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Volunteer with us

EWB volunteers are passionate about human-centred engineering and creating a positive change in the world.
Current opportunities

Many 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:

WASH Technical & Capacity Development Mentors (Cambodia)

Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Closing date: Monday 30th October – 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.

Find out more and apply here.

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: Monday 30th October – 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.

Find out more and apply here.

Technical Service Mentor, Department of Water Resources (Vanuatu)

Time commitment: Full-time role for 12-18 months.

Location: Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Closing date: Monday 30th October – 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.

Find out more and apply here.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor (remote)

Time commitment: 6 months, negotiable, with a combination of remote and in-person work depending on applicant availability. Ideal applicants will be available at least 1-2 days per week.

Location: This position can be based remotely from any location in Australia or the Asia-Pacific, or based in either our Melbourne or Port Vila offices. Vanuatu-based applicants, or applicants with the ability to travel to Vanuatu, will be preferred.

Closing date: Ongoing, no deadline. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis and allocated to appropriate projects based on relevant skills and experience.

The GESI Advisor will work primarily on EWB Vanuatu’s ‘Tumble Drum’ project. The Tumble Drum is a hand-operated washing machine designed to alleviate Ni-Vanuatu women’s domestic laundry workload and associated health difficulties. The device was originally designed in response to the Vanuatu government’s proposal to ban disposable nappies, but has evolved through community discussions to become the basis for a community laundry business, functioning as a social enterprise, and women’s livelihood project. 

Our project aims to increase women’s incomes, reduce their workload, and encourage men to adopt laundry work and challenge the gendered perception of washing clothes. Due to the focus on gender-related outcomes, EWB is seeking a GESI advisor to help scope the possibilities for a community laundry business based on the Tumble Drum and identify strengths and areas for improvement in our project design.

This role would be suitable for a postgraduate research student or early career professional interested in working on a project concerning the following areas: GESI, WASH, human-centred design, gender and international development, women’s economic empowerment.

Find out more here.

Roles that support our work in the Australian office:

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.

Find out more and apply here.

SkillME Project - Mentors

Time commitment: 1–2 hours per month for 2-3 months. Mentors will decide with mentees on the most sustainable frequency of communication

Location: Sydney / Remote (based anywhere in Australia)

Closing date: Ongoing, no deadline

EWB Australia is currently collaborating with Metro Assist, a Sydney-based organisation that provides a range of community services including migrant settlement, family support and early intervention, financial support, tenancy services and community development. Metro Assist’s SkillME initiative works with jobseekers from migrant and refugee backgrounds to find meaningful and ongoing employment. The collaboration between EWB Australia and the SkillME Project aims to improve employment outcomes for migrants with engineering and IT qualifications who face significant difficulties entering the Sydney engineering and IT job market.

As a SkillME Project Refugee and Skilled Migrant Mentor you will lean on your experience navigating the Australian engineering and IT job market to provide your mentee with moral support and advice as they seek out and obtain employment in their area of expertise. At the start of the program you will receive cultural awareness training as part of the induction process and a mentoring manual with tips and guidance. The SkillME Project team will also be available throughout the mentorship to provide you with any additional support you may need. SkillME Project mentees reside in New South Wales, however remote mentor positions are open to engineering and IT professionals Australia-wide.

You will decide with your mentee on the most sustainable frequency and form of communication. We recommend at least one catch-up per month. A commitment of 2-3 months is required.

Find out more and apply here.

Roles in our Chapter network:

SA Region Chapter - Corporate Galvanizer

The Corporate Galvaniser engages and guide our corporate partners to work within our set of values, creating opportunities and supporting initiatives that align with the EWB Strategy. A key focus of the role is to connect the engineering industry to a different and potentially new vision of the profession and assisting to redefine engineering as a social technical profession.

As EWB is engineering a better world by empowering all engineers to act as leaders, problem solvers and social change agents. We are dedicated to partnering with organisations that share our commitment to humanitarian engineering and engage in socially and environmentally responsible business practices.

Find out more here.

Interested? Complete an expression of interest form.

