1) Messages For Good (Content Volunteer)

This one has a special place in my heart, as a current Messages For Good volunteer myself. Messages For Good is a recent initiative founded by the Australian organisation Friends for Good. Its goal is to provide preventative support for loneliness by creating and sharing short uplifting videos and messages.

These videos could be snippets of your day, a favourite poem, or even a positive quote. Messages are uploaded to the official app TeaTime and distributed to connected aged care homes around Australia.

• Fully remote and flexible
• Very simple training process
• Not time-consuming
• A low-stakes option that still makes a meaningful difference

2) ReachOut Australia

ReachOut Australia is an online mental health service for young people. They connect people aged 5–25 with online wellbeing programs and resources, including information resources, apps, and anonymous online support spaces.

As a volunteer, you could be part of the Youth Ambassador program (for individuals aged 18–25 who want to share their story and advocate for mental health). ReachOut also offers roles in content creation and other casual volunteer opportunities depending on the intake.

• Great entry point for volunteers with little experience
• Youth mental health + wellbeing focus
• Options for advocacy, content, and community involvement
• Role availability depends on intake periods and program needs

3) Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue is one of Australia’s largest and most well-known mental health organisations. They provide support services for anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention.

While helpline roles require training and specific requirements, Beyond Blue also runs a range of events and fundraising programs throughout the year. Anyone over the age of 16 can apply to join their Event Volunteers Program.

• Trusted and widely recognised organisation
• Face-to-face volunteering opportunities through events
• Event-based roles often suit busy uni schedules
• Great for confidence-building and community involvement

4) Lifeline

Helpline volunteering is arguably the closest you can get to therapy-adjacent “work experience” at a student level. Lifeline is Australia’s national suicide prevention charity, offering services 24/7. They regularly recruit volunteers for phone and digital crisis support roles.

Be prepared, the role can get heavy. You will be supporting real people in distress. However, Lifeline provides information sessions and thorough training before you begin, along with supervision and structured support.

• Highly relevant experience for psychology students
• Strong training and skill development
• Deeply meaningful impact
• Requires time commitment and emotional readiness

5) FriendLine

Calling all people who love to chat! FriendLine is another initiative under Friends for Good. Important note: this is not a crisis helpline. Instead, the goal is to reduce loneliness through friendly, supportive conversation.

This is a great option if you’re intimidated by crisis support roles (like Lifeline), but still want to make a difference through human connection.

• Friendly, supportive role (not crisis-based)
• Great for building listening + connection skills
• Lower emotional intensity than crisis lines
• A meaningful weekly routine for consistent volunteers

6) Australian Red Cross

The Australian Red Cross offers a wide range of volunteer roles, from community support and emergency services to retail and outreach programs. Roles vary by location, but many are beginner-friendly and focus on helping people feel supported, safe, and connected.

• Wide variety of roles depending on your local area
• Great for building teamwork, communication, and community skills
• Suitable for many personality types
• Strong, well-established organisation

7) Salvation Army (Salvos)

The Salvation Army (Salvos) offers volunteering across community services, stores, meal programs, admin support, and outreach programs. It can be a great way to build real-world experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.

• Lots of roles available across different areas
• Practical experience in community support settings
• Suitable if you want consistent volunteering

8) St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies)

Vinnies has volunteer opportunities including retail, community support, support centres, soup vans, tutoring, and outreach programs. It’s one of the easiest well-known organisations to start with if you want consistent volunteering and community connection.

• Beginner-friendly roles available
• Great for building confidence if you are new to volunteering
• Strong community-based impact
• Options for regular or casual volunteering

9) Aged Care Volunteering

Anyone else just love elderly people? Their stories, wisdom, and life experience… there’s always something to learn. Intergenerational connection has so many benefits, from passed-down wisdom to reducing loneliness. And it’s not just the seniors who benefit.

Aged care homes are often happy to take on volunteers and tend to offer a wide range of roles. Some opportunities might include working at the café, providing companionship, running bingo nights, doing craft sessions, or helping with lifestyle activities.

To find opportunities near you, search your local aged care homes and keep an eye out for volunteer listings.

• Wide variety of roles and environments
• Flexible hours (short-term or long-term)
• Face-to-face, relationship-based volunteering

10) International Volunteer HQ

Finally, if you’re interested in psychology beyond national borders (or you’re planning a gap year, exchange, or post-grad break), international volunteering can offer a very different kind of learning experience.

International Volunteer HQ offers structured international placements in areas such as mental health support, disability services, community wellbeing, and youth programs. While these roles usually aren’t clinical in nature, they can offer valuable exposure to cross-cultural psychology and community mental health.

Keep in mind: these placements are typically self-funded and may suit students looking for broader life experience alongside their degree.

• Cross-cultural exposure and global perspective
• Insight into community wellbeing in different contexts
• Flexible timing (short-term to long-term)
• Program fees usually apply