Volunteering

Become a Volunteer Tutor and help others to develop their English and digital skills and settle into life in Australia.

Become a Volunteer Tutor

The Volunteer Tutor Scheme encourages people to join us in supporting adult migrants and humanitarian entrants who complete our Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), helping them develop their English skills and settle into life in Australia. The scheme works across Sydney’s South West and the Canberra region.

Our Volunteer Tutor Scheme is designed to help migrants and refugees who cannot attend our AMEP classes, or who need extra learning support. Our volunteer tutors find the role extremely rewarding, often calling it “the best volunteering job in Sydney”.

This scheme gives you an opportunity to engage meaningfully with members of your local community who are new arrivals and to support their settlement through language.

The Volunteer Tutor Scheme has been streamlined for online delivery with various platforms available for use. Lesson times are flexible and can be out of work hours, or on weekends, depending on your availability.

Anyone can support us as a tutor, even if your first language is not English, and teaching experience is not necessary.

You will need:

confidence and necessary skills in reading and writing in English
access to a digital device such as a PC, laptop, smartphone, or tablet.
a desire to help others learn
to give 1 hour each week of your time (flexible dependant on personal availability)
to attend 16 hours of free training and interactive workshops with a qualified TESOL teacher
a Working with Vulnerable People General Registration
to give a minimum 6-month commitment
to give your services for free, as there are no reimbursements.

There is no need for you to have a teaching background as you will receive free training and resources as well as ongoing support from our Volunteer Tutor Scheme Coordinator with over 30 years of teaching experience.

As a Volunteer Tutor you will receive:

Training, support and resources from our Volunteer Tutor Scheme Coordinator
An insight into new cultures and customs
The opportunity to share your own culture with new arrivals to Australia
The satisfaction of helping others and seeing their confidence grow
The gratification of your student succeeding and possibly gaining employment as a direct result of your support
The chance to make new friends.

Kindly fill in the below form to register your interest:

If you would like to make a difference and have a lasting impact on someone’s life, fill out the form below and one of our team members will be reaching out to you soon after.

*Eligibility criteria apply. The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.

Good news stories

Success Stories

Elsy and Sandi

Elsy Marta, a mother-of-three originally from Lebanon, “I came to Sydney with only ‘Yes, no, my name is Elsy and I am 30 years’ old; that’s all I knew’,” she said.

Now after almost three years of tutoring with Sandi Joelson, the 38-year-old midwife passed her Australian Citizenship test “the first time, easy”.

At 72 years of age, Sandi Joelson has long history of volunteering, in many capacities, but her current role as a VTS tutor for Elsy has been most rewarding.

“With Elsy she used to be nervous speaking English … but one of the comments she’s made to me is that I have given her the confidence to speak it … even if she makes mistakes, and her fluency has really improved.”

Yanbo Wang

When Yanbo Wang moved from China to Sydney on a student visa six years ago she knew no one, spoke limited English and didn’t even know how to buy groceries or use public transport. She wished she had someone to guide her through her transition to life in Australia, rather than “learning the hard way”.

Today, as a tutor to Taiwanese migrant Ivy Chen, Yanbo is happy she can now “be that person for someone else”.

“I wanted to be that person for somebody else, who would make their life a little bit easier when they just started a new life in Australia,” Yanbo says. “So being able to make that thought come true, I’m really grateful for this opportunity from Navitas.”