SA Region Chapter - Events Coordinator

The EWB SA Chapter is looking for an enthusiastic and driven volunteer to organise logistics and coordinate successful events throughout the year to raise awareness and inspire our industry to become more thoughtful engineers. This is a volunteer role with the position starting as soon as the right volunteer becomes available with an expected time commitment of 12 months.

Find out more here.

Interested? Complete an expression of interest form.

SA Region Chapter - President

The role of Chapter President is to plan and oversee chapter activities, ensuring alignment with EWB Australia’s strategic and programmatic objectives and ensure the knowledge developed by the Chapter is incorporated into organisational learning and strategic direction.

The President keeps regular contact with EWB staff at a national level, as well as EWB leaders of other regions, to coordinate the dissemination of organisation-wide actions on a regional level, deliver regional updates and communicate organisation-wide activities and movements to the Chapter Executive, Chapter Team, and Chapter volunteers. The President leads the EWB SA Region Chapter Executive (Exec) – which includes the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary; and Chapter Team – which includes roles such as Communications Coordinator and Engineering on Country Coordinator.

The Exec team provides leadership, ensures that the region is running well, and that teams communicate and collaborate to work towards common goals. Exec team members check in regularly with Chapter Team members to identify where they need support from the region.

The role of President is dynamic, requiring a good sense of EWB’s vision and mission, effective networking, decision-making and leadership in order to establish and maintain meaningful volunteerism. Coordination is achieved through fortnightly Region meetings, Exec/Team meetings, annual planning retreat ,and summits, and ad hoc meetings with individuals and teams. The position is elected by the volunteers within EWB SA Region Chapter

Find out more here.

Interested? Complete an expression of interest form.

SA Region Chapter - Vice President

The EWB SA Region Chapter Vice President assists the President with their responsibility for regional activities, cultivating networks and encouraging collaboration. The Vice President also supports EWBs volunteers in a general sense, ensuring that they have access to adequate resources/knowledge to feel comfortable in their volunteering activities and being a constant, accessible point of reference.

The Vice President supports the President in leading the EWB SA Region Chapter Executive (Exec) – which includes the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary; and Chapter Team – which includes roles such as Communications Coordinator and Engineering on Country Coordinator. The Exec team provides leadership, ensures that the region is running well, and that teams communicate and collaborate to work towards common goals. Exec team members check in regularly with Chapter Team members to identify where they need support from the region. The position is elected by the volunteers within the EWB SA Region Chapter.

Find out more here.

Interested? Complete an expression of interest form.

QLD Region Chapter - Committee member (multiple roles available)

EWB’s Chapters are a critical part of EWB. Chapters provide a framework for all types of engineers – from undergraduates to retirees – to connect with like-minded people, learn more about human-centred engineering and community development, and join local projects and initiatives.

The EWB QLD Region Chapter is seeking passionate, values-driven engineers and non-gineers to volunteer their time as a Committee member. There are a number of roles currently available in communications, mobilisation, philanthropy, partnerships and more. 

If you’d like to find out more or express your interest in joining the EWB QLD Region Chapter, please contact the EWB QLD Region Chapter President at qld.president@ewb.org.au.

Roles that support our Board:

Associate Company Secretary

Time commitment: A few hours per week, with ½ day/evening board / committee meetings every 6 weeks

Location: Board meetings can be attended remotely, or for Melbourne-based Board Members, in person (when allowed) at the nominated location, typically EWB Australia Head Office (North Melbourne)

Closing date: 9 February 2024

We are seeking Associate Company Secretary to join EWB! This person will work closely with the Company Secretary, as well as the Board Chair to manage the corporate governance and regulatory compliance of EWB. This volunteer role would be suited to someone who wants to learn more about non-profit Board function, governance or charity legal compliance and is a great opportunity to gain experience as a Company Secretary.

Find out more and apply here.

Volunteer with EWB
Youth Outreach Youth Outreach Chapter Engagement & Leadership Chapter Engagement & Leadership Program & Project Support Program & Project Support Mentoring Mentoring Field Professional Placement Field Professional Placement

Youth Outreach

Who: Anyone can deliver Youth Outreach!

What: Inspiring primary and secondary students to become the next generation of engineering-led changemakers.

