We have a team of approx. 70 incredible volunteers who assist with regular weekly Food Is Free Laneway shifts approximately 30 mins per session. Duties carried out ensure the health & safety of all our visitors, and tasks include disposing of perished food into our compost system, general tidying, greeting visitors, watering our plants, and other gardening tasks.
Three volunteers take care of the Laneway daily, 365 days of the year. This makes it very well attended, so all our visitors can enjoy their time spent with us, plus be greeted by a friendly face for a chat whilst they are on duty.
Don’t know much about gardening? No worries – as an all-inclusive group we encourage all levels, all ages, all backgrounds Plus, you can learn new skills as you go! Full training and induction provided to all our volunteers.
Community groups/schools/businesses/families encouraged to discuss group volunteering options also.
If you live in Ballarat & surrounds and are keen to learn more about how you can help, or want to be part of this very dynamic fun group of eco warriors we call our Food Is Free Inc. volunteers, fill in the Potential Volunteers Form below or alternatively contact our Volunteers Manager, Virginia Wilson via volunteer@foodisfree.com.au
We have a COVID-plan & procedures in place for all our Food Is Free Inc. volunteers & visitors to keep our community well.
Food Is Free Green Space, adjacent to the Laneway just up the road, is a magical community growing space with many productive garden beds, plus a recycling area (accepting your toilet rolls & egg cartons we use in our compost systems). We have a team of excellent humans who help us monitor our Recycles & Compost Centres, attend to the garden beds/worm farms, and build rich fertile soil from the organic items our lovely visitors leave. Making our own soil ensures us to be as self-sufficient as possible, plus provides the opportunity for our community to not only learn about waste, but be responsible for our planet.
We also have external volunteers who help with our beehives, seeds packaging, assisting event management of our events/markets/workshops, graphics/arts/crafts, administration and of course, our Board, who handle the many governance tasks.
At Green Space our Green Team (Group gardening) is held on the second Saturday of the month (10am – noon), plus our Maintenance Working Bees first Sunday of the month (10am – noon). We welcome anyone to attend both of these. It’s a great way to get to know if you want to regularly volunteer. Or a good one for the commitment-phobics out there.
Additionally, we hold volunteer exclusive events, so it’s not just work when being. a Food Is Free Inc. volunteer – it is also fun. Volunteering is a great way to engage in your local community, plus meet new friends along the way.
Our volunteers choose which volunteer area they think they will most shine and enjoy.
We have a suite of policies & procedures in place for all our Food Is Free Inc. volunteers & visitors to keep our community safe, included, and healthy.
Additionally, Food Is Free Inc. is deeply committed to child and young people safety and wellbeing. Our organisation:
Food Is Free Inc. is a grassroots, community led not-for-profit group benefitting all Ballarat (Australia) who has a core purpose of assisting and promoting food security and community cohesion and inclusion.
Food Is Free Inc. respectfully acknowledges the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung people – traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work.
