Volunteer with us
EWB volunteers are passionate about human-centred engineering and creating a positive change in the world. Current opportunitiesMany ways to volunteer
EWB Australia was founded in 2003 on the idea that engineering, along with complementary skill sets and aligned organisations, can lift people out of poverty. One of the best ways to contribute to making this vision a reality is to work with us, participate in one of our programs, or volunteer. There are many opportunities to give your time, in ways that align with your skills, interests and experience.
Current volunteering opportunities
Technical roles that support our programs and projects overseas and in Australia:
Inclusive Product Development Mentor (Cambodia)
Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Closing date: Sunday 26th February – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The purpose of this role is to provide technical assistance to the EWB Cambodia team and use Human Centred Design (HCD) for upgrading and producing appropriate assistive technology solutions for people with disabilities in rural provinces. This role will also support project scoping new appropriate assistive technology development solutions for the future and opportunities to scale up the project in other provinces of Cambodia.
Engineering Projects Mentor (Cambodia)
Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Closing date: Sunday 26th February – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The purpose of this role is to support EWB Australia’s Cambodia office to plan, deliver and monitor its in-country Engineering Projects. Key responsibilities include:
- Assist in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EWB’s technology development projects.
- Support EWB in Cambodia to manage relationships with local partner organisations and government agencies.
- Support the Cambodia team and EWB’s Technology Development Lead to provide design reports, project progress reports and proposal and planning.
WASH Technical & Capacity Development Mentors (Cambodia)
Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Closing date: Sunday 26th February – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The purpose of this role is to support EWB’s Cambodia Office to plan, deliver and monitor projects within its WASH Program. WASH Mentor roles are open to suitably qualified engineers, with each applicant having the option of applying for one or both WASH streams:
Stream 1: WASH and Climate Change
- Assist in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EWB’s WASH and Climate Change projects.
- Support managing relationships with local partner organisations and government agencies.
Stream 2: WASH and Capacity Development
- Assist in the scoping, design, planning, monitoring and evaluation of EWB’s WASH projects.
- Support producing a WASH technology compendium manual for communities living in challenging environments and/or hard to reach areas.
- Produce Sanitation in Challenging Environments (SCE) capacity development materials for local partner organisations and contribute to national guiding principles on SCE for rural households.
Engineering Projects Mentor (Timor-Leste)
Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.
Start date: June – August 2023.
Location: Dili, Timor-Leste.
Closing date: Sunday 26th February – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The purpose of this role is to support EWB Australia’s Timor-Leste office to plan, deliver and monitor its in-country Engineering Projects. Key responsibilities include:
- Assist in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EWB’s technology development projects.
- Support EWB in Timor-Leste to manage relationships with local partner organisations and government agencies.
- Support the Timor Leste team and EWB’s Technology Development Lead to provide design reports, project progress reports and proposal and planning.
Engineering Projects Mentor (Vanuatu)
Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.
Location: Port Vila, Vanuatu (with opportunity for the start of the assignment to be based remotely from Australia).
Closing date: Sunday 26th February – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The purpose of this role is to support EWB Australia’s Vanuatu office to plan, deliver and monitor its in-country Engineering Projects. Key responsibilities include:
- Assist in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EWB’s technology development projects.
- Advise and assist in developing possible scale up strategies for some of the piloted technologies.
- Support EWB in Vanuatu to manage relationships with local partner organisations and government agencies.
- Support the Vanuatu team and EWB’s Technology Development Lead to provide design reports, project progress reports and proposal and planning.
Technical Service Mentor, Department of Water Resources (Vanuatu)
Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.
Location: Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Closing date: Sunday 26th February – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The Department of Water Resources (DoWR) Technical unit requires support to ensure the ongoing technical training and capacity building of a recently recruited Principal Engineer as well as two new engineers expected to be recruited later this year.
The purpose of this role is to support the Department of Water Resources Technical Unit in building their capacity in project and contract management to effectively deliver ongoing projects.
Sanitation & Hygiene Mentor (Vanuatu)
Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.
