Volunteer with Make-A-Wish

Join the Wish Force and help make the impossible, possible for sick kids and their families

Read about the types of volunteering opportunities we offer and hit ‘Apply now’ to be part of something truly special.

What do Make-A-Wish volunteers do?

So much! Our amazing volunteers play a key role in helping bring wishes to life for kids with critical illnesses.

Whether it’s  supporting families on their Wish Journey,  organising a fundraiser, or spreading the word about Make-A-Wish, every volunteer makes a difference.

You might find our volunteers:

🌟 Welcoming new team members
🌟 Chatting with wish kids and their families to capture a wish
🌟 Planning a gala ball or running a sausage sizzle
🌟 Speaking at a local school or community group

No matter the task, our volunteers bring their time, energy, and big hearts to help create hope, joy, and lasting memories for wish kids, their families, and their communities.

It is such a unique feeling. I can’t compare it to anything. When else can you see a child smile like that? Or talk so excitedly? The Make-A-Wish experience is one of a kind.
Zoe, Make-A-Wish volunteer

Types of volunteering

Keen to get involved? Join your local branch!

If you're looking for an ongoing volunteering role, becoming a branch volunteer is a great way to stay connected and make a real difference. Here’s what it’s all about:

⭐ Catch up with your fellow volunteers  - at monthly branch meetings (usually on a weeknight)
⭐ Help bring wishes to life  – from chatting with families to building exciting anticipation
⭐ Get stuck into local events  – think fun runs, sausage sizzles, gala nights, bake-offs and more
⭐ Spread the word  in your community - help us reach more families in need of a wish and connect with more supporters
⭐ Every branch is a little different, so activities may vary!

A few things to know before you apply:

✅ You’ll need to be 18+ and happy to commit for at least 12 months
✅ You’ll need a personal email account and be comfortable using our secure online volunteer platform
✅ You’re required to complete online training within your first 6 weeks
✅ Our application process includes an interview, reference checks, background check, and a Working with Children Check (or your state’s equivalent)
✅ You’ll need to be able to travel to get to local meetings and events
✅ If you’re helping with wishes, it’s important you enjoy chatting with kids and families

Want to volunteer from anywhere in Australia? Join our virtual team!

If you're looking for a flexible, ongoing way to make a difference, virtual volunteering could be perfect for you. Here’s what it involves:

⭐ Jump into monthly online team meetings  with volunteers from all over Australia (usually on a weeknight)
⭐ Help bring wishes to life  by chatting with wish kids and their families online and supporting them on their Wish Journey

A few things to know before you apply:

💡 You’ll need to be 18+ and happy to commit for at least 12 months
💡 You’ll need a personal email account and be comfortable using our online volunteer platform
💡 You’re required to complete online training within your first 6 weeks
💡 Our application process includes an interview, reference checks, background check, and a Working with Children Check (or your state’s equivalent)
💡 It’s important that you enjoy chatting with kids and families

Want to help every now and then? Short-term volunteering might be for you!

If you're keen to lend a hand but can’t commit long-term, short-term volunteering is a great way to get involved when it suits you. Here’s what it might look like:

⭐ Jump in for a day or a shift  to help at one of our events
⭐ Support local fundraisers and activities  – from fun runs to sausage sizzles, donation drives, and gala nights
⭐ Be part of the Wish Force  without needing a regular commitment

A few things to know before you sign up:

📌 You’ll need to be 18 or older
📌 You’ll need a personal email account
📌 You’ll need to be able to travel to get to events
📌 Opportunities pop up at different times and places, so we can’t always guarantee how often you’ll be needed
📌 Want to run your own fundraiser instead? Check out how to get started here

Want to give back through your workplace? Let’s team up!

Corporate volunteering is a fantastic way to make a difference while building team spirit. Whether you're looking for a one-off activity or a deeper partnership, we’ve got meaningful ways for your team to get involved:

⭐ Connect with Make-A-Wish  through your company or organisation
⭐ Give back as a team – and feel great doing it together
⭐ Take part in group activities  like our annual Trees of Joy event

A few things to know before getting started:

🔍 You’ll need to be 18 or older
🔍 You’ll need to be part of a workplace that supports corporate volunteering
🔍 Want to explore how your organisation can partner with us? Find out more here

Got skills to share? We’d love your help!

