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Australian Volunteers Program

@ausvols

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#AusVols
Australians volunteering around the world for sustainable development. 🌏 We are an Australian Government initiative.

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What if your next adventure was one you could share with your partner? 🌏

For Amelia and Tyrone, volunteering overseas wasn’t just an opportunity to use their skills, it was a chance to begin an exciting new chapter together.

The pair each found a role that matched their experience and decided to volunteer side by side in the Solomon Islands - sharing the experience of living, learning and becoming part of a new community.

The @ausvols welcomes couples to apply by finding assignments that align with your skills and aspirations.

Watch Amelia and Tyrone’s story, and if you’ve ever dreamed of volunteering overseas together, this could be your sign. 💛

#AusVols #SolomonIslands #InternationalVolunteering #SIAusPartnership by @ausvols

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4 months ago

🐝🇰🇭 From beeswax to breeding bees, the industry offers opportunities for Cambodian farmers to diversify their income and build sustainable livelihoods.

Australian volunteer Shelley Zhao is working alongside Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, sharing her skills in project development, research and stakeholder engagement to support the country’s growing beekeeping sector.

For Shelley, it’s also an opportunity to connect with local communities, learn from Cambodian farmers and contribute to their goals for a more sustainable future.

A sweet example of skills sharing and locally led development! 🍯💛

#AusVols #Cambodia #AustraliaCambodia #75YrsAustraliansVolunteering by @ausvols

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3 days ago

It’s International Dog Day and we’re celebrating with Australian volunteer Tiaan Gobius with a glimpse into his day-to-day work with the Animal Protection Society of Samoa.

Working alongside the local team, Tiaan is sharing his veterinary skills and experience while learning firsthand about animal welfare and veterinary care in Samoa.

Through the @ausvols Australians like Tiaan work alongside Samoan organisations to share knowledge, strengthen skills and support locally led priorities — while building the people-to-people connections at the heart of the Australia–Samoa relationship. 🐶🇦🇺🇼🇸

And a special shout-out to Pepe, who understood the assignment and was an absolute superstar throughout the shoot. 🐕⭐

📸 Cover photo of Australian volunteer Tiaan Gobius. Captured by @djoyobisono
📹 Filmed and edited by Tiaan Gobius / Australian Volunteers Program

#InternationalDogDay #AusVols #AustraliaSamoa #Australianvolunteers by @ausvols

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2 months ago

If you’re interested in volunteering overseas and you’re based in Melbourne/Naarm, register for the next in-person information session in Fitzroy 🔗via link in bio. #ausvols taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @ausvols

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5 days ago

Celebrating 75 years of the Australian Volunteers Program @ausvols

We were delighted to recently welcome the Australian High Commissioner to Kafika House! Shania, one of our wonderful volunteers from the Australian Volunteers Program, has been supporting our team at Kafika House and was there to help us warmly welcome the Commissioner during the visit.

The @ausvols program has been a long-time supporter of Kafika House and continues to provide incredible volunteers who bring so much knowledge, love, and joy to our mission.

📍Kafika House - Tanzania
🧡 High-Love, Low-Cost Rehabilitative Surgery

Our Vision: No child in Tanzania lives with a treatable disability. taken in Kafika House by @ausvols

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11 days ago

This World Teachers’ Day, meet Australian volunteer Sarah Smith, a Professional Development and Inclusive Education Mentor at Souphanouvong University in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Having lived and worked in Laos for over eight years, Sarah has fallen in love with the people and wanted to give back when she found the perfect opportunity through the Australian Volunteers Program with the teaching assignment.

Speaking of the importance of teachers, she said, ‘Teachers have a shared responsibility to be a positive influence on their students and the greater community. They are really important because they are the ones who guide people to be better and to develop themselves.’

Sarah believes that receiving support from skilled and experienced teachers from Australia has been valuable for her students, citing the students’ eagerness to apply for the Australian Award as an example.

