Fostercare Sports is a volunteer-led charity helping children and young people in foster and out-of-home care connect with local community sport.
We work with foster carers, caseworkers, agencies, government referral partners, sporting associations and local clubs to help children access sport by removing practical barriers such as finding a suitable club, navigating registration, seeking fee support, sourcing equipment and helping clubs understand how to welcome and support children in care.
We are looking for a Volunteer Intake & Referral Coordinator — Children’s Sport Access to help manage referrals and coordinate sport placements for children in foster and out-of-home care.
This is a meaningful but hands-on coordination role. It is not a one-off or occasional volunteer opportunity. We are looking for someone who can make a regular ongoing commitment and take responsibility for a small caseload of referrals, seeing each one through from initial enquiry to a child being connected with a suitable local club or program.
Key duties
The volunteer will help:
- Receive and review referrals for children wanting to access sport
- Contact carers, caseworkers or referral partners to gather more information
- Understand the child’s location, age, preferred sport, needs and practical barriers
- Research suitable local clubs, programs or sporting opportunities
- Contact clubs and sporting organisations to explore availability and support
- Help secure club support, fee assistance or other practical help where possible
- Coordinate communication between the carer, caseworker and club
- Support the registration process so the child can get started
- Keep accurate notes and updates in our CRM or referral tracking system
- Work with other Fostercare Sports support team members to manage referrals consistently
Skills and experience needed
This role would suit someone who is organised, reliable and confident communicating with different people.
The ideal volunteer will have:
- Strong communication skills by phone and email
- Good organisation and follow-up skills
- Confidence researching local services, clubs or programs online
- Ability to manage several referrals at different stages
- A practical problem-solving mindset
- Basic computer skills and willingness to use a CRM or shared tracking system
- A respectful and confidential approach when dealing with sensitive information
- Patience and persistence, as some placements require multiple follow-ups
Experience in foster care, child services or sport is helpful but not essential. We will provide guidance on our process and how we work with carers, caseworkers and clubs.
Time commitment
We are looking for **someone who can commit at least 15+ hours **per week, spread across at least 3 days per week. The work can mostly be done remotely, but regular weekday availability is important because the role involves contacting carers, caseworkers, clubs and sporting organisations.
This role is best suited to someone looking for a meaningful, longer-term volunteer role where they can become part of the support team and help manage referrals consistently.
Benefits of volunteering with Fostercare Sports
This is a highly practical volunteer role where you will see the direct impact of your work. You will help children who may otherwise miss out on sport find a local club, join a team, build confidence and feel connected to their community.
You will also gain experience in referral coordination, community engagement, stakeholder communication, case coordination and charity operations.
Impact of the opportunity
Every referral represents a child who wants the chance to play sport. By helping coordinate these placements, you will directly support children in foster and out-of-home care to access the confidence, connection, routine and sense of belonging that community sport can provide.
Your work will also help carers, caseworkers and clubs navigate the process more easily, making it possible for Fostercare Sports to support more children across more communities.
How to apply
Please apply through SEEK Volunteer and include a short note about your availability, relevant experience and why this role interests you.
Applicants may be asked to have a short introductory conversation with our team. A Working With Children Check may be required before commencing.