If you’ve got experience in a specific area and want to use it for good, skilled volunteering is a great way to make a meaningful impact behind the scenes.

⭐ Lend your expertise  to support special projects through our Head Office
⭐ Currently, we’re especially looking for volunteers with recruitment experience to join our Virtual Recruitment Team and help interview volunteer applicants

A few things to know before applying:

📎 You’ll need to be 18 or older
📎 You’ll need a personal email account and be able to show relevant skills or experience
📎 You’ll go through our volunteer application process – including an interview, reference checks, background check, and a Working with Children Check (or your state’s equivalent) – as part of our commitment to child safety

Why join the Wish Force?

When you volunteer with Make-A-Wish, you’re not just giving your time—you’re joining a passionate community that’s all about bringing hope and joy to sick kids and their families at a time they need it most.

We’re proud to be part of the world’s largest wish-granting charity, and we welcome people from all walks of life to get involved. Here’s what you can look forward to:

🌟 Meet awesome people  and make lifelong friends
🌟 Learn new skills  and build experience you can take anywhere
🌟 Boost your confidence and wellbeing  by doing something meaningful
🌟 Give back to your community  in a way that really matters
🌟 And most of all—have fun and be inspired!

When you volunteer with us, you’ll embark on an unforgettable journey—no matter your reason for getting started.

Volunteering FAQs

We’ve got a range of ways to get involved—so there’s something to suit every schedule!

Branch & Virtual volunteers: Since you’ll be part of a team and supporting wish families, we ask for a 12-month commitment. That usually means a monthly meeting (about 45 mins to an hour, usually in the evening) plus extra time depending on what your team is involved in.
Short-term volunteers: Help when you can! These roles are more casual—think BBQs, fun runs, or event days. Usually just a few hours at a time.
Corporate volunteering: Great for teams looking to give back together. The time commitment depends on the activity and is tailored to your group.
Skilled/Office volunteers: Perfect if you’ve got a specific skill set or can help regularly—like one day a week or fortnight at our Melbourne HQ.

No matter how much time you can give, we’re so grateful for your support in helping make wishes come true!

It’s super easy to get started! Just hit the ‘Apply now’ button and fill out the Expression of Interest form—tell us a bit about yourself and how you’d like to help.

Some of our teams (especially branch and virtual ones) have waitlists, so there might be a little delay—but we’ll keep you in the loop.

Once you’ve applied, we’ll email you with updates and next steps. Don’t forget to check your inbox (and your junk folder, just in case)!

Because we work with children and are a child safe organisation, we take child safety seriously—and that means a few important steps to make sure we’re the right fit for each other.

If you’re applying for a branch or virtual role, here’s what to expect:

A friendly interview
Reference checks
A background check
A Working with Children Check (or your state’s equivalent)

It’s all part of making sure we create a safe and supportive space for everyone involved.

Absolutely! We’ll make sure you feel confident and supported every step of the way.

You’ll be welcomed by your local team or Head Office team, depending on your role
Branch and virtual volunteers start with an online induction to set you on the path to becoming ‘wish-ready’
You’ll also have access to mentoring from experienced volunteers and ongoing support from the team at Head Office
Plus, you’ll get access to our secure online volunteer platform—packed with resources and a great way to connect with other volunteers across Australia

No matter your role, we’re here to help you succeed and enjoy the journey.

If you’re unsure which branch or team is closest to you, don’t worry - we’ve got you! Once you send through your enquiry, we’ll check your location and match you with the branch or team that’s the best fit for you.

You can also click on a link below to check out your local branch’s Facebook page to see what they’re up to.

Not all branches have a page, so if that’s the case, you can stay up to date by following Make-A-Wish Australia’s social pages:

🌈 facebook
⭐ Instagram
💙 LinkedIn

Australia-wide

Virtual Wish Team

ACT

Canberra

NSW

QLD

TAS

VIC

Albany
Peel & Southwest
Perth

Ready to join the Wish Force?

Awesome! Once you’ve had a look through the different types of volunteering, just click the  ‘Apply now’  button and fill out our Expression of Interest form—it only takes a few minutes.

Keep an eye on your inbox (and maybe your junk folder too) so you don’t miss any updates from us!