join our volunteer community!
Volunteers play a HUGE role in the Story Island Project; they are at the heart of our workshops with young people.
We aim to have a volunteer for each two or three young people in our workshops. That way, young people can get valuable individual attention and encouragement – that’s when the creative magic really happens!
“I have served in many volunteering roles over the years, including school canteens, umpiring netball, charity work and cutting hair, but Story Island is definitely the most rewarding volunteering experience. I urge anyone who is looking for a rewarding experience to try Story Island.”
Story Island were the proud winners of Volunteering Tasmania’s Volunteer Group/Program of the Year Award in 2022!
Volunteer recruitment 2024
In 2024, we’re running a range of creative writing programs at a range of schools in the greater Hobart area. These programs are supported by Arts Tasmania.
Each eight-week program consists of weekly 90-minute workshops that build young people’s creative skills and confidence, supporting their participation in authentic, ‘real world’ arts experiences.
To be a great volunteer, you just need a love of the English language and a commitment to share the spark of creativity with young people. Trained story leaders plan and lead our workshop sessions. For more info, read our Volunteer position description.
We give our volunteers a free training session for volunteers before your first workshop. Please note that we require all volunteers to have a current Working With Vulnerable People card and to complete the Department for Education, Training and Young People’s Safeguarding Training for volunteers. We encourage all volunteers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to participate in COVID-safe behaviours.
Click here to sign up as a volunteer, or see below for some frequently asked questions about volunteering with the Story Island Project. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.
Volunteer spotlight: hayley
Hayley finds it hard to name her favourite thing about being a Story Island volunteer.
‘There are so many things!’ she says.
‘But if I had to name one, it would be observing how imaginative the students are, with wonderful stories coming to life across the eight-week workshop period.’
As both an avid reader and a qualified editor, Hayley is very familiar with the world of books and storytelling.
‘In my spare time you’ll often find me curled up with a book, planning my next adventure (I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie) or editing a manuscript,’ she says.
‘Given my passion for books and creative writing, in addition to my career as a road safety educator, volunteering with Story Island was a great opportunity to take a back seat and be involved in a creative program that advocates the importance of literacy and the benefits of creative writing in young people.
‘It’s such a pleasure to help nurture their creative writing journey and watch their confidence grow.’
Hayley remembers seeing this gradual growth in confidence and engagement with one particular student she worked with last term:
The most rewarding experience for me was with a student who was initially very reserved (rarely acknowledging me) and uninterested in participating. By slowly building up rapport and with gentle coaxing, the student became engaged, smiling and eager to share their story with me each week. Turns out they have a wonderful talent for drawing and storylines - I can’t wait to see the published version!
Frequently asked questions
about volunteering with Story Island
What is involved in volunteering in workshops?
Download a copy of our Volunteer Tutor position description.
Our volunteers work alongside young people in our workshops, giving one-on-one support and encouragement to help young people with their writing. Workshops cover a wide range of areas, but all focus on creative writing. As a volunteer, you may work with young people on narrative fiction, poetry, a script, a radio podcast, a short film, memoir, letter, comic strip, or any number of creative projects.
Workshops are either one-offs or, much more often, a series that runs for 8 weeks through a school term. When signing up for a workshop series, we ask volunteers to sign up for the full series so you can work with the same students each week across the whole project.
Apart from workshop volunteers, we also need volunteers to assist with behind-the-scenes tasks like typing up students’ writing and other administrative tasks. When you sign up, please indicate if you have any other relevant skills that we could use!
Do I need to have teaching experience to be a volunteer tutor?
Not at all! Our volunteers come from a range of professional backgrounds. To be a great volunteer, you just need a love of the English language and a commitment to share the spark of creativity with young people. Trained storytellers plan and lead our workshop sessions; volunteers are there to offer individual support and encouragement to young people.
We give all Story Island volunteers a training/orientation session before their first workshop, and require all volunteers to have a current Working with Vulnerable People Card.
Where and when do workshops happen?
Most workshops take place in schools and community centres on weekdays between 9am–3pm.
I’d like to volunteer, but I have more questions!
Not sure if you’re a good match for us? Feel free to get in touch with us with any questions or concerns you might have about the volunteer roles, training process or anything at all! Jen, our Volunteer Coordinator, is happy to chat to prospective volunteers.
I’m in! Sign me up!
Wonderful! We can’t wait for you to join us. Just fill in our registration form; you’ll soon receive an email letting you know the next available training session dates, after which you’ll be eligible to volunteer at any of our workshops.