Location: Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Closing date: Sunday 26th February – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The purpose of this role is to support the Ministry of Health Environmental Health Unit in capacity strengthening activities and general project management. This role will continue to support the roll out of the Sanitation and Hygiene Guidelines, the implementation of the Sanitation Hygiene Policy and the future Health Sector Strategy related to the Environmental Health program.
Roles that support our work in the Australian office:
Online Module Content Development Volunteer
Time commitment: 1-2 days per week (negotiable) until project completed.
Location: Remote – based anywhere in Australia.
Closing date: Sunday 26th February.
Enhance and support the development of EWB Australia’s first tailored online ‘Safeguarding 101’ training module, targeted at supporting EWB personnel, including staff, volunteers and partners, to build fundamental safeguarding competencies when working with communities in Australia and overseas.
National Mobilisation Coordinator
Time commitment: 3-6 hours per week for 12 months.
Location: Remote – based anywhere in Australia.
Closing date: No deadline – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Supported by the EWB Volunteer Mobilisation Manager, the National Mobilisation Coordinator leads the regional mobilisation coordinator team to mobilise volunteers at a national level. This includes ensuring projects run by EWB have access to a diverse team of appropriately skilled volunteers and that these volunteers remain engaged and have the resources they need throughout each project lifecycle.
Engineering Administration Project Support
Time commitment: 1-2 days per week, minimum 6 months.
Location: Remotely in Australia. Opportunity available to support Engineering Project Lead with onsite inspection in Northern Rivers NSW if based in the region.
Closing date: Friday 3rd February – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The purpose of the role is to provide project and administrative support to EWB Australia’s flood recovery team. This is a great opportunity for anyone seeking to contribute to EWB’s humanitarian work within Australia and support the implementation of the project’s next 6-9 months involving onsite deployments and community engagement as outlined in our roadmap.
Examples of responsibilities include:
- Support project administration and monitoring
- Maintain project management tools and community engagement processes to facilitate onsite deployment of engineering professionals
- Contribute to data management and statistical support
- Support internal and external reporting requirements.
Intellectual Property Project
Time commitment: Flexible across 2-4 months or Approx. 17 days full time.
Location: Remotely in Australia.
With a view to replicating this success, EWB is currently working with numerous communities to develop impactful technologies that could scale. There are a number of mechanisms to achieve scale, including through on-the-ground capacity development and peer-to-peer dissemination, through technology licensing, through collaborations with local industry or by starting a social enterprise. Each of these different mechanisms for scale have different intellectual property needs. We are interested in understanding what these needs are, and how we might best address them.
Marketing & Communications Volunteer
Help build EWB’s presence on social media, grow and engage our supporter base with dynamic content and keep the website relevant and up to date with new content.
This role will work closely with the Marketing & Fundraising team to identify upcoming stories and build them into our strategic content calendar. Read our blog and check out our social media to get an idea of the kinds of impact stories you’ll be telling.
EWB Chapter Website Content Coordinator
In order to enable Chapters to more easily and visibly communicate their initiatives and promote activities and opportunities to their members and partners, EWB is creating individual websites for each Chapter. This role will continue the work that has commenced, and finalise the project. Find out more and apply.
Monitoring & Evaluation and Data Support
EWB Australia is seeking volunteers with great initiative to support its MEL system and activities. In August 2020, EWB Australia launched its 2030 strategy and a high-level impact framework has been developed. Various volunteer positions are available to support National and Country Office teams to monitor and evaluate their progress towards these ambitious targets.
These volunteer positions will work alongside the EWB MEL Specialist to support the objectives of diverse projects and programs across the organisation.
National Youth Outreach Coordinator
Time commitment: 3-8 hours per week for 12 months
Location: Remote – based anywhere in Australia.
Closing date: No deadline – applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
EWB Australia is seeking a National Youth Outreach Coordinator to facilitate the delivery of and support EWB Australia’s Youth Outreach Program through the volunteer network, maximising the impact of the program.
Code of Conduct
To ensure that everyone has an enjoyable and enriching experience, EWB volunteers are expected to bring a spirit of respect and integrity to their engagement with EWB. Our volunteer Code of Conduct guides our volunteers as they contribute to EWB’s mission and vision. View our Policies here.
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