Volunteer cooks for A.N.F.E - from Left: Concetta Tropiano, Maria Russo, Rafaella Belperio 

In South Australia, there is an exciting array of communities in our urban and rural areas with approximately 267 000 people from over 177 non-English speaking cultures and these people provide a rich tapestry of cultural uniqueness from Festivals to dance, dress to food (ABS: 2006 Census).

Whether you are from a culturally or linguistically diverse background or not, volunteering in these communities provides a rich and valuable experience.

The Multicultural Home and Community Care Sector is in particular need of volunteers as the number of people ageing from these communities is increasing.

In 2010 the number of people aged 80 years and over has risen to 1 in 5 and is projected to increase to 1 in 4 by 2026 (Projections of Older Immigrants: People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds, 1996-2026 Report, Australian Institute of Health & Welfare: 2001). This increase, combined with a commitment to have elderly people stay in their own homes as long as possible, means that providing a variety of support services is essential.

Volunteering in the Multicultural Home and Community Care sector offers a wide range of opportunities such as:  

Delivering culturally specific meals to people in the Greek, Italian, Maltese or Polish communities,

• Providing social support in Centres throughout Adelaide that offer culturally specific meals and social activities, 
• Giving time to visit people in their homes,
• Assisting in the variety of kitchens that prepare meals,
• Having a friendly chat over the telephone, 
• Providing domestic assistance or transport.

You can volunteer with the following communities:

Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, Chinese, Jewish, Cambodian, Maltese, Polish, Dutch, Filipino, German, Hungarian, Tartar Bashkurt, Ukrainian, Latvian, African, Muslim, Lebanese, Croatian and Serbian ... among many others. Take a look and see the wide range of communities that need your assistance.

If you are interested in volunteering your time in the Multicultural Home and Community Care sector, please go to Finding a Position.

1. Enter the postcodes of the suburbs you would like to volunteer in, 
2. Enter 'ethnic' or 'seniors' as the type of volunteering,
3. Entering an age is not required,
4. Enter keywords (if desired) that are specific to the area of volunteering you want to get into, such as 'cook' or 'driver'.

A Working Party comprised of key members from the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, Home and Community Care sector (CALD HACC), representatives from the Office for the Ageing (OFTA), peak bodies in Multicultural Aged Care and Volunteering SA&NT was formed in 2008 in response to declining levels of volunteering in CALD HACC organisations. This has been a unique initiative and since it's inception, the Working Party has established pathways to attract new cohorts of volunteers while implementing strategies to maintain the existing volunteer base in the agencies.

For more information on the CALD HACC Working Party for Volunteering go to Home & Community Care.