Volunteer and Facilitate
Join Australia’s largest youth-led non for profit and empower young people through quality global education.
Our Volunteers
Our volunteers are involved in every aspect of our organisation. They organise and run our events, facilitate (teach) students, manage our administration and finance, operate our marketing, and develop innovative programs. They’re entrepreneurial and care about creating a generation of young Australians who are engaged with the world around them.
All young people in Australia aged 16 to 25, who have finished high school, can volunteer with UN Youth. Our volunteers come from a wide variety of academic, cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds; and our opportunities are fantastic pathways to developing yourself, and contributing to the growth of others.
Facilitating the next generation of global citizens
Facilitators are role-models for the youth of Australia. Through our programs, facilitators engage high-school aged young people through peer-to-peer education, exploring global issues through rich discussion, debate and the experiences of stepping into the shoes of a diplomat. Our programs immerse delegates in global affairs and the mission of the United Nations.
Facilitators are at the core of our organisation, delivering our educational activities to delegates (our nickname for high school students) through a wide range of styles, including Workshops, Model United Nations (MUNs) and Interactive Problem Solving simulations. Facilitating at UN Youth is an opportunity to empower the youth of Australia.
Facilitators have many roles including
Workshop Facilitator
Model United Nations President
Model United Nations Secretary
Model United Nations Judge
Head of Delegation
Crisis Simulation Master
Crisis Cabinet President
Welfare & First Aid Officer
Lead our social impact through operations
UN Youth Australia’s volunteers are the foundation of all our operating activities, and enable the organisation to deliver programs for young people across Australia. Every role, from our facilitators to our Board of Directors are administered entirely by persons 26 years of age and younger. Volunteering across our operational portfolios provides volunteers with the opportunity to build practical, real-world applicable skills and knowledge to be applied within and beyond UN Youth. Our structure means the degree of autonomy and breadth of experience our volunteers can gain in their roles extends far beyond most equivalent volunteering positions.
Our Portfolios
- Domestic Event Operations
- International Activity Operations
- Education and Curriculum
- Finance & Social Impact Investment
- Human Resources, People and Culture
- Marketing, Communications and Public Relations
- Development, Partnerships and Sponsorships
- Administration, Governance and Policy
Volunteer in what matters to you across UN Youth Australia
Facilitation
Run educational workshops, Model UN Debates, and Crisis Simulations for young people across Australia.
Portfolio Officers
Gain skills and experience by contributing to the business portfolios that make our social impact locally, nationally and globally.
Event Convenor
Lead the organisation, logistics and vision of domestic and international events.
Executive Management
Become an executive officer or director to lead the day-to-day operations of our social impact programs.
Upcoming Facilitator Training Sessions
ACT Facilitator Training
When: Friday 7th of August
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Australian National University
WA Facilitator Training
When: Saturday 9th of August
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location: University of Western Australia
NSW Facilitator Training
When: Monday 17th of August
Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: University of Sydney
Express Your Interest in Volunteering!
Select the state/territory you reside in and fill out the Expression of Interest form. Our volunteers will then contact you regarding any upcoming volunteer training days in your area!
Alternatively, you can contact us directly at info@unyouth.org.au or you can contact each state/territory through the links below
Empowering Young Australians as Global Citizens
Our mission as facilitators is to equip a generation of young leaders with the skills and inspiration to drive change on global issues that matter to them. We aim to empower young people to be leaders throughout their communities and on the world stage.
Programs across Australia
UN Youth Australia runs a wide variety of events, programs and activities that explore social and political issues the world faces today to enrich delegates with the skills and drive to solve them. Within every State and Territory, we organise a Youth Conference, the Evatt Competition (a Model UN Security Council competition), Voice (a public speaking competition) and a diverse range of topical summits, interactive crisis simulations, and more!
Nationally, delegations from each state and territory come together for our three flagship events: National Conference, Evatt National Finals and Voice National Finals.
Activities across the World
Internationally, our facilitators leads groups of delegates (approx. 16) on educational international tours of New Zealand, Asia, Europe and Northern America. From our Young Diplomats Tour exploring the foundations of democracy to the Aoterora Leadership Tour learning about indigenous rights, culture and reconciliation, our International Activities immerse young people in the foundations of our globalised world and the issues it continues to face today.
A network of volunteers
UN Youth Australia has over 370 volunteers across Australia in every state and territory. Our volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds and often are either studying or working in a variety of fields. At our core, we are all passionate about empowering young people.
As you facilitate with UN Youth, you will have the opportunity to meet volunteers from across your Division (state/territory) through events, programs and Volunteer Councils. Take the next step and attend our bi-annual National Councils which welcomes volunteers from every Division to up-skill and discuss future domestic and international events, or participate in our flagship national events and VolEx Program that enables you to facilitate at events across other state and territory events.
Our volunteers in snapshot
identify as female.
have a disability or are neurodivergent.
are culturally and lingusitically diverse.
study an undergraduate degree.
Are you ready to become our next facilitator?
Frequently Asked Questions
Facilitator training provides you with the baseline facilitation and child safety skills and knowledge to volunteer at any of our events. You will get an overview of the type of interactive activities we run, how to work together to make an impact for the young people we engage, and the necessary safety mechanisms we have in place to ensure your and every child’s safety at UN Youth Australia.
You’ll be trained by experienced facilitators so we encourage you to ask every question you have! Your trainers and other staff (typically from our Human Resources function) will further support you in getting started at UN Youth in the events, activities and programs that interest you. We have a lot of opportunities across a wide variety of fields; you’re welcome to join anywhere that you feel comfortable or want to challenge yourself and our volunteers will help you along the way!
All our volunteers are aged 17 to 25 (inclusive), and have finished High School. We have a strict age limit because ‘for young people, by young people’ is at the heart of everything we do.
All volunteers, from our first-event facilitators to our Board of Directors are aged 17 to 25.
No! You don’t have to be studying any degree or certificate at any institution to become a facilitator with UN Youth Australia. We are independent from any educational institution (e.g. Universities) and a registered charity as a company limited by guarantee with operations in every state and territory.
While the majority of our volunteers are studying, many others are part and full-time workers and some have no additional education beyond secondary school. We welcome anyone with whatever educational background to our organisation! Note this doesn’t apply if you’re still in high school (you’ll have to finish that first!).
Yes! There are no membership fees to join or continue being a member of UN Youth Australia and one of our divisions.
UN Youth Australia is a national body that operates national and international activities, and coordinates high level strategy support for each of the eight Divisions part of UN Youth. Divisions refer to our state and territory branches (e.g. UN Youth New South Wales, UN Youth Western Australia).
When you join, you join both ‘National’ (which is UN Youth Australia) and the Division where you reside (live) most often throughout each calendar year. Through Divisions, you engage with UN Youth’s events and programs at a local level. At any time, you can engage nationally and internationally, including across Divisions, through the support provided by UN Youth Australia or ‘National’.