you are welcome to use the refrigerator to store your personal food and beverages.

Testimonials...

"The Zoo was AMAZING and I loved my time there and can’t wait to go back! The zoo is well maintained, the standard of care for all the animals is first rate and Donna and Gill run an efficient ship to keep it all that way. I honestly can’t rave about it enough, i loved getting up early every day to do the morning feeding rounds"

"It’s hard to tell what I liked most about my stay because there are so many things I loved to do! I guess feeding the crocodiles and kangaroos were two of my favourite tasks to do. In general, interacting with the animals, especially with the birds that have been hand-raised and therefore very tame was fun."

"My highlight of the trip was seeing animals I have never seen before such as kangaroos, wombats and crocodiles at the zoo. We also went to Cape Tribulation and on a boat tour on the river by the rainforest where we saw crocodiles, snakes and a lot of bats. The people living there were really friendly and our accommodation was quite big, we had a lot of space. We also could go swimming in the pool when we finished work."

"The best experience I have had since I’ve been in Australia. It took me a good week or so to get used to serenity and quietness of working at the zoo, but after that I can honestly say that as the weeks progressed the more enjoyment I took from the job."

"I spent the first 2hs feeding the animals and cleaning the enclosures and then, it varied: I did some painting and raking, burned stuff, cleaned the B&B rooms, prepared the food for the animals, etc."

"Donna and Gil welcome you in a beautiful surrounding (the Daintree!), where you have your own place to cook, sleep, watch TV, relax in the garden or by the pool. We felt at home right away. The job can be hard sometimes especially if it rains a lot making everything a bit more difficult. But we liked every part of what we did, we learned a lot! We fed the animals, did some gardening, cleaning in the zoo, the enclosures, and get the rooms ready in the b&b area."

"I enjoyed both of the placements very much! I highly appreciate Tina and her family for dedicating themselves entirely to save the endangered species from extinction, despite lack of manpower and funding."

FAQ...

Is Food Support in Australia the Right Project for Me?

This program is best suited for you if you have the ability to feel a genuine need to support these people with kindness.

Project Fees

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What's Included in the Volunteer Fees

Support of in-country practitioner supervisor / coordinator
Support of a team (normally 4 to 8 volunteers per intake)
Arrival airport transfers
1 day induction & cultural orientation
All ground transportation
Accommodation – Volunteer Guest House (Single gender shared rooms)
3 quality meals per day (We cater to healthy diets!)
Project equipment and materials (eg. safety lancets, gloves, blood testing kits, pamphlets)
24/7 in-country support & emergency assistance
Training & guidance from qualified local staff
Certificate of Completion

What's Not Included

Travel insurance (mandatory)
Airfares & visa fees
Additional tours, souvenirs, spending money
Some daily local transport (depending on program eg. $2 p/day)

Is there an Orientation?

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarise you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule

Welcome, introduction to Australia, House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents
Introduction to the project
Visit the project

What About Transportation?

Airport pick-up is generally included in the volunteering cost unless specified. This may involve either a local pick-up by your volunteer host or a public transport ticket where necessary. These details will be finalised with you upon making a booking.

What does a Typical Day Involve?

Monday

On Monday morning, you will receive an orientation session on the project and your tasks and activities throughout the week. After lunch, you will start preparing food for the homeless at our center. In the evening, you will leave the center with the dinner you have prepared and packed for yourselves. At our project site in Sydney, you will serve the food to the homeless people. After serving the food you will return to the center.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, you will visit Walkabout Wildlife Park in the morning, where you will have time to explore the unique flora and fauna of Australia. After the visit, you will come back to the center for lunch. After lunch, you will start preparing and packing food for the evening food distribution for the homeless. Then you will leave for the project site and serve the food.

Wednesday

Today is for you to join a local group who cooks and serves food for the homeless. You will work with the local team in the food camp in preparing the food, packing and serving alongside the local participants.

Thursday

In the morning on Thursday, you will prepare the food and pack them. In the evening, you will distribute them to homeless people. You will have time to interact with them and share experiences with each other.

Friday

On Friday you will visit food banks to get ingredients and food packing materials for the next week. After lunch, you will have free time to explore the city on your own.

