Volunteering: I can do that Anyone can volunteer - to pursue their passion, and get involved. Volunteering enables everyone to give their experience and talents, develop further skills, and meet new people. The opportunities are endless. Income support recipients seek to volunteer for the same reasons as all Australians - to participate and help out in their communities. Because of the benefits of volunteering, Volunteering Australia and the Australian Government support volunteering as a way for job seekers to engage with and participate in the activities of their community, while possibly aiding their prospects of paid employment. All income support recipients may choose to volunteer. Did you know... People on any payment type may choose to volunteer. Volunteer Work - without Centrelink Approval People on any payment type may choose to. If their volunteering is not counting towards meeting a participation or activity test requirement, this can be done without requiring Centrelink or Job Network approval. Any other activity test requirement must continue to be met. Approved Voluntary Work The guidelines for volunteering undertaken to meet an activity test, Mutual Obligation or participation requirement are that your voluntary work: must not replace a paid worker; is not undertaken in your own home, with your own family, or for your own organisation must not involve violence towards people or property must have a community focus must not be primarily focused on promoting particular religious or political views Youth Allowance Youth Allowance recipients seeking to fulfill Mutual Obligation requirements through volunteering participate in Community Work. For Youth Allowance recipients aged 18-20 Community Work involves 200 hours of volunteering over a six-month period monitored by a Community Work Coordinator. For recipients aged 21-24 this requirement is 240 hours over a six-month period. Community Work is administered and monitored by a Community Work Coordinator Newstart Allowance (21-49) Job seekers aged 21-49 wishing to use volunteering to meet Mutual Obligation requirements participate in Community Work. For Newstart Allowance recipients aged 21-39, Community Work usually involves 240 hours of volunteering over a six-month period, monitored by a Community Work Coordinator. For principal carer parents and jobseekers assessed as having a partial capacity to work this requirement may be reduced to 150 hours over a six-month period. For customers aged 40-49, their requirement is 150 hours over a six-month period and is also monitored by a Community Work Coordinator. Newstart Allowance (50-54) Job seekers aged 50 and over do not have a Mutual Obligation requirement, but must meet the Activity Test. Customers aged 50-54 may be able to partially satisfy their activity test by undertaking voluntary work. This needs to be agreed with an employment service provider and should be beneficial to the client's employment prospects. Newstart Allowance (55+) and Mature Age Allowance Volunteers aged 55-plus are able to undertake volunteering or part time work, or a combination of these for 30 hours per fortnight to fully meet activity test requirements. In fully meeting the activity test people participating in this 'full time' option may elect to withdraw from other programs such as the 'Job Network'. Parenting Payment For Parenting Payment recipients with participation requirements, Community Work can assist to meet their part time Mutual Obligation of 150 hours over 26 weeks in any one year period. Any Community Work undertaken should have a strong vocational focus, and be likely to assist the person to obtain paid employment. This Community Work needs to be monitored by a Community Work Coordinator.