Volunteers

Volunteers - the strength behind our community

The Hills Shire is very fortunate to have a large and dedicated group of volunteers who play a critical role in helping Council provide important services to the community. Not only are our volunteers the lifeblood of many community services, they also create and maintain very strong community networks.

Volunteering not only benefits our Shire and residents it can also benefit volunteers themselves to form new friendships, learn new skills and put them to use and to support family or friends.

The effort of our volunteers forms a strong network that contributes greatly to the lifestyle of our residents. Rarely do you come across a volunteer who is not doing their job out of the goodness of their heart. If you would like to devote some of your time to your community and assist others, your help would be greatly appreciated.

Council also provides training opportunities for volunteers in all areas where volunteers contribute to the provision of services to the community. It's an opportunity to develop your skills and learn more about your community so, if you are not sure but think you might like to be involved, it's a great way to start.

How to Find What Would Suit You

Interested in volunteering but not sure what would suit you?

Finding a volunteering opportunity which immediately appeals to you is not always easy. Sometimes you may need a little more information before you get involved.

The Hills Community Aid and Information Service conducts a free course for prospective volunteers. Generally starting in February there are three hours of classes each week for six weeks. The course is intended to provide general training and an overview on the many areas of volunteer involvement.

Topics include:

The Shire's profile, demographics and services.
Why volunteer and what does it involve?
Effective communication skills.
Awareness and understanding of cultural diversity.
Attitudes and values, rights and responsibilities, reward and recognition.
Guest speakers for each of the services available.

If you are interested in finding out more about the course please contact the Hills Community Aid and Information Centre on 9639 8620.

Tourism

The Hills Shire Council has a Visitor Information Centre which is operated seven days a week by volunteers. The volunteers provide helpful service to visitors to the Shire and local residents. They have a wide range of maps and brochures to promote the local area.

Aged and Disability Services

Council's Hills Community Care Centre provides a number of important services to the aged and people with disabilities in the Shire. Volunteers are welcome to assist with services like:

Meals on Wheels - preparing and delivering meals to elderly and frail-aged people
Easy Care Gardening - assisting elderly people or people with disabilities in maintaining their garden by undertaking task such as pruning bushes, sweeping paths and mowing the lawn
Respite Care - providing care to the frail-aged or people with disabilities, allowing fulltime carers to take a break
Community Transport - providing transport assistance to elderly or frail aged people either by car or as a volunteer on Council's Community Transport bus.

For more information on Aged and Disbility Services click here.

Emergency Services

The Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service (SES) are trained to help out in any emergency situation. The Rural Fire Service welcomes the assistance of people with all kinds of skills. These include administration, catering, firefighting, mechanical and secretarial work. Full training is provided to new volunteers.

The 355 Committee Network

Click here to find out all about the 355 Committee Network .

Honorary Rangers

Council currently manages 350 public reserves consisting of about 1,500 hectares of land. The support given by Honorary Rangers to help control and supervise the use of such vast areas is invaluable.

Honorary Rangers have delegated authority under Section 377 of the Local Government Act 1993, to carry out their duties and request names, addresses and identification of offenders against the Local Government Act 1993 or laws.

An Honorary Ranger’s duties are to watch and report people found committing breaches of the Local Government Act 1993 or laws. Offenders should be given the opportunity to correct any wrongdoing, if this is possible. Honorary Rangers must not take any physical action in restraining people from committing breaches of the Act. Honorary Rangers have limited powers. They can ask for information but cannot compel the offender to give the information. Honorary Rangers can call the Police if necessary. Only Council employees or the Police can demand a person’s name and address, remove people from community land, or issue penalty notices.

Honorary Rangers are provided with training and an identity badge prior to commencing their duties. Generally they are appointed to a particular reserve or reserves.

Orange Blossom Festival

The Orange Blossom Festival is one of the largest Festivals is Australia run by the community – for the community. The Hills Shire has an incredible volunteering spirit and an extremely large volunteer network maintained within it.

It takes thousands of these local volunteers, from various groups, clubs and organisations from all over the Shire, working together to make this Festival happen each year.

So who are they?

Volunteers from various parts of the community play a major role in the growth of the Festival by including their events within the Festival calendar. This keeps a diverse the range of events for people to enjoy, and provides the community groups a forum for fund-raising.

These groups include Service Clubs such, Community Organisations, Schools, Sporting Clubs, special interest groups etc. These groups consist of dedicated people that are willing to give up many hours of their own time to get an event off the ground. Some just volunteer on the day, but most are involved from the beginning - and planning for some commences at least 12-months in advance.

Would you like to get involved?

If you are interested in become a Festival volunteer, simply register your name and details on this website and someone will contact you closer to the event.

Become a Volunteer

If you are interested in becoming a Council Volunteer complete the 'Request for Volunteer Information' form below and a Council Officer will get back to you with more information.

If you are interested in becoming a Council Volunteer, complete the request for information form online here .