We thank Sarah and all the teachers around the world for inspiring and supporting us all. Happy World Teachers’ Day!

📸 Photography by @djoyobisono / Australian Volunteers Program

Photo 1: Australian volunteer Sarah Smith (left) pictured with Thavone Panmanivong (right), Acting Head of International Cooperation Division of the university. Thavone Panmanivong is also a recipient and alumnus of the Australia Awards Scholarships.
Photo 2: Sarah Smith (2nd from left) pictured with her colleagues, lecturers at Souphanouvong University, (from left to right) Palitha Douangchack, Somchay Makesavanh and Saengdavanh Banouvong.
Photo 3: Sarah Smith (left) pictured with her colleague and student, Saengdavanh Banouvong (right), lecturer at the university.

#WorldTeachersDay #AusVols #75YrsAustralianVolunteering #LaoAustralia #InternationalVolunteering by @ausvols

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12 days ago

Australian volunteers have supported Solomon Islands for over 60 years 🇸🇧🇦🇺

The first Australian volunteers arrived in Solomon Islands in 1965 and since then, more than 700 volunteers have worked alongside over 136 local organisations to share skills, strengthen institutions and support locally led development outcomes.

In our link in bio, discover how volunteers and local organisations have worked together to create lasting impact in an article by Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) 🤝

Image credits: Tavuli News
📸:
1. Australian Volunteers Program May 2026 intake cohort comes together ahead of their placements, marking the start of their volunteering journey in Solomon Islands.
2. Local doctor Patrick Toito’ona and Australian volunteer Dr Matt Bray at the National Referral Hospital, working together to strengthen healthcare services and support improved patient outcomes in Solomon Islands.
3. Australian volunteers and DFAT officials come together to mark their ongoing collaboration in supporting communities across Solomon Islands.
4. Australian High Commission First Secretary Public Sector Governance, Eliza Woolcook, presents a commemorative gift highlighting the strong partnership between Australia and Solomon Islands.

#AusVols #75YrsAustraliansVolunteering #AustraliaSolomonIslandsPartnership by @ausvols

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16 days ago

Today on Palau National Day, we are pleased to spotlight the partnership between Australian volunteer Sarah Bessell and Palau’s Ministry of Health and Human Services and Belau National Hospital. 🇵🇼🇦🇺

Sarah’s volunteer assignment as a Pharmacist Advisor through the Australian Volunteers Program contributed to strengthening pharmacy systems, improving medicines management, and supporting better patient care.

Working alongside local colleagues, Sarah supported the development of an Antimicrobial Treatment Guideline and National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, contributing to enhanced healthcare services for communities across Palau.

As we mark 75 years of Australians volunteering overseas, we’re proud to celebrate partnerships like these that create lasting impact through shared expertise, collaboration and mutual learning. ❤️

🔗 Explore more stories of impact: Link in bio

Photography credit: Sarah Bessell, Sam Davey.

#AusVols #PalauNationalDay #75YrsAustraliansVolunteering #PalauAustraliaPartnership by @ausvols

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16 days ago

People-to-people connections are at the heart of the Australia-Cambodia partnership 🇰🇭🇦🇺

In the @khmer_times article through our link in bio, discover the contributions Australian volunteers have made alongside Cambodian organisations over more than three decades, supporting local priorities through skills sharing, collaboration and knowledge exchange.

📸: Australian Ambassador to Cambodia Derek Yip (second from left) with Australian volunteers in Siem Reap. Credit: Australian Embassy, Cambodia

#AusVols #AustraliaCambodia #PeopleToPeopleLinks #InternationalDevelopment by @ausvols

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16 days ago

Meet our newest cohort of Australian volunteers, joining a proud legacy of 75 years of Australians volunteering internationally 🌏

Having completed their pre-departure briefing, they’re now preparing to work alongside partner organisations across the Pacific, Asia and Africa, contributing their skills in support of locally led priorities.

We’re excited to welcome them to #AusVols and look forward to following their experiences in the months ahead!

