Volunteer Program

Volunteering to Help Your Community

Congratulations! You've just taken the first step towards doing something great for yourself and your community. This site will lead you to information about why we need volunteers, what volunteer roles we have in our community, how to get involved and lots more.

Why volunteer?

Our volunteers come from all walks of life - business people, community leaders, students, parents and retirees. Whether you want to help others gain valuable experience, share your skills or make new friends, we may have just the thing for you.

There are a wide variety of volunteering roles which can be flexible according to your availability, skills and interests.

Volunteers connect closely with the local community to help build vibrant places to live, work and play. In some cases, without volunteer involvement the services we deliver would be limited; in fact, some of the programs we offer would stop altogether without the support of volunteers. With our community continually growing, we are always in need of new volunteers.

Volunteer Induction Process

All our volunteer applications undergo a selection process to ensure they are best fit for the role and the individual, this includes:

Completion of the application form
Initial screening discussion (usually by phone)
Role interview with the selected program
Referee checks
DCSI screening (where necessary)

All successful volunteer applications must also complete a corporate and WHS volunteering induction and site induction where they will be required to sign a Volunteer Agreement and role statement prior to starting at their volunteer program.

To request a paper application form, please contact Council on 8584 8000 or council@lwdc.sa.gov.au.

Please Note: Many of our volunteer programs and roles have been impacted by COVID-19, limiting the volunteer opportunities available.

For further information, please contact the Community Development Officer on 8584 8000.

Current Volunteer Positions

Loxton Christmas Lights

Christmas Tree Festival

Required to attend regular meetings of the Christmas Tree Festival Committee and contribute to the planning and actioning of new displays and on-going improvements for the festival.

Assist with the preparation of the CWA Hall for the staging of trees exhibited by community groups and Schools. Assist also with the preparation of the RSL Hall for the staging of the Annual Craft Fair. Monitor the displays ensuring all other stall holders are aware of Work Health and Safety issues relating to the project.

Personal attributes would include the ability to work as a member of a team to achieve planned outcomes, have a bright and cheerful personality and have a ability to liaise with community groups and stall holders.

Fundraising

Fundraising volunteers will assist the Loxton Christmas Lights committee in earning funds to directly support the annual festival event.

Assist with the co-ordination and collection of prizes and ensure winners are notified and prizes delivered. Ensure raffle tickets are ordered and collected and that bookings for street sales are made with the Loxton Waikerie Council.

The volunteer must possess creativity, organization skills, and commitment to see the fundraiser through to the end. Fundraising events are meant to be fun ways to raise awareness and financial support.

Garden Display

Assist with the preparation of garden scenes for Santa’s Walk including:

Drawing scenes from cards
Undercoating MDF craft board
Cutting out scenes
Sanding edges and scenes to be re-painted
Painting scenes on craft board using acrylic paint
Sealing scenes using water-based sealant

Assist with the allocation, delivery and collection of garden scenes to residents in Santa’s Walk and other areas of Loxton, including Loxton West, Klingberg Street, the Caravan Park and Luther Road.

Knowledge of drawing and painting from cards and other media would be an asset.

Maintenance

Assist maintenance staff with various routine day-to-day maintenance projects and special one-time projects which may include: replacement of tinsel on pole decorations, annual cleaning of street banners, testing of all light bulbs after use and periodic testing of light cables.

Assist with the annual check of garden scenes and other street decorations to determine the level and nature of maintenance required and return to storage of all the garden scenes, droppers, street decorations and equipment.

Street Decorating Do you have an artistic flair or a knack for building?

The decorating team will assist with the design and construction of new Christmas street decorations. Assist with the collection, loading, installation and dismantling of street decorations including:

Lights, garland, bells and other decorations throughout East Terrace.
Pole decorations throughout Bookpurnong Terrace.
Christmas tree and candles on the main roundabout.
Merry Christmas sign, Paddle Steamer, Pelicans and other items in Heritage Park.
Items installed in other areas as required.
Assist with the preparation of a float for the Annual Mardi Gras.

Tour Guide

Volunteer Tour Guides will co-ordinate/assist with the many visiting coach companies who bring tourists to the Christmas Lights Festival and periodically throughout the year as required.

You will be required to provide excellence in customer service to visitors by delivering appropriate information by the way of a predetermined commentary to groups in a professional, accurate and friendly manner.

Requirements include knowledge of the festival program, good communication skills (including listening), customer service skills and the ability to cope with and speak clearly to groups, and answer questions.

Loxton Library Services

Library Technology Tutoring

Provide ipad and computer tuition to participants and to be able to adapt tuition to participants at different learning levels. Provide encouraging feedback to participants and encourage them to become independent in the use of Ipad and computer technology.

Essential requirements that the volunteer will be required to answer questions about electronics devices such as (but not limited to) iPad or iPhone.

‘The Pines’ Loxton House & Garden Volunteer

Event Coordinator

Provide efficient and courteous service to patrons and to promote ‘The Pines’ Loxton Historic House and Garden as a tourist attraction in the district.

The events coordinator will be responsible for all aspects of event planning and management. The events coordinator will directly contribute to increasing ‘The Pines’ capacity by increasing public awareness of the historic significance and its presence in local community.

Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers services are addressed
Monitor activities to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service
Assist in planning parties or other special events and services
Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and services, and respond to complaints promptly
Maintain sanitation, health and safety standards in all work areas
Ensure that setup of chairs, tables, stages, decorations or other equipment is in accordance with customer requirements.
Functionally to supervise events with support staff/volunteers including setup crews, etc. as needed

Customer Service/Tour Guide

Provide efficient and courteous service as the first contact to patrons utilizing ‘The Pines’ Loxton’s Historic House and Garden. Assist in the promotion of ‘The Pines’ Loxton’s Historic House and Garden.

Hospitality/Food Preparation/Catering/Bar Tender

Provide efficient and courteous service to patrons and to promote ‘The Pines’ as a tourist attraction in the district.

Upon authorisation have the ability to order food or beverages within an allocated budget. Have a sound knowledge of Department of Health Food Safety Standards developed for charities and community groups. To be self motivated, exercise initiative and judgment

Gardener/Nursery

Assist by ensuring the character, amenities, house and grounds are enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of the visitors and the residents of the District Council of Loxton Waikerie. Assist in the promotion of ‘The Pines’ Loxton’s Historic House and Garden.

Parks and Gardens

Loxton Tree Carer Group

Assist Council staff to plant trees and attend to any misses. Undertake the watering and general caring of trees. To protect the trees with tree guards and general maintenance to trees by basic trimming, staking and mulching.

Loxton Rose Carer Group

To assist Council by ensuring the character of the Colin Hentschke Memorial Rose Garden and Pioneer Rose Garden grounds are enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of visitors and the residents of the District Council of Loxton Waikerie.

To assist with pruning, replanting, and deadheading roses at the Colin Hentschke Memorial Rose Garden and Pioneer Rose Garden.

Waikerie Library Services