EWB Australia’s school initiatives deliver thematic learning modules to schools throughout Australia in metro (our “Schools Outreach” program) and regional (our “Regioneering” program) areas.

Learn more here.

Youth Outreach

Who: Anyone can deliver Youth Outreach!

What: Inspiring primary and secondary students to become the next generation of engineering-led changemakers.

EWB Australia’s school initiatives deliver thematic learning modules to schools throughout Australia in metro (our “Schools Outreach” program) and regional (our “Regioneering” program) areas.

Learn more here.

Chapter Engagement & Leadership

Drawn from all walks of life, our Chapter members are a diverse group of people, united by a passion to make a difference. Join the EWB network and be part of something special. Learn more here.

Chapter Engagement & Leadership

Drawn from all walks of life, our Chapter members are a diverse group of people, united by a passion to make a difference. Join the EWB network and be part of something special. Learn more here.

Program & Project Support

A range of roles are available to support our EWB Australia Office, including Country Programs (Australia, Cambodia, Vanuatu, Timor Leste) and projects alongside EWB staff engaged in key function areas including Engineering, Finance, Marketing & Communications and Operations support. These roles are advertised through our website with positions available that align with those who are still studying at university through to those still in the workforce or retired.

Program & Project Support

A range of roles are available to support our EWB Australia Office, including Country Programs (Australia, Cambodia, Vanuatu, Timor Leste) and projects alongside EWB staff engaged in key function areas including Engineering, Finance, Marketing & Communications and Operations support. These roles are advertised through our website with positions available that align with those who are still studying at university through to those still in the workforce or retired.

Mentoring

Key role for skilled professionals who have experience leading teams, training or capacity building and can provide their expertise to support EWB Country Staff, field professional volunteers one-on-one or group support for teams, including guiding teams through best practice knowledge and processes relevant to their field. Roles are designed to be flexible around the availability of the mentor with expected regular meetings (weekly or monthly) with mentees or teams. Interested? Please contact us at mobilisation@ewb.org.au.

Mentoring

Key role for skilled professionals who have experience leading teams, training or capacity building and can provide their expertise to support EWB Country Staff, field professional volunteers one-on-one or group support for teams, including guiding teams through best practice knowledge and processes relevant to their field. Roles are designed to be flexible around the availability of the mentor with expected regular meetings (weekly or monthly) with mentees or teams. Interested? Please contact us at mobilisation@ewb.org.au.

Field Professional Placement

EWB Australia engages professionals from a range of fields (engineering, infrastructure development, technology development, education, business etc.) to support effective and appropriate outcomes with our partners and communities. EWB partners with Australian Volunteers International with our volunteers supported through their Australian Volunteer Program, funded by DFAT. This partnership enhances EWB’s International Program offerings and provides our engineering field professionals with additional support during the irin-country deployments and remote assignments.

Field Professional Placement

EWB Australia engages professionals from a range of fields (engineering, infrastructure development, technology development, education, business etc.) to support effective and appropriate outcomes with our partners and communities. EWB partners with Australian Volunteers International with our volunteers supported through their Australian Volunteer Program, funded by DFAT. This partnership enhances EWB’s International Program offerings and provides our engineering field professionals with additional support during the irin-country deployments and remote assignments.

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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Local Chapters

Join a local chapter to participate and explore volunteering opportunities close to you.

Volunteer overseas

Become an Australian volunteer field professional on a 9-20 month assignment.

National office

Gain work experience, learn new skills and support our programs, based at our HQ.

Stories of volunteering

Global travels and local impact – Bea Duffield’s volunteering journey 22 February, 2024 - Bea Duffield isn’t an engineer, but her experience spans almost everything else. From her academic background in scientific research to her career across both private enterprise and government sector, she… read more
Remote field visits, tuk-tuk commutes, and fish amok: a year in the life of an Australian volunteer 29 January, 2024 - Water, risk, and sustainability engineer Nicole Locke had always wanted to work overseas but there had never been a good time to do it. She graduated into a difficult job… read more
Inspiring the next generation of technology stewards with Bentley Systems 30 March, 2023 - An annual STEM outreach event that explores and showcases the opportunities possible in STEM careers brought 60 high-school students from three schools across Victoria together for a series of design… read more