Volunteering for a cause at Griefline
Join Griefline's vibrant volunteer community, the cornerstone of our organisation, devoted to assisting tens of thousands of individuals each year.
Volunteering for a cause at Griefline can be a rich and rewarding experience for people seeking to contribute to improving community wellbeing.
As a volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in our free national telephone support services, as well as contribute to our online forums.
Here, you’ll create safe spaces where individuals can freely navigate and articulate their grief, fostering a compassionate environment free from judgment.
Griefline volunteers are compassionate individuals who are fully trained in grief and loss. They are people of all ages, from a variety of backgrounds, who have a breadth of personal experience. Non-judgemental, they are all exceptional listeners.
We are accepting expressions of interest for our 2025 volunteer intakes.
Becoming a Griefline volunteer: what you need to know
Griefline’s helpline is accredited to the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health standards. Being accredited to these standards provides the assurance to service users that we follow best practices for safeguarding their well-being, maintaining privacy, ensuring accessibility, and delivering evidence-based support.
Volunteers provide single session telephone support to individuals over 18 who are feeling overwhelmed by grief and loss, supporting them to find new perspectives by honouring and normalising their experience.
Training and onboarding
As a Griefline volunteer, you’ll receive comprehensive training designed to build your confidence and skills in providing compassionate support. Our program includes:
- Part 1 – Online Modules: Engage in 12-15 hours of self-paced learning to build a solid foundation.
- Part 2 – Practice Conversations and Orientation: Join us on Zoom for two immersive days and an evening session of hands-on experiential training.
- Part 3 – Practical Helpline Experience: Complete 10 Helpline shifts within 12 weeks of the Practice Conversation workshop and orientation sessions-to refine your skills and put your learning into practice.
Eligibility and requirements
To join us, you’ll need to:
- Be 18 or older and an Australian/New Zealand citizen or have a valid visa without study restrictions.
- Have a current National Police Check (which Griefline will arrange if you are successful in your volunteer application).
- Have a quiet, private space to take calls.
- Be comfortable and competent user of technology.
- Have a reliable and stable internet connection, and access to a PC, laptop, or tablet with a headset (see Volunteering FAQ for system details)
Location
Volunteering is entirely remote, so you can help others from the comfort of your home or preferred workspace.
Time commitment
We ask volunteers to dedicate around 100 hours over 12 months. For breaks longer than eight weeks, a refresher training (with an additional fee) will help ensure you feel ready to support.
Ongoing support
You’ll have access to group supervision, peer debriefing sessions, and professional development opportunities—all designed to nurture your growth, encourage teamwork, and support ongoing learning.
Want to know more about what it's like to volunteer at Griefline?
Visit our Volunteer Spotlight page where we showcase the stories and experiences of Griefline volunteers.
Volunteer expression of interest
Our next volunteer intake is:
February 2025
Griefline values its volunteers and considers the recruiting, interviewing, selection and supervision of each participant to be of great importance.
Benefits of becoming a Griefline volunteer
- Personal and professional growth
- Giving back to the community
- Opportunity to support Australians in managing their grief and loss
- Ongoing support through supervision and debriefing
- Access to ongoing training and resources via the volunteer portal
- Meet other passionate volunteers
- Group supervision conducted by ACA-recognised supervisor(s)
Frequently asked questions
Volunteers are expected to commit to 12 months and contribute a minimum of 100 hours of service. During the first 12 weeks, new volunteers are required to complete ten shifts as part of their onboarding to consolidate their skills and build confidence after their initial training.
As a volunteer, you receive ongoing support from the Griefline Volunteer Support Team, both during initial onboarding and throughout your time with us. The support includes debriefing and supervision sessions aimed at fostering your development and growth as a Griefline volunteer.
Volunteers need a secure and reliable internet connection and suitable device specifications, such as a PC, laptop, or tablet, as well as headphones with a microphone. Additionally, a private, comfortable space for completing shifts is essential.
To ensure the volunteer systems operate properly, volunteer devices need to be operating with at least Windows 7, MacOS 10.10, iOS 10.0, or Android 5.0. You also will need a minimum internet speed of 10.0 Mbps and the latest versions of either Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
- Complete the questionnaire to confirm your suitability.
- Create a My Impact profile.
- Book an interview.
- Receive the outcome of your interview via email.
If you’re a student seeking placement or volunteer hours, we can only verify training, volunteer hours, and attendance for group supervision, which typically meets the ACA and PACFA membership requirements.
Please note: We do not offer feedback on placements, direct client interactions, or provide Field Educator Supervisors. Contact your training provider for any necessary clarification.
No, due to data and privacy regulations, volunteers cannot complete Helpline shifts from outside Australia.
Yes, volunteers can complete Helpline shifts remotely from anywhere within Australia.
Griefline relies on revenue from our training and education initiatives to support the delivery of our free programs and services. The training fee also contributes to ongoing support for volunteers, including digital resources, debriefing and supervision, and professional development opportunities.
In 2025, there will be two training intakes: the first intake in February, and the second in August.
Please note: Intake dates are subject to change.