What Happens on Weekends?

Your program will take place from Monday to Friday and weekends will be free for you to explore the city on your own. The places of interest and activities which you can visit during your free time include heritage sites, beaches, city centers, museums, walking tours and many more. Some of the interesting sites are as follows,

Town Hall
Queen Victoria Building
The Strand Arcade
Hyde Park
Anzac War Memorial
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Australia Museum
Library of NSW
Botanical Gardens
Old Hospital
Ferry to Darling Harbour
The Mint
The Rock
Bondi Beach
Coogee Beach
Manly Beach

There is plenty to get up to elsewhere in Australia. From a trip into the Outback, admiring Uluru, wandering around the big cities, going on a river crocodile cruise in Darwin, surfing, diving, snorkelling, trekking through the rainforest, relaxing on a beautiful beach, swimming with whale sharks on the west side, sipping on delicious coffee, hugging a koala, the list goes on!

Are There Any Special Requirements?

Participants below 18 should have parental consent and participants above 65 should have medical clearance to take part in this program.

Country Information

Volunteering in Australia can be the most cost effective way for gap year students and backpackers from all over the globe to experience this great country. From pristine surf beaches to hinterland mountains and outback deserts, IVI has options available to suit various needs and budgets.

Australia is a vast country, with a variety of different scenery. The Western side is much more quiet, with beautiful beaches, snorkelling and National Parks. The East side is popular with backpackers doing the trip from Melbourne to Cairns (or vice versa). And in the middle, you have the Outback, where you will find Uluru, formally known as Ayres Rock. Wherever you choose to explore in Australia, you are guaranteed to find adventure!

Climate

Australia is generally warm year rounnd in most places. Up North in Darwin you will find it’s always hot and humid and in the mountains in the South it will snow in winter, so always check the climate for whichever region you will be visiting.

Summer is from December to March and will be hot in most places. Winter is from June to August and can be warm or cool, depending which area you are in. Spring and Autumn can be the best months to travel due to the temperate climate.

What's the Culture Like in Australia?

Australians are very friendly people and love being outdoors, active and enjoying the year round sunshine. It’s a very diverse country with many different cultures and backgrounds, such as Asian, British, Irish, Greek, African and of course the Indigenous groups. Australia holds some of the worlds first people.

Australians love a good drink and catch up with friends, as well as enjoying watching or playing sport! The outdoor lifestyle is evident here, with locals enjoying the beach, outdoor bars or the open parks and bushland.

About Involvement Volunteers International

30 Years Non Profit Experience

IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.

Affordable Volunteer Travel

We’re not motivated by shareholder profits. Our fees are fully transparent to ensure maximum benefit where it is most needed.

Safe & Responsible Projects

All projects include a dedicated 24/7 in-country management team, operational & risk assessment & overseas support contact. All projects are personally inspected to ensure very high quality.

Work Experience & University Credits

We place thousands of Uni students and can assist you with course credits and in-field experience points. Many of our project coordinators are qualified practitioners in their respective fields allowing unique in-field supervision and Uni accreditation options

See More

How Can I Raise Funds for my Trip?

Check out this amazing blog with step by step info on how to raise funds for your overseas volunteer experience to help maximize your impact abroad. Guide to Fundraising

Weekends & Extra Tours

There are several places to hold a koala in Australia, one being the Lone Pine Wildlife Sanctuary in Brisbane. These cute animals are just irresistable!

The Great Barrier Reef is a snorkeller's or diver's heaven. With crystal clear waters, and an abundence of marine life, this is a must visit!

One of Australia's most iconic structures, the Sydney Opera House is an impressive building. Wander around the city or head our to one of the beautiful beaches.

Australia is not short of incredible beaches to explore. Whether its for relaxing, having a BBQ or getting active with surfing and other watersports- theres a beach for everyone!

This stunning road leads from the cities of Torquay to Allansford, right on the South coast of Australia. Along the winding coastal road you will spot many beautiful spots, such as the Twelve Apostles.

Uluru is a sacred place to the Aboriginal people. The huge rock stands out from the otherwise vast and barren landscape surrounding it. Head here for sunrise and sunset to see the rock glow a deep red colour.