Victim Support
Free, nationwide support for people affected by crime, suicide and traumatic events.
We are here for you, 24/7.
Join our volunteering team at Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support and be a vital force in supporting those affected by crime, suicide and traumatic events in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Volunteers are crucial to the work of Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support. With their help we can support thousands of people across Aotearoa New Zealand who are affected by crime, suicide and traumatic events every year. Volunteers come from all walks of life, just like those who need our support.
Volunteering with Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support can be challenging, but also very rewarding. You will gain valuable skills and make new connections as you support people at their most vulnerable to find safety, healing and justice. You can find out more about our work on our How we can help page.
As a volunteer you will work alongside our staff teams to support individuals who have been affected by crime, suicide and traumatic events.
Volunteers make an incredible difference by providing much needed information and support to people through times of crisis, helping them to recover, make decisions about their future and move forward.
You will be providing emotional and practical support over the telephone or face to face, which might include:
To find out more about the role of a Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support Volunteer, download a copy of the role description.
Victim Support Volunteers provide emotional support, practical assistance, information, referrals, and criminal justice system support to those who have been affected by crime, suicide, and traumatic events.
We know volunteers are busy people, so we’ll agree time commitments with you individually, but we ask that you commit to:
You’ll also be asked to sign a Volunteer Agreement, which outlines how we will support you while you volunteer with us, and what we expect from you.
While you are with Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support, you’ll receive all the training you need to increase your knowledge and expertise.
You’ll also be supported by a Service Coordinator who will be your go-to person for any questions or concerns. They’ll make sure you have all you need so you can provide the best support to victims of crime, suicide and traumatic events.
On occasions you may be asked to provide support in another part of the country. This may be in response to a crisis or because demand for Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support’s services is higher in another area. If you don’t want to be engaged with this, we will respect your right to say ‘no’.
Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support volunteers come from all walks of life, just like those who need our help – you could be a student, a mid-career professional looking for a new direction, or retired. You might already know a bit about the justice system or be curious to learn more.
Maybe you’ve been affected by crime, suicide or a traumatic event and received helpful support, or maybe you didn’t, but either way you understand how important the right support at the right time is for those who are hurting.
We’re looking for people from all backgrounds who represent the communities and diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand.
We need people who are:
at least 18 years old and able to pass a police check
Personal transport
If you want to get involved with visits and face-to-face support, you’ll also need to have your own transport (you will be reimbursed for any travel you do on behalf of Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support), but if you don’t, no worries – a lot of our support is provided by phone and online so you can get involved from the comfort of your own home.
Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support is committed to creating an environment where volunteers feel welcomed, supported, valued, and empowered, by focusing on our values of:
Respect, generosity, and care for others
Connections and relationships
Empowerment and self-determination
Unity and collective action
Guardianship and responsibility
Where barriers are identified, we work hard to remove them so that volunteering with us is accessible to everyone.
We do this by:
Being flexible and creating a range of volunteering opportunities that enable people with different skills, commitments, availability, and motivations to get involved
Valuing all contributions, regardless of how much volunteers do or how long they stay with us
Making sure volunteers are equipped to do what we ask of them through training and support
Giving our staff the time, training, and tools they need to support, manage and communicate effectively with volunteers
Engaging volunteers in the work of Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support means that more victims of crime, suicide and traumatic events can be provided with the support they need to recover, heal, and move on.
The skills and experience volunteers bring with them, which might include their own experience of crime and trauma, enhances the service that we can provide.
We acknowledge that without the support of volunteers, we would not be able to provide our service.
We will communicate regularly and clearly with you, keeping you up to date with volunteering activities and what’s happening at Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support.
We will make sure you have a manager who you can contact about any questions or concerns that you might have.
We will respond to your questions and concerns in a timely way.
We will address any issues or concerns with fairness and impartiality.
We will embrace differences and act in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner.
We will provide you with all the training, equipment and support you need for your volunteering role.
We will reimburse any expenses that you incur while you volunteer with us.
Want to become a volunteer with us ? Fill out our online enquiry form today.
We'll send you some further initial information, and a link to the application form. After submitting the form, someone will be in touch with you over the next few days to answer any questions you might have and explain a little bit more about what’s involved.
You’ll be invited to attend an interview to check you have the right skills and attributes to become a volunteer. If successful, we’ll ask for your permission to complete a police check and follow up with your references.
Once that has all been completed, you’ll be invited to the Initial Training Programme (ITP) that all Support Workers need to attend, regardless of previous experience, and sign the Volunteer Agreement.
Then, you'll be part of the team, and ready to help us help more people!
