Volunteers

The Botanic Gardens Trust values volunteers in building links with the community and developing community involvement in an important public organisation. Volunteers contribute actively to our mission, helping us to inspire the appreciation and conservation of plants. They assist us in achieving our scientific, horticultural and conservation work and promote this in the wider community. Volunteerism also provides skill development for both staff and volunteers.

Who can volunteer?

For over 20 years, volunteers have worked with visitors and staff to enrich the programs and service provided by the Botanic Gardens Trust. Currently there are over 250 volunteers working in Trust program areas and approximately 300 volunteers working for the Friends of The Gardens organisation.

Range of volunteering opportunities

Twenty one programs currently exist in the various Branches of the Botanic Gardens Trust and in the Friends organisation. Examples of Trust programs are:

Volunteer Guides: provide visitors with general orientation and on-site interpretation as well as take visitors (at all three Gardens) on guided walks providing them with a personal, structured and informative experience. Guides also assist with other educational and administrative activities related to enhancing people’s enjoyment of the Gardens.

Living Collection Volunteers: plant enthusiasts and plant society members who work with horticultural staff and contribute special expertise on specific plant groups such as Bromeliads, Begonias and African Violets in which they have expertise. They provide advice and educate staff in identification, maintenance, repotting, propagating and cultural requirements of individual species.  

Bush Regeneration Volunteers: provide assistance with bush regeneration tasks in the remnant natural bushland areas at Mount Annan Botanic Garden. Work mainly involves removing invasive weed species in order to promote native plant growth and regeneration, and maintain the biodiversity of these important (Cumberland Plain Woodland) areas.

Herbarium & Science Volunteers:  Volunteers mount herbarium specimens onto archival  paper and assist with the curating of Herbarium specimens. Other opportunities arise from time to time to work on scientific programs. Other herbarium volunteers work in the Library and assist with field work and special projects. Click here for further information on herbarium volunteers.

Friends' volunteers: Volunteers enable the Friends to raise funds for special projects in the three Botanic Gardens, Herbarium and Domain. They cater for functions, assist Friends’ administrative staff in the office, staff exhibitions, and promote membership of the Friends throughout the three Gardens. The Growing Friends propagate plants for bi-weekly sales and twice yearly major sales. Friends volunteers assist the Friends of The Gardens and the Trust in many ways and provide casual as well as ongoing opportunities as follows:

• Friends Catering volunteers
• Information Booth volunteers
• Growing Friends:
  - Royal Botanic Gardens
  - Mount Annan Botanic Garden
  - Mount Tomah Botanic Garden
• Friends' Office volunteers:     
  - General Administration & Reception
  - Memberships & activities processing
  - Banking & financial processing
• Works Team volunteers:
  - Set-up for activities
  - Odd jobs
• Membership promotion volunteers
• Exhibitions and Special Events volunteers

Send completed Friends Volunteer Application Form to
Friends of The Gardens
Mrs Macquaries Rd
Sydney NSW 2000

The Botanic Gardens Trust has a comprehensive volunteer policy which outlines recruitment and training procedures, the range of opportunities volunteers can be involved in, and codes of conduct relating to safety, equity and insurance. All volunteers are issued with a volunteer reference manual.

 We also invite you to consider volunteering at MCSL (Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living). MSCL is a non-profit, community-driven organisation, with the aim of promoting sustainable homes and gardens. The community is in partnership with the Mount Annan Botanic Garden and the Centre is located at the corner of Mount Annan Drive and Narellan Rd. If you visit their website at www.mcsl.org.au and click on 'Get Involved' it will take you directly to volunteering opportunities.

Register your interest

Recruitment for specific programs occurs at different times of the year and any vacancies will be listed on this website as they arise. In the meantime we suggest you consider registering your interest with the Friends of The Gardens, our volunteer support organisation that is always looking for helpers.

We also invite you to consider volunteering at Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living. Go to www.mcsl.org.au and click on 'Get Involved' it will take you directly to volunteering opportunities.