The People Behind Every Inclusive Experience
When a family chooses to send their loved one to a Cahoots program or camp, they place a deep confidence in us. Trusting that the environment will be safe, supportive and enriching.
One of the key reasons Cahoots is able to deliver such positive, inclusive experiences is thanks to the incredible people who volunteer and train with the organisation: our Volunteer Leaders and Student Placements.
These team members are the heart of many Cahoots programs. They bring energy, compassion and commitment, helping to make every camp, day program and social activity an opportunity for participants to belong, learn and have fun.
Volunteering or completing a student placement with Cahoots is more than just “helping out”, it’s a chance to become part of a community committed to inclusion, fun, growth and meaningful support for children, teens and adults living with disability or facing exceptional challenges.
What Volunteer Leaders Do
Volunteer Leaders are trained individuals who play a vital role in the day-to-day running of Cahoots programs. Working alongside qualified staff and Facilitators, they help participants feel included, supported and encouraged throughout their time at Cahoots.
Volunteer Leaders assist with activities, offer companionship, and help participants build skills and confidence in safe and meaningful ways both via a 1:1 support care ratio for High Support participants, and a 1:2 support care ratio for All Abilities participants.
Whether it’s a weekend camp, a school-holiday adventure, or a local day program, Volunteer Leaders ensure each participant is engaged and cared for according to their individual needs.
Cahoots provides all volunteers with thorough training and induction before they begin. This includes safety procedures, behaviour support strategies and an understanding of disability inclusion. Every Volunteer Leader also holds the appropriate clearances, such as a Working With Children Check and NDIS Worker Screening Check, so families can feel confident that their loved ones are supported by responsible, caring and vetted individuals.
Volunteering at Cahoots also offers personal benefits for the individuals taking part: Our team can develop communication and interpersonal skills, meet new people and make friends if they are new to WA, work within a supportive and friendly team, and be part of fun activities. Our student placement volunteers also walk away from Cahoots with a completed, certified work experience and skills to take with them in their future careers.
Student Placements: Learning with Purpose
Cahoots partners with universities, TAFEs and training institutions to offer student placement opportunities. For students studying disability services, social work, teaching, healthcare, occupational therapy, nursing or any hands-on profession working with young people, Cahoots offers structured student placements. These placements allow individuals to accumulate placement hours, gain meaningful experience in the field, and be part of a supportive learning environment.
Our students are exactly like our Volunteers. They assist participants, ensure safety, help growth and connection, and participate in all manner of programs. Working directly with participants and contributing to the success of programs under the guidance of experienced facilitators and staff. Our students gain valuable hands-on experience in inclusive support, while also adding an extra layer of care and attention for participants.
Importantly, even students don’t need prior qualifications to engage with Cahoots, if you’re passionate about contributing and learning, Cahoots welcomes you.
How Cahoots Ensures Quality and Safety
Cahoots takes great care to ensure that every person involved in delivering our programs upholds the highest standards of safety and professionalism. Volunteers and Students never work alone, they are always supported and supervised by qualified Cahoots staff, Facilitators and Support Workers who are trained in behaviour support, safeguarding and program leadership.
Before joining a camp or program, Volunteers and students complete an induction process that includes training in:
- Participant rights and safety
- Inclusion and communication strategies
- Managing diverse support needs
- Cahoots’ values, policies and safeguarding framework
This structure allows participants to benefit from small group ratios, consistent supervision, and team members who share Cahoots’ commitment to respect, trust and inclusion.
Why Volunteers and Students Matter
Cahoots is built on the belief that inclusion happens through connection, and connection happens through people. Volunteers play a crucial part in making that belief real. They give participants the chance to meet new people, share experiences and feel genuinely valued.
For many participants, spending time with Volunteer Leaders helps build social confidence and independence. For families, it means knowing their loved ones are surrounded by caring role models who are there because they genuinely want to make a difference.
On the flip side, Cahoots creates a welcoming space for Students and community minded people to gain experience, skills, confidence and complete work placement. We ready individuals for the real world and provide all the tools and support necessary to thrive.
How to Get Involved
Getting started as a Volunteer Leader is straightforward. You fill out an application via our volunteer portal, complete the necessary screening. Then you attend an induction and choose the volunteering or placement opportunities that suit you.
Cahoots emphasises that you don’t need formal qualifications to volunteer, just a willingness to contribute and engage. For students, the structured placement ensures you meet your academic requirements with support.
If you’re considering joining, think about what you might bring to the team. These roles often involve dynamic settings: adventure camps, day programs, social clubs, weekend stays, so you’ll be part of team-led experiences where each day is different.
Cahoots Volunteer Leaders and Student Placements are a vital part of the team that supports your loved ones at camps, day programs and community experiences. They are trained, screened, and supported by qualified staff, ensuring every participant receives attentive, caring and safe support.
They bring warmth, fun and connection, helping create the welcoming, inclusive environment that makes Cahoots unique. Through their contribution, families can trust that participants are not only cared for, but truly encouraged to grow in confidence, independence and joy.
If you’d like to learn more about Cahoots’ volunteer and student programs — or how they help shape the participant experience — visit cahoots.org.au/volunteer-with-us or cahoots.org.au/student-placement.
