Why volunteer with DEAP
Our volunteering opportunities connect you with young people in your local community from regional and remote Victoria, low socio-economic and Indigenous backgrounds, who experience disadvantage. Connecting students with our volunteers gives them the opportunity to engage with working professionals from various industries and be inspired by different careers, discover new pathways and explore a broad range of future professions.
As a volunteer, your involvement helps to breakdown barriers to education and become a catalyst for change, empowerment and motivation.
Our impact
We measure the success of our volunteering programs to ensure we're always providing rewarding opportunities to volunteers and students.
- 92% of volunteers reported students obtained a better understanding of careers and pathways after participating in career speed-meets*.
- 84% of volunteers rated their volunteering experience as excellent*.
- 85% of Year 9 students said they felt more confident about their future^.
I found speaking with them very helpful. I could apply the advice they gave me to my own life and to making decisions about my future
Year 9 FutureME student
The FutureME volunteer experience
Deakin community members share their experience about volunteering for the FutureME program.
Current opportunities
FutureME program
We're looking for employees from industry and community organisations to engage in career speed-meets with secondary school students.
FutureME is an inspiring program for Year 9 students that builds critical knowledge about the changing world of work and sparks career excitement and planning of future pathways. As a FutureME volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to listen to young people and answer career-related questions and share your own career journey and experiences. A conversation can truly make a world of difference!
Individual booking
Time: Up to 3 hours on a weekday
Location: A Deakin campus (Burwood, Geelong or Warrnambool) or a local community venue
Group booking
Group size: 10–20 people
Time: Up to 3 hours on weekdays
Location: A Deakin campus (Burwood, Geelong or Warrnambool) or a local community venue
Note: Volunteers must have a current Victorian Working With Children Check card (volunteer or employee) or hold a VIT registration. You can apply for free at www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au.
I learned so much about myself during this session. It's beneficial for students to sit down and engage with others, other than their family and friends, to learn about life, study and career struggles and progression.
2020 FutureME volunteer
Footnotes
*184 volunteer evaluations (source: 2019-2020 FutureME Program volunteer feedback evaluation data)
^(n=1063, 2022 YTD Year 9 DEAP student evaluation data)
Contact us
If you'd like any more information regarding our volunteer opportunities, please get in touch.