Volunteering for Meals on Wheels

Make a difference. With your help, we can ensure members of the North Shoalhaven community live happy, healthy and independent lives. Our volunteers enjoy meeting our clients and making sure they’re safe and well every time they deliver a meal.

If you’re seeking to make a positive difference in the community, meet like-minded people, challenge yourself, learn new skills and add value to people’s lives, have a look at the volunteer roles and Frequently Asked Questions below to find out more.

Volunteer Roles

Meals on Wheels has different roles for volunteers, and each role is essential if we are to be successful in supporting our clients.

Kitchen Assistant

Kitchen Assistants help with meal preparation, cleaning, packing of meals and checking inventory. Kitchen Assistants are needed in our three kitchens: in Jervis Bay, Nowra Bomaderry, and Shoalhaven Heads.

Kitchen Coordinator/Cooks

Kitchen Coordinators prepare and cook designated meals in line with nutritional meal guidelines, pack meals to ensure we are following safe food handling processes, check inventory, and help with kitchen cleanup. Kitchen Coordinators are needed in our three kitchens: in Jervis Bay, Nowra Bomaderry, and Shoalhaven Heads.

Drivers and Deliverers

Each driver teams up with a deliverer to deliver meals to clients in their area. Drivers need to have access to their own vehicle, have either comprehensive or third party property insurance, and have the ability to lift and carry eskies of food. Deliverers must have the ability to lift and carry eskies of food.

Lunch Date

A major part of what Meals on Wheels offers is social connection with our clients, many of whom may have limited mobility. A Lunch Date volunteer will visit house bound or isolated clients in their own home to have a chat, enjoy a cuppa, play a game of cards, or whatever suits them both, while also enjoying a shared meal.

Volunteers to support groups

The volunteers attend groups activities, such as our Wheels to Meals program, where small groups of clients visit different local restaurants to enjoy a few hours out of their home. Volunteers may need to help with transport, getting clients seated, or facilitating conversation.

Administration assistants

Volunteer office assistants provide administration support to the office staff located at North Nowra. This could include helping to organising paper and computer files, preparing promotional materials, bookkeeping, taking telephone enquiries, or coordinating programs.

Ambassadors of Meals on Wheels

To spread the word of what Meals on Wheels can offer, we need various Ambassadors to be willing to share information in various settings, such as:

  • Attending forums, shopping centres, service meetings and so on, to promote Meals on Wheels.
  • Updating our social media/printed materials to promote our services to our current and potential clients and their families, and to attract potential volunteers and sponsors.
  • Distributing our printed material to GPs, pharmacies, libraries, etc.

Board of Management

To ensure that we have a prudent and responsible Board, we are always looking for Board members who have skills in Law, Promotion, Accounting, Human Resources or Nutrition. The Board meets on a monthly basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I help as a volunteer?

There are a number of positions required to ensure each of our services are successful including:

  • Administration
  • Delivering meals
  • Cooking and preparation of meals
  • Client support though our Meals Together program

See more details of the volunteer positions we have above.

Do I need special skills to volunteer?

The most important requirement is enthusiasm and willingness to assist. Some roles require additional skills, but we can find a role that matches your skills and interests.

What is the time commitment of a volunteer?

Anything from a couple of hours a month, to one or more full days a week, depending on the role – the choice is yours.

Will I receive training as a volunteer?

Volunteers receive an induction with our staff and are paired with an experienced volunteer to share their experience and advice.

Our volunteers are offered training in a number of areas including Safe Food Handling, Recognising Signs of Elder Abuse, and Accidental Counselling.

Where can I volunteer?

Our volunteers can work at any of our five services across the North Shoalhaven including Berry, Shoalhaven Heads, Nowra Bomaderry, Culburra Beach and Jervis Bay.

How do I become a volunteer?

You can contact our office on 4422 5111 or complete our form for new volunteers below.

New Volunteers Form

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for North Shoalhaven Meals on Wheels, please complete the form below and return to us or you can call us on 4422 5111.