How old do I need to be before I can volunteer?

Happy Paws Happy Hearts volunteers must be 16 years or older

Does Happy Paws Happy Hearts require screening checks for volunteers?

Happy Paws Happy Hearts volunteers are required to complete screening checks that allow you to work with children and people with disabilities.

• These requirements include:

• NDIS Worker Screening Check (National)

• Working with Children Check/ Blue Card (Queensland)

• Yellow Card Exemption (Queensland)

• Ochre Card (Northern Territory)

• Working with Vulnerable People with NDIS Endorsement (Tasmania)

• Working with Children Check (New South Wales)

If you do not currently hold any of these checks, we will help you to obtain them as part of your volunteering application.

What are the physical requirements of the volunteering roles?

Most volunteer roles will be hands-on and require moderate physical strength and independent mobility. The type of tasks could include:

• Setting up and packing down training rooms, including moving chairs, tables, and equipment

• Handling in-shelter animals, including harnessing and walking medium to large dogs, carrying puppies (up to 5kgs)

• Walking indoors and outside and bending down or sitting on the floor in some sessions

How often can I volunteer?

We utilise the invaluable time, skills and experience of our volunteers every day, but you can choose to participate as much or as little as you wish.

If you can join us for one or two shifts per week or one shift every few months, we welcome your help.

Most of our volunteer roles happen during business and school hours, Monday to Friday. We also run programs on Saturdays at some HPHH locations, so we welcome weekend volunteers too.

How long is a volunteering shift?

Volunteering shifts vary. Depending on the role, it can be a couple to a full day.

More info will be provided during our meeting.

Team Leaders roster our volunteers based on availability. For most volunteering roles, we ask for regular commitment. For example, the same day/shift each week.

However, some roles may not have a fixed schedule. For example, supporting expos or events or project-based volunteering tasks.

What training is provided for new volunteers?

Our in-person Volunteer Orientation covers everything you need to know about volunteering with HPHH, including basic animal handling. Each volunteer will receive a comprehensive Volunteer Information & Induction Handbook and will be required to complete online training modules prior to commencing their first shift.

In the first few weeks, new volunteers will be paired with either a trainer or an experienced volunteer to ensure you feel comfortable and confident in your role.

Is there a uniform or clothing requirement?

While on campus, all volunteers are required to wear:

• Enclosed shoes

• Long pants or shorts (provided they are below the knee)

• Nametag provided by the HPHH team

For safety reasons, we ask volunteers to avoid wearing jewellery or very loose-fitting clothing and to minimise using strong perfumes or scented products.

For special events, we will provide volunteer t-shirts and guidance on other appropriate attire.

Do any volunteer roles require specialised training?

All HPHH participants have the option of attending with a support worker or person (guardian, parent, or family member) if their support workers are playing an active role in their attendance to the HPHH program. This can vary from providing transport to the program and allowing a participant to complete activities independently, to a support worker assisting their client in conducting activities and ensuring they are safe and happy within sessions.

HPHH aims to promote the autonomy of a participant alongside their support worker. There are guidelines for all support workers attending that must be followed. Our intake staff and trainers can provide these. Participants who do not require a support worker do not need one to attend the HPHH program.

If I have accessibility requirements, can I volunteer?

If you have accessibility requirements, then please get in touch with us so we can understand your needs and explore opportunities that are best suited to you. Please email volunteer@hphhfoundation.org so we can set up a time to chat.

I can't find the answer to my question, where can I get some more information?

If we haven’t been able to answer your question in our FAQs, please send an email to volunteer@hphhfoundation.org with your question and your location, and we will try and help you with your specific query.