#AusVols #75YrsAustraliansVolunteering #InternationalVolunteering by @ausvols

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17 days ago

In Timor-Leste, more than 820 volunteer assignments have brought local organisations and Australian volunteers together to support sustainable development through knowledge sharing and collaboration. 🇹🇱🇦🇺

Kalen Timbs, who volunteered with the Municipal Authority of Ermera through the Australian Volunteers Program, is one of more than 17,000 Australians to volunteer overseas since 1951.

During his assignment, Kalen worked alongside local engineers to strengthen existing technical capacity while also gaining a deeper appreciation for the role of community in development. The experience reinforced that meaningful outcomes are built not only through technical expertise, but through trust, collaboration and shared learning.

As we celebrate 75 Years of Australians volunteering overseas, Kalen’s story is a reminder that volunteering is not only about sharing skills, but also about the lasting connections and learning that flow both ways.

Explore more stories of impact: link in bio

📸:
1. Staff of the Municipal Authority of Ermera and Australian volunteer Kalen Timbs at a building site inspection. Supplied: Kalen Timbs
2. Staff at the Municipal Authority of Ermera and Australian volunteer Kalen Timbs (centre, wearing navy blue) wearing traditional Tais at a farewell for Kalen. Supplied: Kalen Timbs
3. Kalen scuba diving off Atauro Island, Timor-Leste. Supplied: Kalen Timbs
4. Australian volunteer Kalen Timbs wearing traditional Timorese clothing and accessories gifted by friends. Supplied: Kalen Timbs
5. Colleagues from the Municipal Authority of Ermera and Australian volunteer Kalen Timbs (centre, wearing red) recording water flow rates in in Mirtutu, Ermera, Timor Leste. Supplied: Kalen Timbs

#75YrsAustraliansVolunteering #AusVols #TimorLeste #PeopleToPeopleLinks by @ausvols

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23 days ago

Browse our latest volunteering opportunities across the Pacific, Asia and Africa 🌏

Support our partners through assignments in English language training, occupational therapy, child protection, urban search and rescue, surveying, ethical research and more.

Not sure where to start? Join our next online information session on 29 September. Our team will guide you through what to expect before and during your assignment, and answer your questions about volunteer support.

🔗Link in bio to explore assignments or sign up for the online info session

📸:
1. Joshua (Josh) Booth volunteers as an Information Systems and Strategy Integration Specialist at the Local Government Unit (LGU) in the Philippines. Photographer: David V. Aguilar
2. Brendan Eager volunteers at the Non-Formal Education Development Centre as an Education Support Officer with Somchit Phonevilai (R) and Kongphat Silavongphet (L). Photographer: Teagan Glenane
3. Mrs. Dao Thu Trang, Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang, Mr. Pham Ngoc Thang and Australian volunteer Elise Giles (far right) from Vietnam One Health Partnership for Zoonoses. Photographer: Le Bao Minh Hien
4. Bebbolynda Florencio assists in the Ormuul Gift Shop at the Senior Citizens community centre (known locally as Old Age Centre) run by The Bureau of Ageing, Gender and Disability in Palau. Photographer: Darren James
5. Australian Volunteer Carine Marie Cesar (Enterprise Officer) working hand-in-hand with the President of Barangay Ambasa Organic Farming Association. Photographer: David Aguilar
6. Lowri Williams (right), Australian Volunteer Project Mentor at the QuadPara Association of the Western Cape with Anthony Ghillino, General Manager of the QuadPara Association of the Western Cape. Photographer: Matthew Willman
7. Australian volunteer Pam Waters (L) works as a Program Design and Development Mentor at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) in Honiara, Solomon Islands with her colleague Solomon Manea (R), Director of the Institute of IPAM. Photographer: Harjono Djoyobisono

#AusVols #InternationalVolunteering #ProfessionalDevelopment #LocallyLedChange by @ausvols

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25 days ago